PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NFL Totals Dominator
(NFL) Ravens (BAL) vs. Bills (BUF),
Total: 51.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 51.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Loss
Most are predicting a high scoring game between the Ravens and Bills. Understandable given the MVP-caliber seasons Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have had, perhaps the finest of their great careers.
I see this game differently. Touchdowns are not going to come so easily.
Let's start with the problems the Ravens may encounter. Only once have the Ravens met a top-10 defense outdoors. That was against the Steelers and they scored a season-low 16 points. The wind chill factor for this matchup is expected to be in the low teens to single digits with possible snow showers.
Buffalo's defense is top-12 caliber and opportunistic with 16 takeaways, which ranked seventh in the league.
True, the Ravens buried the Bills, 35-10, when they hosted them in Week 4. The temperature was 68 degrees in that game. The Bills were missing three important defensive players - linebackers Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. All three are expected to play here. Milano, slowed by injuries much of the season, looked like his All-Pro self against the Broncos last week.
Baltimore could be minus its top wide receiver, Zay Flowers. He's been out with a knee injury.
Sean McDermott is a sharp defensive coach. Expect the Bills to fully concentrate on stopping Derrick Henry. I'm not convinced Jackson can be dominant in this type of weather condition if he has to carry the Ravens' offense, especially if he doesn't have his speed guy and zone-breaker, Flowers.
Turning to Buffalo's offense. It had its worst game of the season against the Ravens being held to a season-low in points with 10 and yards with 236. Allen didn't have a passing or rushing touchdown for the only time this season. He was sacked a season-high three times.
What has to be scary for the Bills is that the Ravens' defense has gotten much better since that late September game. Baltimore has given up an average of 11.5 points in its last five games. This span includes two games against the Steelers and holding the Texans scoreless on offense. The Ravens rank No. 1 against the run.
Aside from dual-threat Allen, the Bills don't have a skill position player of the star variety.
I see this game differently. Touchdowns are not going to come so easily.
Let's start with the problems the Ravens may encounter. Only once have the Ravens met a top-10 defense outdoors. That was against the Steelers and they scored a season-low 16 points. The wind chill factor for this matchup is expected to be in the low teens to single digits with possible snow showers.
Buffalo's defense is top-12 caliber and opportunistic with 16 takeaways, which ranked seventh in the league.
True, the Ravens buried the Bills, 35-10, when they hosted them in Week 4. The temperature was 68 degrees in that game. The Bills were missing three important defensive players - linebackers Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. All three are expected to play here. Milano, slowed by injuries much of the season, looked like his All-Pro self against the Broncos last week.
Baltimore could be minus its top wide receiver, Zay Flowers. He's been out with a knee injury.
Sean McDermott is a sharp defensive coach. Expect the Bills to fully concentrate on stopping Derrick Henry. I'm not convinced Jackson can be dominant in this type of weather condition if he has to carry the Ravens' offense, especially if he doesn't have his speed guy and zone-breaker, Flowers.
Turning to Buffalo's offense. It had its worst game of the season against the Ravens being held to a season-low in points with 10 and yards with 236. Allen didn't have a passing or rushing touchdown for the only time this season. He was sacked a season-high three times.
What has to be scary for the Bills is that the Ravens' defense has gotten much better since that late September game. Baltimore has given up an average of 11.5 points in its last five games. This span includes two games against the Steelers and holding the Texans scoreless on offense. The Ravens rank No. 1 against the run.
Aside from dual-threat Allen, the Bills don't have a skill position player of the star variety.
