DANTE LASTING
Sports Editor
The Buffalo Bills lost a tough game to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon. Baltimore dominated Buffalo, winning by a score of 24-17. The Ravens are the best team in the AFC and arguably the best in the whole league. They got the lead early in this game and never gave it up en route to their ninth straight win.
The Bills offense struggled all game versus this elite Ravens defense. They never could get into a rhythm, and Josh Allen couldn’t seem to connect with his pass catchers. The Bills offensive line got bulldozed over on almost every play and did not give Allen time to let plays develop. This was a big reason for the struggles on the offensive side of the ball on Sunday.
Buffalo’s defense, which ranks at number three in the league, continued to have an amazing performance. They held the Ravens to 257 yards of total offense, and held Lamar Jackson to 40 yards rushing. This is impressive, because Baltimore’s offense is averaging 400 total yards a game, and it was Jackson’s lowest rushing total this season.
With everything the Buffalo Bills defensive did to stop the MVP candidate quarterback, the entire team did not step up to the plate to win the game. This sets the Bills back to a 9-4 record on the season and is just one game up for the fifth seed in the AFC playoff picture.
The Bills’ next game might be the most important one they have had all season. The Buffalo Bills play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football this week. This is the first time since 2007 that the Bills will play on Sunday night under the bright lights.
For the Bills, it is a win and in scenario. If they can win this game on Sunday, they will clinch a playoff spot. On the other hand, if they lose this game, the road to the playoffs gets a lot harder with the Steelers and Titans right behind them.
It should be a great football game as the Buffalo Bills look to get to 10 wins for the first time since 1999, and secure a spot in the playoffs. The Bills will play the Steelers at Heinz Field on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 8:20 p.m. on NBC.