Baltimore Ravens: 5 Matchups to Watch vs. Buffalo Bills
By Joe Serpico
LeSean McCoy vs. Ravens Run Defense
The Bills have one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL in LeSean McCoy. The Ravens have historically been one of the best run defenses in football. Something has to give in this one.
McCoy did not have a stellar first year in Buffalo after two spectacular years with the Philadelphia Eagles. Injuries limited him to 12 games, but he still finished with a respectable 1,187 total yards and five touchdowns. Most franchises would love to have a player of that caliber on their team.
The Ravens first-team defense did allow the Detroit Lions to pick up some solid yards on the ground. Theo Riddick picked up 34 yards on one play and Ameer Abdullah had an 11-yard carry as well. McCoy is a significantly better back than the Lions have on the roster. They also allowed Matthew Stafford pick up 11 yards on a scramble, which is concerning consider Stafford is nowhere near the runner that Taylor is. That will not be good enough against the Bills.
Taylor is coming off a Pro Bowl year, but the Ravens would rather Buffalo beat them through the air than the ground. That begins by limiting McCoy‘s impact on the game and forcing Tyrod to make decisions from the pocket.