Getting ready for a game against the Ravens is unlike any other opponent the Bills will see all season because of star quarterback Lamar Jackson. The way Jackson moves is just different than almost any other player at his position, and backing that up with his passing prowess makes him a multi-dimensional threat every week. While there is a healthy respect for his passing ability, it’s what he does as a rusher that causes fits for defensive play callers. Whether that’s in scrambling, or plainly as a rusher where he fakes the handoff, reads the defender and gets yardage on a wide rush, there is no shortage of things to prepare for.
It especially puts a strain on defensive ends because how they handle it from one play to the next could be the difference between helping the defense get off the field and the Ravens putting together a touchdown drive. But since the Bills began being competitive in 2019 under head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have been among the best at keeping Jackson in check over their past three appearances. Over that time frame, Jackson has averaged 6.4 yards per rush and scored 28 touchdowns on the ground. But the Bills have only allowed 4.7 yards per rush — the third-best mark against Jackson of the 28 teams he faced, and they haven’t let him score a rushing touchdown. The Bills also have the sixth-best rate (22.6 percent) of limiting Jackson rushes to zero or negative yards, according to TruMedia.
But with a new cast of defensive ends from 2019 and 2020 when they were at their best limiting Jackson, it’s an entirely new matchup. The only holdover from 2020 is A.J. Epenesa, who was only a rookie and a far different player at that stage of his career.
