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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Bills head coach Sean McDermott humorously suggested that Buffalo could use five linebackers weighing 300 pounds each to effectively tackle the challenge posed by Baltimore’s Derrick Henry. Linebacker Terrel Bernard offered a more pragmatic view on Wednesday, emphasizing that it would take the entire defense to contain the formidable running back. Quarterback Josh Allen, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds, did not shy away from admitting a sense of intimidation when he’s been next to the 6-foot-2, 250-pound Henry.
“He’s absolutely massive,” Allen remarked. “He’s as fast as anybody on the field and once he gets going downhill, he’s just tough to bring down because of his sheer size and speed.”
Stopping Henry is a primary focus for the Bills (14-4) as they prepare to host the third-seeded Ravens (13-5) in a divisional playoff game this Sunday evening. The memory of their previous encounter looms large; in Week 4, Henry blazed through for an 87-yard touchdown run on the Ravens’ very first offensive play during their 35-10 victory. That day, he racked up a staggering 199 rushing yards, adding a receiving touchdown as well, which contributed to Buffalo’s season-high allowance of 271 rushing yards and a total of 427 yards surrendered.
“Run game, pass game, third down, screen game, red zone…We got our butts kicked,” acknowledged defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. Watching the film of that game has been tough, but Babich believes it can also inspire the team. “No one likes losing like we lost. I mean, we’re all competitors,” he said. “Sometimes those scars help you when you do have the chance to play a team again.”
Henry is having a remarkable season in Baltimore, finishing second in the NFL in rushing yards at 1,921, only trailing Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley. He also set franchise records with 16 rushing touchdowns. Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey pointed out that Henry often exceeds expectations when he hits the edge, confusing defenders. “He’s definitely one of one,” Humphrey added. “I think the visual and what’s actually happening doesn’t really match up. It’s like, ‘Oh, I have a perfect angle,’ and then he gets around you.”
On a brighter note for Buffalo, they enter this match healthier, as Bernard, linebacker Matt Milano, and cornerback Taron Johnson are all set to return after missing the last game against the Ravens. Additionally, they take comfort from their past success against Henry, having held him under 100 yards in four of their five encounters during his time with Tennessee, where he totaled 359 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
However, the Ravens present a complex challenge for any team. Stopping Henry represents only half of the task, as Baltimore boasts a record-breaking offense that became the first team to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a single season, ending the year with a remarkable 7,224 total yards—third most in NFL history.
“They’re a one-two combination. I don’t know if the NFL has ever seen that type of combination of power, speed, explosiveness,” McDermott noted. A concern lingers over Buffalo’s defensive inconsistencies, especially concerning their run defense, as they allowed more than 120 rushing yards in nine games this season. This scrutiny isn’t new, as the defense has been criticized for its performance in recent playoff exits, having permitted a cumulative total of 500 rushing yards in three consecutive divisional round games.
Despite the scrutiny, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones expressed indifference towards criticism about their performance. “At the end of the day, our end goal is to win a ring. I’m not going to sit here and harp because people are saying I don’t got the stats or Ed Oliver doesn’t have the stats. OK? What do you want me to do?” he stated.
“We’re chasing something better,” he added. “The next game right now is the Baltimore Ravens, and that’s all we’re focusing about.” Jones was seen wearing a Bills-colored sweatshirt emblazoned with a phrase reflecting the defense’s attitude towards outside criticism. This motto was crafted by his fellow tackle Jordan Phillips, inspired by a comment made during a recent defensive meeting. “Just not really acknowledging the outside noise,” Jones said. “We’re focusing on going out there and playing our style of football and seeing what happens.”
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