The Baltimore Ravens enter their divisional-round matchup against the Buffalo Bills with plenty of momentum. They finished the regular season on a five-game win streak and defeated the Tennessee Titans in the wild card round. The Ravens travel to Buffalo to take on a Bills team that is just as hot as them. Baltimore will need to execute their game plan to continue their playoff run.
Baltimore’s Offensive Game Plan: Pound the Rock
Everyone who has watched the Ravens knows running the ball is their identity. They led the NFL in rushing yards this season with 191.9 per game. That trend continued in the playoffs as they ran for 236 yards in their win over the Titans. Like he’s been all season, Lamar Jackson was the catalyst of the ground game. The star QB rushed for 136 yards, including an electric 48-yard touchdown run late in the first half.
LAMAR JACKSON IS SPECIAL ?
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 10, 2021
(via @ravens)pic.twitter.com/JEJtRU6nkW
The Bills defense ranks mid-pack in rushing yards allowed per game, but they have struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Cam Newton and Kyler Murray each rushed for over five yards a carry and a touchdown against the Bills this season. Not to mention, the Colts ran for 163 yards in their wild card matchup against the Bills. Buffalo could be in for a long night if they can’t contain Jackson and the run game.
Baltimore’s Defensive Game plan: Contain Buffalo in the Red Zone
The Bills poses one of the best quarterback wide receiver duos in the league. MVP candidate Josh Allen and the NFL’s leading receiver, Stefon Diggs, have elevated the Bills to a new level. The Bills ranked second this season in total yards. They are going to get their yards, but Baltimore can keep them out of the end zone.
Buffalo scored a touchdown 62 percent of their red-zone trips this season, good enough for 12th in the league. While that is a solid number, you’d like to see more from the NFL’s second-best offense. Baltimore’s defense will have their hands full, but they will be up for the task. Their defense has allowed the second-fewest red zone trips and sixth-fewest red zone touchdowns. They have the secondary to slow down the Bills receivers long enough for the pass rush to get to Allen.
Final Thoughts
For the Ravens, the game will come down to how much success they can have on the ground. If they get out to an early lead and control the game’s tempo, they should be in good shape.
Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters will need to lockdown Diggs and Cole Beasley. The pass rush needs to apply enough pressure on Allen to make him uncomfortable. The Ravens lead the NFL with a blitz rate of 41 percent. And despite Allen’s success against the blitz this season, the Ravens have no plans to change their game plan.
Be sure to tune into the game Saturday, January 16 at 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC.
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