NFL
The Baltimore Ravens Are A Week Away From Their Season Opener
A week from today, the Baltimore Ravens look to start the season off strong against the Buffalo Bills. Two seasons ago, the Ravens defeated the Bills 13-7 in their season opener. The last time the Ravens played at home, they suffered one of the most crushing losses in franchise history against the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a result, the Bills earned the sixth seed in the AFC Playoffs last season. Baltimore is one of the more prideful organizations in the NFL, so I fully expect the Ravens to make life difficult for rookie quarterback Josh Allen who’s expected to start for Buffalo. Here are three playmakers the Ravens have to gameplan for against the Bills.
Cornerback Tre’Davious White
The former LSU product had a strong rookie season for the Bills in 2017. A four-year starter in college, White made a seamless transition to the NFL, as he carved out his niche as Buffalo’s top corner. He may be small in stature at 5’11 190 pounds, but White rose to the occasion as a rookie for the Bills.
He started all 16 games, ending the regular season with 69 tackles, a forced fumble, and four interceptions. Pro Football Focus graded White as the fifth-highest rated cornerback in the NFL with an 89.4 grade.
Wide Receiver Kelvin Benjamin
The number-one option for rookie quarterback Josh Allen, Benjamin provides the Bills with the best opportunity to attack the Ravens secondary. With cornerback Jimmy Smith is suspended for the first four games, Benjamin could be in store for a big game against the Ravens.
Benjamin is a mismatch for cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Marlon Humphrey at 6’5, 245 pounds. Benjamin had initial success as a rookie posting 73 catches, for 1,088 yards, and nine touchdowns for the Carolina Panthers. He missed 2015 with a torn ACL.
Benjamin bounced back in 2016 with 63 receptions for 941 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Last October, the Panthers traded Benjamin to the Bills for a third-and seventh-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Running Back LeSean McCoy
Notice that I saved the best for last. The best player on the team, the Bills offense will literally run through ‘Shady’ McCoy in 2018. McCoy has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons rushing for 1,267 yards in 2016 and 1,138 last season.
He’s also rushed for 19 touchdowns the past two seasons while averaging 4.6 yards per carry since arriving in Western New York in 2015. McCoy is sound in the passing game as well as he’s posted at least 50 catches the past two seasons, in addition to three receiving touchdowns in that span.
