Report Card Grades for Bills' Week 8 Game vs. Ravens

The Buffalo Bills have won 12 consecutive games coming off the bye week. 

That's the case after they blew out the Baltimore Ravens 36-10 on Sunday in a far-from-pristine performance against a team that was hardly competitive after losing two quarterbacks to injury in the first half. 

Regardless, here are my grades for all of the key players from the victory.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Josh Allen

Josh Allen: B

It was an uneven and sometimes puzzling outing for Allen, who ultimately put up solid numbers with 289 passing yards, 30 rushing yards and three total touchdowns, but he also made several poor decisions and was off target more frequently than usual. 

Allen's first-quarter interception was primarily the fault of tight end Jackson Hawes, but that pick wouldn't have occurred had Allen not fired a rocket behind his intended target.

Later, he overthrew Keon Coleman on what would have been a home-run touchdown, nearly threw an interception at the goal line, and failed to see several wide-open targets on incompletions (one of which would have resulted in a huge gain for James Cook, but instead led to a downfield injury for Josh Palmer). 

Allen looked hesitant on several option plays and scrambles, ultimately costing the offense in a few of those spots. 

He did make up for a lot of that with several hero plays down the stretch, including some dimes to Dalton Kincaid and DJ Moore to ice the game in the fourth quarter. But all in all, it wasn't a performance he'd submit to Hall of Fame voters. 

Running Back

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James Cook

James Cook: B

Cook did not have a lot of room to work with for much of the day, but the veteran still managed 102 scrimmage yards on 23 touches. It looks as though he avoided what could have been a scary injury in the fourth quarter, and he managed to bounce back from a mid-game lull with 28 yards on his final six rushes (plus a nine-yard gain that was wiped out by a penalty). 

It was also another turnover-free performance, which is encouraging considering his ball-security issues dating back a calendar year. 

Ray Davis: A

Not only did the backup average a team-best 5.0 yards per attempt on six carries, but he lost credit for a sweet 12-yard slash that was negated by a holding penalty in the fourth quarter. Davis really helped the Bills put this game away, and I'd like to see more of him going forward.

Ty Johnson: C+

He did take a swing pass for 18 yards on a fourth-down play late in the first half, but Johnson generated just five yards on six touches outside of that. 

Wide Receiver

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DJ Moore

DJ Moore: B-

The veteran did catch four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in his return from injury, and he made an unbelievable grab on a contested play downfield on a third-quarter scoring drive. Still, Moore left some plays on the field (he was targeted seven times) and had an avoidable fumble late in the first half. It's also possible he's hurt again, which doesn't impact his grade but has to be a concern based on how often he's been injured already this season. 

Keon Coleman: B-

A victim of Moore's return, he was targeted only three times and finished with a single four-yard reception. But he did get open on what might have been a 74-yard touchdown if Allen hadn't overthrown him. 

Khalil Shakir: A

Shakir was in a zone on Sunday. He made a few critical receptions in traffic and picked up crucial yardage with second efforts and sharp cuts after the catch. He ultimately caught five passes on six targets for 64 yards, but his impact went well beyond that. 

That aforementioned 18-yard swing play for Ty Johnson? Shakir played a huge role as a blocker. 

Tight End

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Dalton Kincaid

Dalton Kincaid: B+

It was actually Kincaid who threw the other key block on that Johnson catch-and-run, but that moment was easily overshadowed by a four-catch, 86-yard effort that included the game-icing touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, he loses the A due to a really brutal drop in the red zone, as well as another semi-drop in the first quarter. 

Dawson Knox: C

Knox also had a drop, catching just one pass for six yards. He did, however, continue to do fine work in pass protection and as a tush-push maestro. 

Jackson Hawes: D

He's taking a lot of heat for tipping an interception into the air, but the pass was inaccurate and behind him. His blocking remained solid, which is his primary role on this offense. Still, that freak turnover and a holding penalty count against him.

Offensive Line

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OT Dion Dawkins: B-

Dawkins did tremendous work maximizing Allen's hang-in time on that critical play that resulted in a highlight-reel Moore catch on a third-quarter scoring drive. He was solid throughout the day in pass protection but did have some trouble as a run blocker and took what could have been a very costly false-start penalty in the red zone early. 

G Alec Anderson: B

He was often overmatched in the running game but again proved to be feisty and tough in a strong performance in pass protection. I didn't count a single pressure on Anderson. 

C Connor McGovern: B+

On several key plays in crunch time, McGovern was the pivotal blocker on crucial runs for Cook and Davis. He was also a monster on Moore's fourth-quarter touchdown play. 

G O'Cyrus Torrence: C

He and the entire interior struggled to open up lanes for much of the first half, and a fourth-quarter holding penalty didn't help Torrence's cause. He's saved by a strong showing as a pass blocker. 

