Bills head coach Sean McDermott joked that Buffalo might need five 300-pound linebackers to stop Baltimore’s Derrick Henry.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard took a more realistic approach on Wednesday, saying that stopping Henry will require all 11 defenders working together. Even quarterback Josh Allen, who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, admitted feeling intimidated the few times he’s stood next to the 6-foot-2, 250-pound Henry.
“He’s absolutely massive,” Allen said. “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.”
One way or the other, stopping Henry is a major challenge for Buffalo (14-4) as they face the third-seeded Ravens (13-5) in a divisional round playoff game on Sunday night.
The Bills haven’t forgotten what happened in Week 4 when Henry broke off an 87-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game during Baltimore’s 35-10 win. Henry finished with a season-high 199 rushing yards and also scored on a 5-yard catch. Buffalo allowed a season-worst 271 rushing yards and 427 total yards in that game.
“Run game, pass game, third down, screen game, red zone… We got our butts kicked,” said defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.
Though it was hard for the Bills to watch that game’s film again, Babich mentioned that it could serve as motivation.
“No one likes losing like we lost. I mean, we’re all competitors,” Babich said. “Sometimes those scars help you when you do have the chance to play a team again.”
Henry, in his first season with the Ravens, has had a strong year. At 31, he finished second in the NFL behind Saquon Barkley with 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, setting new franchise records.
“He’s moving a lot faster than what he looks. That’s probably what really messes up the corners and linebackers when he hits the edge,” said Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
“He’s definitely one of one. But 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,” Humphrey added. “He’s just different. I know the Bills will have their hand, uh, it’ll be tough.”
The good news for the Bills is that they’re healthier going into Sunday’s game, with Bernard, linebacker Matt Milano, and cornerback Taron Johnson set to return after missing the previous game against the Ravens.
Another positive for Buffalo is their past success against Henry. In five meetings with Tennessee, Henry went over 100 yards only once, totaling 359 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
However, the Ravens present a unique challenge for any defense. Stopping Henry is just part of the problem for Buffalo, as Baltimore’s offense leads the NFL with 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards this season. They finished with 7,224 total yards, the third-most in league 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 said. “That two-dimensional type of weaponry, if you will, is tough on people.”
A recurring issue for Buffalo has been inconsistencies in their defense, particularly against the run. The Bills allowed over 120 rushing yards in nine games this year. The concerns have gone beyond this season, as Buffalo’s defense allowed a total of 500 rushing yards in their last three divisional playoff exits.
The criticism has been tough, but defensive tackle DaQuan Jones isn’t letting it affect him anymore.
“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?” Jones said.
“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 wearing a Bills-colored sweatshirt with a three-word phrase including profanity, which was designed by tackle Jordan Phillips. The phrase came directly from a recent defensive meeting.
“Just not really acknowledging the outside noise,” Jones said, “and just having the mindset of just go out there and play our style of football and see what happens.”
