As the 2024 NFL season’s fourth week began, the Buffalo Bills were riding high, regarded as the league’s top team. However, the Baltimore Ravens halted their momentum.

At M&T Bank Stadium, the Ravens delivered a commanding 35-10 victory against the AFC rivals. Baltimore led from start to finish, with Derrick Henry almost hitting the 200-yard mark and Lamar Jackson having an impressive outing with a passer rating of 135.4.

With this loss, the Bills fell to a 3-1 record, while the Ravens improved to 2-2 after starting the season with two consecutive losses. This match could become crucial for the AFC playoff picture as Baltimore continues to climb in the AFC North standings.

Let’s explore the winners and losers from the Bills vs. Ravens matchup, including players and coaches, as well as teams that didn’t compete on Sunday night.

Winners of the Bills vs. Ravens game

Derrick Henry

Any doubts about Henry slowing down in his 30-year-old season were dispelled during “Sunday Night Football.” He opened the Ravens’ first offensive play with an 87-yard touchdown run, setting a new franchise record, surpassing the old 82-yard record shared by Jamal Lewis and Le’Ron McClain.

Henry demonstrated his impressive speed, reaching a top speed of 21.29 mph, making it the fourth-fastest run by a player in the 2024 season, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

He maintained a significant workload throughout the game, finishing with 24 carries for 199 yards and two touchdowns—one rushing and one receiving. He fell just one yard short of achieving his seventh career 200-yard game, which would have set the NFL record for the most in history.

Clearly, Henry’s performance alleviates pressure on Jackson while creating opportunities for Baltimore’s offense. As long as both players stay healthy, the Ravens will possess one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the league, greatly aiding their Super Bowl aspirations in an era favoring two-high safety defenses.

Lamar Jackson

While Henry was the star of Baltimore’s offense, Jackson also had a stellar game. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 54 yards and another touchdown.

Jackson’s efficiency once earned him the NFL MVP title last season, despite not having overwhelming stats. He appears to be on track to reaffirm his status as one of the league’s pivotal players, especially as he forges a strong connection with Henry.

Zach Orr’s Ravens defense

Like Henry, the Ravens defense faced skepticism at the start of the 2024 season, particularly in the wake of Mike Macdonald’s departure to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Baltimore opted for internal promotion, appointing Orr, a former Ravens player, as the new defensive coordinator. After a rocky start, the defense has steadily improved and showcased its prowess by stifling a previously explosive Buffalo offense.

The Bills managed only 236 yards of total offense against Orr’s unit. Additionally, they were unable to score any touchdowns with Josh Allen for the first time since Urban Meyer’s Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Bills 9-6 back in 2021. Veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy also recorded two sacks, marking his third consecutive game with multiple sacks.

If the Ravens continue to enhance their defense weekly, they could soon rank among the best in the NFL. If so, coach John Harbaugh will certainly appreciate Orr’s efforts in continuing Macdonald’s legacy.

Kansas City Chiefs

It may seem odd to label the Chiefs as winners on a day when they possibly lost their top receiver to a torn ACL, but they remain the last unbeaten team in the AFC. While it’s still early in the season, this position provides them with an advantage in the race for the conference’s No. 1 seed.

This outcome benefits Kansas City, especially having already defeated the Ravens, which now gives them a two-game lead and tiebreaker over Baltimore while also gaining a one-game lead over Buffalo. Again, it’s early, but given the injuries they’ve experienced, every advantage counts as they attempt to secure a third consecutive Super Bowl championship.

Losers of the Bills vs. Ravens game

Buffalo Bills’ public perception

At the start of the 2024 NFL season, the Bills were frequently touted as the league’s premier team. They were among the NFL’s five unbeaten squads following Week 3, with Josh Allen performing at what many considered the peak of his career.

However, following Week 4, the narrative surrounding the Bills could take a drastic turn. The teams Buffalo faced in the opening weeks—Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, and Jaguars—have all shown defensive vulnerabilities that extend beyond just their games against the Bills. This will likely raise questions about whether the Bills benefited from a surprisingly weak schedule at the commencement of the season.

While it’s true that the Bills suffered a significant defeat against the Ravens, it’s important to keep perspective. Buffalo had previously decisively beaten the Dolphins and Jaguars, and quarterback Josh Allen has impressively avoided throwing an interception through the first four games, showing improvement in his decision-making skills. Additionally, the Ravens boast one of the strongest defenses in the league.

Nevertheless, the Bills’ heavy loss to Baltimore is likely to lead to second-guessing among fans and analysts, and there will certainly be much discussion as Buffalo prepares for their Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans.

Buffalo’s Receiving Corps

It’s worth noting that the Bills’ receivers did not perform poorly on Sunday night. Khalil Shakir contributed a key 52-yard play that energized the Bills’ offense in the second half. Dalton Kincaid was a dependable target for Allen and crucial for maintaining the offense’s momentum. Meanwhile, Keon Coleman demonstrated the promise that earned him a second-round draft pick.

However, this was the first game where the absence of Stefon Diggs was greatly felt. Once falling behind 21-3, the Bills struggled to find a player consistently able to create separation. While Shakir, Kincaid, and Coleman were decent options, they lacked a standout No. 1 receiver to generate opportunities for them.

This lack of a primary target may explain why Allen often had to scramble in the pocket, waiting for receivers to break free. It also accounts for his attempts at challenging downfield throws to Coleman throughout the game.

There’s potential for Coleman to grow into a more significant receiving option for Buffalo as the season progresses, but for now, the Bills may find it challenging to recover from substantial deficits or score against formidable defenses. Even an exceptional quarterback like Allen can only achieve so much without a premier receiver on the roster.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced their first defeat of the season against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. A silver lining could have been that if Baltimore had lost as well; however, the Ravens’ dominant win now places them just one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.

While it’s still early in the season, each game is critical as the AFC playoff race heats up. The Steelers entered Week 4 leading the AFC North, but they’ll now leave with the division tightening up in a typically competitive environment.