OT Tylan Grable: B

Making his first start of the season in place of the injured Spencer Brown, Grable was not the problem. The 2024 sixth-round pick could have done more to help an overpowered Hawes on a third-quarter holding penalty, but he looked like a suitable starter overall. 

Edge

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Bradley Chubb: D

He got his hand on the quarterback once and brought the pressure on a Deone Walker strip-sack that was ultimately overturned on replay. And he's certainly more of an asset than a liability against the run. But it was still another quiet game overall for a veteran who hasn't recorded a sack since Week 2. 

Greg Rousseau: A

The heart and soul of this defense took Lamar Jackson out on Baltimore's first play from scrimmage. He was an absolute force when the Bills were putting the game away in the second half, and it's important to acknowledge he made a couple of key plays on Derrick Henry in run defense, too. 

T.J. Parker: B-

A successful blitz from Dorian Williams was the primary force behind Parker's second-quarter sack on Joe Fagnano, but the 22-year-old rookie completed the play and deserves credit for that. He didn't make a positive impact beyond that despite being on the field for 25 snaps, and he was flagged for being offside late in the first half. 

Defensive Line

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Deone Walker

Deone Walker: A-

His second-half strip-sack on Fagnano was overturned but it was still another high-impact game for the emerging star. I noted two particular third-down plays in which Walker was a disruptive force, causing the Ravens to punt it away. The motor is always running for the big guy. An encroachment penalty in the red zone was the only real blemish on Sunday. 

Ed Oliver: C+

There were a couple of vintage Oliver moments in his return from a knee injury, but he played just 20 snaps as he's being eased back in. He wasn't a factor beyond the occasional effective rush. 

T.J. Sanders: C-

I have four full pages of notes from this game. Sanders' name isn't mentioned once despite the fact he played 21 snaps. He was a ghost, but there were also no killer mistakes. 

Landon Jackson: A

I actually loved the work Jackson did against Henry, especially early in the game. And he added a second-quarter sack that likely took Baltimore points off the board. 

Linebacker

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Dorian Williams

Terrel Bernard: B+

It felt as though Bernard brought more energy to this game than all of the previous six combined. He was a heat-seeking missile, consistently making plays as a pass rusher and run defender. His tackling comes and goes, but I'm not heavily faulting him for a very questionable low-block penalty in the second half.

It appears as though something clicked for Bernard during the bye week. His aggressiveness was costly on a couple of occasions Sunday, and he was overmatched here and there, but the good certainly outweighed the bad. 

Dorian Williams: C+

Parker's sack was tied directly to a great blitz from Williams, but the 25-year-old continues to be bullied in run defense. He was just not able to hang on several strong plays from Henry in this game. It's a roller-coaster ride with this guy, but this was not an overly problematic performance altogether.  

Secondary

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Davison Igbinosun

CB Christian Benford: A

It's not easy to grade cornerbacks against a third-string quarterback making his debut as an undrafted rookie, but it was practically a perfect day for Benford in terms of coverage.

CB Davison Igbinosun: B

Close to the same story for the rookie, who recorded his first career interception on a play that was generated by Geno Stone. Igbinosun whiffed on a tackle that resulted in a Justice Hill first down and probably got away with a pass interference penalty late in the first half, but it was a net-positive showing. 

CB Te'Cory Couch: A

What an introduction! In Couch's debut as a position player, he stepped in for Dee Alford in the slot and was the primary reason why Zay Flowers had the first zero-catch game of his career (and on five targets, no less). He was also a sure tackler. There's a good chance that when Alford returns, Couch remains in the mix at Maxwell Hairston's expense. 

S Cole Bishop: A+

Bishop has steadily picked up his game following a slow start, and this was easily his best outing of the season to date. That second-quarter strip sack on Tyler Huntley was a thing of beauty, and I didn't spot a mistake beyond that. 

S Damar Hamlin: B+

He takes a lot of heat, but Hamlin did his job with C.J. Gardner-Johnson out of the lineup. And while the competition wasn't overwhelming, he had a big responsibility with lots of work involving Flowers. Zero complaints here. 

S Geno Stone: A

As with Couch, we'll want to see Stone against an offense that isn't using a third-string quarterback before drawing grand conclusions. Still, Stone was awesome in his debut with the team after being elevated from the practice squad. 

He showed great instincts on a near-pick that resulted in Igbinosun's interception and had a tremendous open-field tackle for loss on Hill to force a Baltimore punt and set the tone early. 

The guy co-led the team with six tackles despite playing just 19 snaps.

Special Teams

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Tyler Bass

K Tyler Bass: A

The veteran successfully doinked in a 56-yarder and nailed every other kick he was tasked with on another perfect afternoon. 

P Tommy Doman Jr.: B

Two fine punts from the rookie, both resulting in the Ravens starting at the 23-yard line. No problem there, even if it wasn't a herculean effort. 

KR/PR Greg Dortch: B+

He had three strong punt returns, gaining eight, 15 and 17 yards on his three attempts in an error-free showing.