The Ravens’ divisional-round clash with the Buffalo Bills hasn’t gone according to plan, as Baltimore trails 21-10 at halftime. In a game that feels like a complete reversal of their Week 4 win, the Ravens find themselves hampered by turnovers, offensive struggles, and relentless pressure on Lamar Jackson.
Here are seven takeaways from the first 30 minutes of action in Buffalo:
Lamar Jackson has had a mixed bag of a first half. The former MVP is 6-of-10 passing for 123 yards with one touchdown and one interception, adding 31 rushing yards on five carries. However, his two turnovers—a poorly placed interception and a fumble on a Damar Hamlin strip sack—have been costly.
Per Next Gen Stats, Jackson has faced pressure on 54.5% of his dropbacks, the most since Week 4 of 2023. The Bills’ defense has already sacked him once and applied consistent heat, disrupting the Ravens’ offensive rhythm.
Derrick Henry, who dominated in Baltimore’s Week 4 victory over the Bills, has been a non-factor so far. The Ravens’ workhorse has just eight carries for 21 yards in the first half, a far cry from the bruising runs fans have come to expect.
For the Ravens to climb back into this game, Henry will need to get going on the ground.
Josh Allen, the potential MVP, hasn’t lit up the stat sheet but has been effective. Allen is 5-of-7 passing for 69 yards and has added 15 rushing yards.
Buffalo hasn’t relied on Allen’s arm to do the heavy lifting so far, but his composure and ability to extend plays have helped the Bills capitalize on the Ravens’ mistakes.
With Zay Flowers unavailable, Rashod Bateman has taken on a larger role in the Ravens’ passing attack. Bateman caught two passes for 58 yards in the first half, including a 29-yard touchdown reception that briefly tied the game early on.
Baltimore will need Bateman to continue making plays if they’re going to mount a second-half comeback.
Turnovers have been the story of the game so far. Baltimore entered the contest with just three turnovers in their last seven games but matched that total in one half.
Jackson’s two giveaways and Mark Andrews’ fumble have handed Buffalo extra opportunities and stymied promising Ravens drives.
While Buffalo leads on the scoreboard, the Ravens have actually outgained them in total yardage, 182 to 156. Baltimore has also been efficient on third down, converting 4-of-5 attempts.
Despite the statistical edge, Baltimore’s self-inflicted mistakes have overshadowed their otherwise solid performance.
The Ravens need to clean up their turnovers, protect Jackson better, and get Derrick Henry more involved if they’re going to flip the script in the second half. On defense, limiting Allen’s scrambling and forcing the Bills into long third downs could help swing momentum.
There’s still plenty of time for Baltimore to rally, but they’ll need a near-flawless effort in the final 30 minutes.
Can the Ravens find their footing and stage a comeback, or will Buffalo’s lead prove insurmountable? Stay tuned!