As the Baltimore Ravens prepare for their AFC Divisional Playoff showdown with the Buffalo Bills, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken is embracing the team’s identity: a powerful, ground-focused attack led by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. Baltimore’s Week 4 victory over Buffalo showcased this formula, and Monken sees no reason to stray from what works, especially given the team’s current momentum.
In their earlier 35-10 win over the Bills, Henry and Jackson combined to dismantle Buffalo’s defense. Henry’s 199-yard performance, including an electrifying 87-yard touchdown on the Ravens’ first offensive play, set the tone for the game. Since then, Henry has only gotten hotter, averaging 158.3 rushing yards per game over the past four contests.
Buffalo’s defense is healthier this time, with key contributors like linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard, as well as nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, returning to the lineup. Still, Monken remains confident in Baltimore’s strengths.
Both teams have changed significantly since Week 4. For the Ravens, injuries and adjustments have shaped their offensive approach. With Zay Flowers potentially missing a second straight game, Baltimore leaned heavily on two-tight end sets last week, deploying them on a season-high 69.4% of plays. The strategy paid off in their Wild Card win over Pittsburgh, where the Ravens relied on physicality and efficiency.
Monken acknowledged the evolution but emphasized sticking to the team’s core strengths.
“We’re a different team now than we were then in terms of how we attack people, our personnel, who we have [and] who we’ll have Sunday night,” Monken said. “It’s going to come down to what they do well and what we do well. … You have to do what you do well and do it better than they do it.”
Stopping Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson remains Buffalo’s primary challenge. The dynamic duo’s ability to dominate on the ground, control the clock, and set up play-action makes them one of the league’s most dangerous offensive tandems.
“It’s going to be a heavyweight fight,” Henry said, highlighting the physical nature of Sunday’s contest.
While the Ravens have adjusted their schemes and personnel throughout the season, their commitment to running the ball effectively remains the foundation of their success. The question heading into Sunday: Can Buffalo’s healthier defense rise to the challenge, or will Henry and Jackson once again prove unstoppable?
What do you think, Ravens fans? Will Monken’s “do what you do well” philosophy carry Baltimore to another playoff win? Let us know in the comments!