The Buffalo Bills entered Week 4 of the NFL season with momentum, a 3-0 record, and high expectations. But when they took the field against the Baltimore Ravens, that optimism was quickly erased in a 10-35 rout that reminded Bills fans of the humbling defeat they suffered to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. Let’s dive into the key moments of the game and what went wrong for Buffalo.

First Half: A Complete Breakdown

The Bills started the game with a chance to set the tone on offense, but it didn’t take long for things to go south. TE Dalton Kincaid dropped a slightly overthrown pass from Josh Allen, resulting in a turnover on downs. The drop wasn’t just a miscue—it was an early omen of the struggles to come for the offense.

Then, disaster struck. On the very first play of the Ravens’ offensive drive, Derrick Henry bolted 87 yards for a touchdown. The Bills’ defense, known for its tenacity, was shredded by Henry’s power and speed. This was the moment that changed the entire complexion of the game. Buffalo’s inability to contain Henry became a recurring theme, and this play set the stage for an evening filled with frustration. Stopping the run was always going to be the key, and the Bills failed miserably from the outset.

To make matters worse, injuries piled up early. Starting center Connor McGovern went down, which disrupted the offensive line and further complicated Allen’s night. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who had set an NFL record with 28 consecutive catches on 28 targets, also left the game with an injury. While Shakir’s perfect streak remained intact, he left the field after catching a pass that, ironically, resulted in a one-yard loss. A rare NFL record, but it typified how even Buffalo’s good moments were laced with frustration.

On the defensive side, Buffalo was equally unfortunate. Safety Taylor Rapp was injured trying to stop Henry, adding insult to injury as the defense continued to crumble. The Ravens went on to score three straight times, and the Bills simply couldn’t stop anything the Ravens threw at them. By the end of the first half, the Bills were trailing 3-21, thanks to a late field goal by Tyler Bass—the only bright spot in an otherwise disastrous half.

Even when fortune favored Buffalo, they couldn’t capitalize. Lamar Jackson fumbled with ~2:30 remaining in the half, providing a glimmer of hope. The Ravens also committed a double timeout penalty, gifting the Bills a crucial first down. But the Bills couldn’t take advantage. Keon Coleman dropped a perfect pass from Allen that would’ve extended the drive, leading to yet another punt. That summed up the first half for the Bills—a series of missed opportunities and failures to capitalize.

The first half mercifully ended, and the Bills went into the locker room down 3-21. It was clear something needed to change.

Second Half: Glimmers of Hope, But Too Little, Too Late

After an embarrassing first half, the Bills came out with a spark on defense. The Ravens’ first drive of the second half ended in a punt—a marked improvement over the first half where Baltimore scored at will. Then came the moment Bills fans had been waiting for: Josh Allen connected with Shakir for a 52-yard bomb, setting up a Ty Johnson touchdown run that brought the score to 10-21. For a moment, it felt like Buffalo was poised to mount a comeback.

But that momentum didn’t last long. On the next drive, the Ravens went three-and-out, and it looked like the Bills were ready to seize control of the game. Unfortunately, a questionable play call from offensive coordinator Joe Brady derailed the drive. With Allen and the offense finding rhythm, Brady dialed up a trick play that went nowhere. Hindsight is 20/20, but in that moment, trickery wasn’t what Buffalo needed. The offense lost its rhythm, and just like that, Baltimore regained control.

From there, things spiraled out of control. Lamar Jackson ran in another touchdown to extend Baltimore’s lead to 27-10. Then, Tyler Bass missed a field goal that could have provided a spark. Henry continued his rampage, finishing with 184 rushing yards, including another back-breaking 38-yard run that further deflated the Bills’ defense.

The game was officially out of reach when Henry fumbled, but the ball bounced forward into the hands of a Ravens player, who recovered it for a touchdown. That play—an odd, unlucky bounce—summed up the night for Buffalo. Nothing was going their way.

By the time the Ravens scored again to make it 35-10, the game was all but over. Buffalo had once again shown flashes in the second half, but it was too little, too late. This marked the second time this season that the Bills started to wake up only after falling into a deep hole, a troubling trend that also happened in their Week 1 win to the Arizona Cardinals.

A Loss Unlike Any Other

For the Bills, this loss stings not just because of the scoreline but because of its significance. This was the first time Buffalo has lost by more than 20 points in 51 games, dating back to their 2021 loss to the Colts. While it’s just one game in a long season, it raises some red flags, particularly in terms of run defense and the ability to play a full game of good football.

Bright Spots and Takeaways

Despite the lopsided defeat, there were a few bright spots. Keon Coleman, who had dropped a crucial pass in the first half, bounced back with two beautiful catches along the sideline. Josh Allen seemed to trust him more as the game progressed, and that connection could be something to watch in future games.

Another positive was the Bills’ ability to briefly turn the tide in the third quarter. The defense forced two punts, and the offense found success with big plays, but the inconsistency was glaring. It’s something the coaching staff will need to address as they prepare for the rest of the season.

Final Thoughts: Addressing the Core Issues

At its core, this game exposed some glaring weaknesses for the Bills. The inability to stop Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was the most obvious. Henry’s 199-yard performance and Jackson’s timely runs were a clear indication that Buffalo needs to shore up its run defense if it wants to contend with elite teams. Missing Taron Johnson in the secondary didn’t help matters, and the injuries to key players like McGovern, Shakir, and Rapp only made things worse.

If there’s one key takeaway from this loss, it’s that the Bills need to find ways to start faster and play more consistently for an entire game. The second-half rallies, while encouraging, are not a sustainable path to victory. The good news? The season is still young, and there’s plenty of time to correct these mistakes.

As the Bills move forward, they’ll need to put this loss behind them, learn from it, and focus on getting back to the fundamentals—starting with stopping the run.

Go Bills.