Analyzing the Ravens’ playtime percentages in their Week 4 victory over the Bills.
In Week 4, the Baltimore Ravens offense ran all over a light Buffalo Bills defense with frequent usage of fullback Patrick Ricard and multiple tight ends, while the defense rotated the front seven to avoid fatigue against obvious passing situations in the second half.
Offense
The most telling Ravens snap count was Josh Johnson’s three garbage time snaps with Lamar Jackson relaxing on the sidelines after a calm, efficient performance. In recent years, Jackson has too often been asked to close out games on offense with a lead slipping away, but the Ravens kept the game well out of reach, letting their two-time MVP watch the final offensive drive from the bench.
The Ravens’ offensive line played all 57 snaps, with Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, and Daniel Faalele all starting their fourth straight game.
Patrick Mekari made his first-ever start at left guard, completing a career offensive line cycle for the versatile veteran and Roger Rosengarten started at right tackle for the first time in his NFL career. Ben Cleveland also played one snap on offense as a sixth offensive lineman on a goal line package.
Derrick Henry’s 65% snap share was his highest as a Raven due to a run-heavy game plan that dared Bills’ linebackers and defensive backs to try to tackle the All-Pro.
Justice Hill’s snap count dropped to 20, his lowest of the season as Baltimore avoided obvious passing situations. He made his playing time count, though, catching all six of his targets and converting a 3rd-and-14 and a 19-yard touchdown in the span of three plays.
Three Ravens receivers played at least 50% of the game, with 39 snaps for Zay Flowers, 37 snaps for Rashod Bateman, and 29 snaps for Nelson Agholor. They only combined for six targets, but committed to their run-blocking all night. Tylan Wallace also played 10 snaps sprinkled throughout the game, largely on blocking duties as well.
Todd Monken brought out the heavy personnel against a Bills defense that runs exclusively nickel and dime packages. Patrick Ricard played 61% of snaps, his highest percentage since Monken took over as offensive coordinator. Like the wide receivers, tight ends Isaiah Likely (31 snaps) and Mark Andrews (26 snaps) only saw a few targets, but played a huge role in the running game climbing to the second level.
Defense
No Ravens defender went the distance as the team’s 25-point lead allowed Brandon Stephens, Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Roquan Smith to come off the field after 54 snaps, 92% of the defense’s total. Stephens notched another impressive game in coverage, while Hamilton, Williams and Smith rotated around the middle of the field.
Rookie Nate Wiggins played a career-high 51 snaps (86%), a substantial step up from his 55 combined snaps in Weeks 1 and 3. The Ravens relied on him as a boundary cornerback with Marlon Humphrey frequently sliding into the slot. Humphrey missed a handful of snaps with an injury just before halftime, but returned on the Bills’ first drive of the third quarter.
With Michael Pierce sidelined, Travis Jones played 41 snaps for a career-high 69% snap share, his fourth-straight game with at least 60% playtime. Nnamdi Madubuike was his primary partner in the trenches with 38 snaps (54%), his lowest snap count and percentage this year. Broderick Washington played 26 snaps, and Brent Urban made his first appearance of the season with 25 snaps to complete the defensive line rotation.
Trenton Simpson saw similar usage to the Chiefs and Cowboys game, playing 63% of snaps with less time on the field as the Bills went away from the run and stayed in obvious passing situations. That gave way to more nickel and dime packages with Eddie Jackson (20 snaps, 34%) and Ar’Darius Washington (18 snaps, 31%).
Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy buoyed the edge rusher rotation with 32 and 27 snaps, respectively. Tavius Robinson and David Ojabo both played 21 snaps apiece, while Adisa Isaac played 14 snaps in his first NFL appearance. Malik Harrison only played eight snaps, primarily playing run defense with Zach Orr avoiding dropping him into coverage.
Rookies T.J. Tampa and Sanoussi Kane got their first career regular season reps on defense in garbage time with five snaps each after Bills backup QB Mitchell Trubisky entered the game.