There are a ton of storylines to discuss from the Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens. The Tyrod Taylor injury, Marcell Dareus being sent home, and the new contract for Eric Wood are the three big storylines but here are the other big notes from Saturday’s game.
Nathan Peterman is legit
Peterman isn’t perfect, but his 11 completions during roughly two quarters of work on Saturday night were good. He’s decisive. He throws his receivers open. He took shots down the field. He has his warts and shouldn’t be looked at as the Week 1 starter if Tyrod is healthy, but let’s give the rookie some credit. T.J Yates threw a pick on his first pass and is as good as gone.
Leave Charles Clay alone
Clay has one drop on the night, but his four catches for 47 yards were no fluke. He’s a great target for the QB and fights for yards after the catch. Without Anquan Boldin, Clay could break out this year as the safety valve.
Penalties still aren’t fixed
In the first half, Buffalo was penalized seven times. Four of those were pre-snap penalties, something head coach Sean McDermott specifically focused on over the last two weeks and three were from the offensive line. The Bills finished the night with nine penalties for 64 yards but those seven penalties from the starters are the biggest stat.
Buffalo’s defensive renaissance is real
So these guys are good with a 4-3? Who knew!? Baltimore’s starting running back Terrance West rushed five times for 17 yards. Ryan Mallett was 6-of-10 for 58 yards but the scoring drive he led was just 25 yards.
Running back position is interesting
LeSean McCoy got eight touches tonight, six rushes and two catches. He was not his dynamic self but the bigger story was behind him, Jonathan Williams has been battling nagging injuries and didn’t take a snap. Mike Tolbert was the first man after McCoy followed by Joe Banyard. He and Taiwan Jones are battling for a roster spot but Banyard’s seven carries are way more than Jones’ two.
Colton Schmidt has been really good
He had a long of 55 on the night and averaged over 37 yards a punt tonight, but really all preseason he’s been good. Buffalo released Schmidt’s competition this week and it’s clear to see why.
Roster battles galore
Brandon Reilly and Joe Banyard staked claims tonight with great plays on the back end of the roster. Taiwan Jones had good plays on special teams but can’t crack the backfield. Cornerbacks Shareece Wright and E.J. Gaines rotated heavily with the first team and had great plays. Vlad Ducasse and John Miller alternated series at right guard with the first team.