Ravens pick at Bills corpse

The 2010 Buffalo Bills have gotten off to a 0-5 start and playing perennial super bowl contenders the Baltimore Colts this Sunday was no easy task for Buffalo. The Bills remain the only winless team in the NFL. The professionals had the Ravens to win big. The Bills, fresh off of a bye week, looked like a rejuvenated squad this afternoon. Bills Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick got off to a great start and played the quarterback position better than any Bill had in over six years. Fitzpatrick was taking risks and being rewarded for doing so. The Ravens converted on a field goal to open the scoring but for the rest of the second half it was all Bills. Fitzpatrick led a 6 play, 72 yard drive concluding with a 33 yard TD pass to Lee Evans. The Bills played as close to a perfect quarter as any this season, leading 10-3 and carrying the momentum factor. Early in the second quarter, Fitzpatrick completed another 33 yard pass, this time to Wide Receiver Steven Johnson.

The Maryland crowd was in shock, as was the rest of the NFL observers. The Bills were handily leading the Ravens and controlling this game. After the Ravens made it 17-6, Fitzpatrick threw his third TD pass of the half when he and Lee Evans connected once again, giving Lee Evans his first two TD game since 2008. After dominating most of the first half, the winless Bills showed up late in the half. After the Ravens were good on another field goal attempt by Billy Cundiff, Rookie CJ Spiller coughed up the pigskin deep in Buffalo territory and Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco threw his second TD pass to Todd Heap of the half. Leading 24-10 at one point, the Bills lead shrunk to 4 at halftime. This game was definitely Buffalo’s to win or lose. Buffalo showed heart and grit in the first half playing on the road versus a much better team. The question was whether the Bills could continue the great effort into the second half and regain the momentum they lost late in the half.

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The Bills offense began the second half and Fitzpatricks’ first pass was deflected off of Ravens “Bigmouth” Ray Lewis and intercepted by CB Ed Reed. Prior to this game, Ray Lewis pretty much guaranteed victory and wouldn’t it be sweet to stick this one down his throat. Turnovers hurt in this league and the succeeding play resulted in a 44 yard TD pass from Flacco to ex-Cardinal Anquan Boldin. Bills trailed 27-24. After dominated the time of possession and putting together 262 total yards of offence against a defensive powerhouse in the Ravens, the Bills were beginning to play like the Bills we have come to expect. The third quarter has been a rough spot for this the 2010 Bills, having been outscored 63-14 in the third frame this season. Soon afterwards, one time Buffalo Bills Running Back Willie McGahee punched one in from close to increase the Ravens lead to 34-24.

Ryan Fitzpatrick played one hell of a game today and he deserves more credit than he will receive. In the fourth quarter, the undisputed leader of the Bills carried the team on his back throwing for four touchdown passes including his third of the game to Lee Evans, 17 yard reception. Ryan completed 29 of 43 pass attempts for a career high 373 yards and four Td passes. Unfortunately he also threw 2 interceptions. Steven Johnson had a monster game, 8 receptions for 158 yards and a TD and Lee Evans had 105 yards receiving and 3 TD’s. The Bills offense certainly surprised if not scared the Baltimore Ravens and the score was 34-31 late in the game, when Ryan Lindell attempted a 50 yard field goal to tie the game and he connected. The Bills and Ravens were heading to overtime.

Turnovers killed the Bills this afternoon and Ray Lewis backed up his trash talking ways by causing the Bills to turn the ball over for the fourth time of the game. This ultimately led to a 38 yard field goal and a 37-34 overtime loss to the Ravens. The Buffalo Bills are off to their worst start in 25 years. The Bills look like they are rebuilding and there are some valuable pieces to work with. The Bills put up over 500 yards of offence versus one of the best defensive teams in football, seemingly every year. Next up for the Bills are the AFC West Division leading Kansas City Chiefs, who bring a 4-2 record with them to Arrowhead Stadium.

By Ranhvir Samra
ProFootball-fans.com Buffalo Bills Correspondent