Offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.
For the first time since 2012, the Ravens won their season opener. On Sunday, Baltimore topped the Buffalo Bills, 13-7, as we remembered a very historic event that took place 15 years ago.
John Harbaugh is clearly trying to make the Ravens run game a one-two punch as Justin Forsett and Terrance West were able to bulldoze their way for a total of 73 yards on 22 carries. As many expected, Forsett and West came through in the clutch on short-yardage situations.
West put the final nail in the coffin with less than two minutes to play when he ran for a first down and forced Rex Ryan to use his final timeout. This allowed the Ravens to run out the clock on a few kneel downs.
Joe Flacco was solid in his return, completing 23 passes for 258 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo.
However, Mike Wallace was a big reason that Flacco looked so good as he burned Buffalo’s secondary on a 66-yard touchdown. It was the Ravens only touchdown of the day. Wallace finished as the Ravens leading receiver with three catches for 91 yards and one score.
Anybody watching knows who won this game today – Baltimore’s defense.
Shareece Wright was a monster today, making plays all over the field and led Baltimore in solo tackles with 11. Wright’s highlight of the day was a 6-yard tackle for a loss on Bills running back LeSean McCoy.
Timmy Jernigan and Terrell Suggs were both able to record key sacks on third down, which stalled Buffalo drives.
The Ravens kept Tyrod Taylor and McCoy at bay the entire game on third down as Buffalo was forced to punt the football seven times.
Baltimore made life miserable for former backup Taylor the entire game as he barely threw for over 100 yards and failed to put the football in the end zone.
It may not have been pretty, but the Ravens proved on Sunday they don’t need to torch the scoreboard to win games.
Baltimore will take on division rival Cleveland next Sunday on September, 18.
