After their huge 47-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills were back at practice on Wednesday to get ready for an equally as big matchup against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
"He's the reigning MVP in the NFL for a reason, so that I think is a one liner that says it all," head coach Sean McDermott said of Jackson. "They were the No. 1 seed, had the best record in football last year, and it's driven by him. He's just an incredible athlete, incredible player, probably in a lot of ways changed some of the things around the NFL, by the way he plays. And so just the utmost respect for him and his game."
Jackson has been one of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL and has continued to make plays throughout his career with the Ravens.
"I think he's, one he's an inspiration to a lot of people in this country," QB Josh Allen said. "The way that he plays the game, the doubters that he had coming out… and then for him to show the resiliency and the work ethic and the attitude to go forward and win two MVPs, guys around the league, they see that. He's really changed the way that I think guys play the game, but make no mistake about it, he can throw the snot out of the football, and got a lot of respect for him, a lot of love for him."
Allen mentioned after practice that he enjoys watching Jackson play the quarterback position the way that he does.
"Love watching him play because every play is never dead with him," Allen said. "He's got a crazy ability to keep plays alive and make guys miss and then get the ball downfield. So, he's a special player."
Veteran edge rusher Von Miller added that Jackson is one of the most dynamic players to play football throwing and running.
"Everybody knows about Lamar Jackson- league MVP, one of the most dynamic players that ever played in this game, not just quarterback," Miller said. "You can't even just put him in a box as a quarterback. He's greater than that, one of the most dynamic players to ever play this game, and he can throw the ball too."
McDermott spoke with reporters about making sure his defense is ready to play Jackson, as they have several players that have never faced him before, including veteran CB Rasul Douglas.
"With our new players that are playing this year that have never played against Lamar, it'll be an adjustment for them," McDermott said. "And then just trying to get them to understand the techniques that you have to use and how on point you have to be. And you're never going to stop a player like that. He's just too good. And you just hope that you can win more than you lose in terms of the plays."
Allen also spoke about the Ravens defense and S Kyle Hamilton, who has 21 total tackles on the season through three games.
"I mean, they play extremely hard," Allen said. "They're extremely well coached. They do a great job in stopping the run… Hamilton's flying around, making plays. Their DBs are always in good positions."
"He's big, he's tall, he's long, he's fast. He's able to guard tight ends, and he's long enough to really have a lot of pass breakups, and he does a good job in the blitz game as well. He's been a pretty efficient blitzer. So, again, making sure that we're aware of where he's at all times."
Even though the Ravens sit at 1-2 in the win-loss column, their offense has a plethora of playmakers that can create explosive plays that the defense will want to limit.
"You got Zay Flowers- he can take a two-yard screen to the end zone. They got a succession of tight ends and utility players too- (Patrick) Ricard and (Isaiah) Likely and Mark Andrews, when he gets rolling, they have a really tough offense," DE Von Miller said.
Not only does the defense have to prepare for Jackson, but RB Derrick Henry who is difficult to stop as a runner who is coming off a game against the Cowboys in which he rushed for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"I remember watching the very first game when they played the Kansas City Chiefs in that first drive, it just looked scary," Miller said. "It just looks scary with the type of offensive line that they have, and you got Derek Henry back there, and Lamar Jackson always has the threat to take the ball and run it. And I think on that very first drive with the Chiefs, they ran six or seven plays, all runs, and it was straight down the field and into the end zone. And I remember watching the game on TV, and I was like, 'this is this is going to be a problem.' And it has been."
With three games under their belt together, the Ravens have again produced one of the most prolific rushing attacks in the NFL.
"He's a hard dude to tackle," DB Cam Lewis said. "You know, he's big, he has that stiff arm. Guys, vicious. Always been vicious. And then you got Lamar, just a freak of nature. He can do a lot. So just trying to contain them both have populate to the ball, and then just try to play our game fast."
Adding in the players that Miller mentioned that they have across their offense, they have continued to give defenses problems.
"They have a lot of weapons, and they can do a lot of things with their offense," DE A.J. Epenesa said. "They don't necessarily have to build it the same as everybody else, because they don't always have to hand it off, because Lamar can just take it himself. So, it'll be a challenge in itself. Just to stop one of them and have them both will make it a little more difficult, but as long as we stay within our fundamentals, stay within our lanes and do our jobs, you know, we'll have all those gaps covered and swarm to the ball and make a play."
The defense has emphasized tackling and learning from the veterans that have played both players in the past to prepare.
"Taron Johnson, Damar (Hamlin), you know, those guys, they've played them before, so just asking them a few questions and how they've attacked the game and the game plan," DB Ja'Marcus Ingram said. "Just being physical and things like that, we trying to add that to what we gonna bring this Sunday."
The Bills will hope to roll on offense the way they have been and rookie WR Keon Coleman said it starts with their mentality in recognizing that it is a new week and a new game.
"Eat off the floor, go back to the ground level," he said. "You know, you're not going to let that go to waste on the floor. You got to pick up and keep going. Stop talking about last week, and let's get to the new week."
Post-practice Injury Update
Bills QB Josh Allen (left hand), TE Quintin Morris (shoulder) and QB Mitchell Trubisky (knee) were all full participants in Wednesday's practice, while CB Kaiir Elam (neck) was limited and LB Terrel Bernard (pectoral), OL Tylan Grable (groin), and CB Taron Johnson did not practice.
Scroll to see the best 50 photos from the Buffalo Bills 47-10 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 25th, 2024.