For weeks, the Buffalo Bills were riding high as one of the most formidable teams in the NFL, boasting an undefeated start to their season. With a stingy defense andJosh Allen leading the charge, they looked unstoppable. But Sunday night, all that changed when the Baltimore Ravens delivered a reality check in front of a national audience.

Buffalo’s defense, which had been a brick wall in the early weeks, suddenly appeared fragile. A string of injuries combined with a lack of depth exposed vulnerabilities, which the Ravens capitalized on at every opportunity. It wasn’t just the score that reflected the Bills’ unraveling, but the sheer dominance displayed by Baltimore, especially on the ground.

Enter Derrick Henry. The powerful running back, known for his ability to terrorize defenses, set the tone for the game early. On the Ravens’ very first offensive play, Henry took an 87-yard handoff straight to the end zone, leaving the Bills scrambling for answers. This thunderous run marked the longest in franchise history and sent a clear message: the Ravens came to play.

Lamar Jackson, the Ravens’ electrifying quarterback and reigning MVP, added to the onslaught, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. Buffalo’s defense, which had stymied opponents up to this point, simply had no answer for Jackson’s dual-threat capabilities. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 156 yards while also rushing for 54 yards. His touchdown passes to Henry and Justice Hill were precise, showcasing his evolving prowess as a passer.

For Henry, this performance brought back memories of his 2021 prime-time showcase against the Bills while he was with Tennessee. On that occasion, he torched them for 143 yards and three touchdowns. This time around, Henry ran for 199 yards, averaging a staggering 8.3 yards per carry. To cap it off, he even caught a rare touchdown pass in the second quarter, his first since 2019.

Bills’ offense falters as streaks end, Ravens expose defensive flaws

Buffalo’s offense struggled to keep pace. Josh Allen had moments of brilliance, particularly a 52-yard pass to Khalil Shakir that set up the Bills’ only touchdown of the night-a short run by Ty Johnson. But for most of the game, the Bills were outmatched, and Allen fumbled while attempting to create a big play in the second half. He finished with a lackluster 180 passing yards and a 16-of-29 completion rate.

As the night wore on, it became clear that this was Baltimore’s game to lose. Even when Henry fumbled near the goal line in the fourth quarter, Patrick Ricard was there to recover and extend their lead to 35-10. Buffalo had no response, and as Allen was pulled late in the game for backup Mitch Trubisky, the result was all but sealed.

For the Bills, it wasn’t just about losing their unbeaten record. The team also saw several significant streaks come to an end. Their NFL-record run of 43 straight regular-season games without a loss by six or more points was shattered. It was also the first time since 2021 that Buffalo allowed over 200 rushing yards in a game, a testament to how Baltimore dominated on the ground.

Injuries further plagued Buffalo. Safety Taylor Rapp was knocked out early with a concussion, while Shakir and center Connor McGovern briefly exited with injuries before returning to action. Meanwhile, Baltimore was forced to shuffle their offensive line due to the absence of left guard Andrew Vorhees, but the changes had little impact on their fluid offensive performance.

Next week, Buffalo will look to regroup as they head to Houston, while the Ravens will carry this momentum into a divisional clash with the Cincinnati Bengals. For now, though, the narrative is clear: Baltimore exposed the cracks in Buffalo’s armor and reestablished themselves as a force to be reckoned with.