There was about six minutes left and the Ravens defense needed to keep the Buffalo Bills out of the end zone to win.
Baltimore was in the same position numerous times last year and saw the ending play out too many times not in their favor.
New season, new result.
Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs sacked quarterback Tyrod Taylor to force a three-and-out and the offense took it from there, milking the clock for a 13-7 victory in the regular-season opener at M&T Bank Stadium.
It was a sloppy effort by the offense, at times, but Baltimore's retooled, faster defense dominated for much of the day to grind out a victory.
The Ravens surrendered just 2 yards in the first quarter and gave up their only score after Taylor deftly spun out of a sack to find an open tight end. The Bills were shut out in the second half.
Taylor finished just 15-for-22 for 111 yards and no touchdowns and was sacked twice. Bills running back LeSean McCoy had just 58 rushing yards and the Bills totaled only 65 on the ground.
Baltimore's offense made its biggest impact with new big-play wide receivers Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman. Wallace scored on a 66-yard touchdown and Perriman put the Ravens in field-goal range to take an early lead.
Outside of that, the Ravens offensive line – featuring two rookies starting on the left side for the first time in 21 years – allowed too much pressure on Flacco and was plagued by penalties and an early snap that resulted in a fumble.
Impact Plays
- Perriman's first NFL catch was a 35-yard leaping beauty over cornerback Stephon Gilmore's head, setting up a 50-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker to put the Ravens on the board first with a 3-0 lead.
- The Ravens were facing a third-and-1 when Flacco dialed up a long ball. Flacco hit Wallace in stride for a 66-yard touchdown down the middle of the field to give the Ravens a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
- Taylor spun out of a potential sack by linebacker Albert McClellan and completed a 33-yard pass to convert on third down. McCoy punched in a touchdown on fourth-and-inches to cut Baltimore's lead to 10-7 with three minutes left in the first half.
- The Ravens got a free first down that wiped a field goal off the board and instead put Baltimore at Buffalo's 13-yard line in the fourth quarter, but Buffalo's pressure continued to get to Flacco. He was sacked on third-and-7 to force a 37-yard field goal.
- Suggs wrestled down Taylor on the Bills' final third down of their final offensive drive, sparing the Ravens from another heart attack-inducing finish. An 11-yard end around by Wallace helped eat up the clock.
Standout Performer
CB Shareece Wright
Wright led the defense with 11 tackles, including three for loss. He also nearly came up with an interception. In a game led by the defense, Wright stood out.
On The Horizon
The Ravens will travel to Cleveland for their first road game of the year. Baltimore beat the Browns on a kick-six last year in Cleveland.
