ExtremeRavens Posted yesterday at 03:52 AM Posted yesterday at 03:52 AM Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the NFL season on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York: Mike Preston, columnist: The Ravens should never go to Buffalo again. If it happens, cancel the plane reservations. Ignore any possible hotel deals. For whatever reason, the Ravens choke in Buffalo. In January, they committed three turnovers in a 27-25 loss to the Bills in a divisional round playoff game. Sunday night, they had what appeared to be several insurmountable leads and blew it again, this time 41-40, as kicker Matt Prater converted a 32-yard field goal as time expired. Buffalo went 66 yards in nine plays with no timeouts to set up the kick. The Ravens still have defensive problems and again appeared lost in the secondary. They allowed passes to the sidelines and in the middle of the field, a definite no-no regardless if it’s a prevent defense or not. The Ravens should have won this game easily. Offensively, they dominated the Bills with both the running and passing games. Buffalo couldn’t contain running back Derrick Henry, and the Bills had no answer for speedy slot receiver Zay Flowers, who turned several short catches into long gains. But defensively, the Ravens still have problems on the back end despite bringing in several new players. It’s back to the drawing board for a team that still needs to prove it can win big games. Josh Tolentino, columnist: Orchard Park turned into a gut punch all over again. The Ravens looked like they had exorcised that demon when Derrick Henry ran wild in the first half, crossing the century mark before halftime. For much of the evening, Baltimore dictated the terms, with Henry pounding the Bills’ front and Lamar Jackson stretching the field with his arm and legs. But things turned ugly late, and it was Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble that opened the door. The Ravens led 40-25 in the fourth quarter but dropped the season opener in heartbreaking fashion on a last-second field goal to a kicker who was added to Buffalo’s roster just days ago. The Bills scored 16 unanswered points to send the Ravens home 0-1. The latest chapter of heartbreak closed another trip to Highmark Stadium that will add to the sting Baltimore suffered here in January. The start looked like a statement, powered by a rejuvenated Henry and a defense playing with poise. Baltimore gave up an opening-drive touchdown, but didn’t allow another Buffalo TD until the second half. Yet, that’s exactly when the Ravens crumbled. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the end looked hauntingly familiar. Sunday was another collapse in the same building that crushed Baltimore nine months ago. Until the Ravens prove they can finish consistently, many questions will continue to hover this talented, but undisciplined roster. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson shoves Bills fan who hit him on helmet Sam Cohn, reporter: What a football game. What an ending. The Ravens led by 15 points in the fourth quarter and folded like a cheap lawn chair. Their defense looked gassed after a high-scoring affair. In poetic fashion, the Bills had a missed 2-point conversion in the same corner of the end zone where Mark Andrews dropped a game-tying 2-point conversion in January. It gave the ball back to Baltimore with a shot to close out the win. They went three-and-out. Then the Bills drove down the field with ease, twice embarrassing Jaire Alexander, and lighting Highmark Stadium ablaze. This game isn’t an indictment on the season to come, nor will it define the rivalry. But it’s a game the Ravens had no business losing. Sam Jane, reporter: Same year, different story for the Ravens in Buffalo. A key drop of the football — this time Derrick Henry’s fumble — cost Baltimore a opening-night victory. The Ravens blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to the Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen, with several mistakes in the game’s final minutes that cost them: Cornerback Jaire Alexander’s pass interference penalty, Henry’s fumble and Baltimore’s offense inability to end the game with two minutes remaining among them. It was a shocking late-game twist, a vicious reminder of the problems that have plagued the Ravens in recent years. C.J. Doon, editor: In games between these two elite teams, points matter. Like, a lot. Think of the three points Josh Allen stole at the end of the first half, driving against a conservative Ravens defense with two long passes in the final 31 seconds to set up a field goal. Remember the Ravens’ 12 men on the field penalty that gave the Bills a chance to go for two, only for Keon Coleman to catch the ball after going out of bounds and nullifying the score? How about the missed extra point from rookie Tyler Loop, who was otherwise solid in his NFL debut. Of course, we’re not talking about those small margins if the Ravens just take care of business. They were up 40-25 with five minutes left, then had to defend a potential game-tying 2-point conversion with just under two minutes remaining and then their unstoppable offense couldn’t get a first down when it mattered most. It was a stunning collapse that has become all-too-familiar for the Ravens and their fans. Never has such a dominant team been so untrustworthy late in games. Bennett Conlin, editor: How did Baltimore lose this game? The Ravens were up 15 points with under four minutes remaining. The Bills won in regulation. What is it with this team and failing to finish games? The Ravens gave up a miracle fourth-down touchdown reception. A tipped pass was somehow brought in by Keon Coleman to cut the deficit to 40-32. Then, almost instantly, Ed Oliver stripped Ravens running back Derrick Henry in Baltimore territory and Bills fans erupted with a newfound hope. Baltimore’s defense quickly yielded a touchdown, but stopped the 2-point conversion. The defense failed again after a Baltimore three-and-out. The Ravens want to be feared defensively. Well, they’re closer to being feared by their own fans than opposing offenses. And John Harbaugh will have to answer for a shocking collapse from his team. The Ravens bungled the end of the first half defensively, and there’s a case the Ravens should have gone for it on fourth down of their final drive instead of punting. What a mess. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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