The Buffalo Bills need to “learn and move on” from their loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

On a humid evening in Maryland, the Buffalo Bills experienced a real nightmare Monday Night Football Game against the Baltimore Ravens. With a 35:10 defeat, the Bills slip to 3:1 and, despite their somewhat surprising start to the season, are leaving the month of September with a weak record.

If we’re being honest with ourselves, Buffalo didn’t go 17-0 en route to the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Everyone knows it’s hard to win in the NFL, which is why the Bills have been a big point of discussion for three games. Rather, it is the manner in which Buffalo lost to Baltimore that has many wondering about the Bills’ season prospects. Fair or not.

The big concern might be that the Bills’ receivers have failed to consistently create separation and struggle against the league’s worst pass defense. Buffalo’s offensive line did Allen little favors and gave him even less time to find open receivers.

As a team, you’ll have as memorable a first half as any Josh Allen-led Bills team. You enter the second half, force a three-pointer, and score a touchdown early in the third quarter that steals your momentum. Now, within 11 and 21-11, your defense forces a punt – which the offensive coordinator uses as an excuse for a stupid trick play. Instead of continuing to use what was working, Buffalo decided to put wide receiver Curtis Samuel at quarterback so he could throw to Allen, who fumbled when he was almost immediately swarmed by a group of hungry Ravens.

Throw the piece in the trash in Baltimore – don’t even leave it on the plane back to Buffalo. All the good that offensive coordinator Joe Brady has brought to the team should not be undone by poor play-calling. It’s very likely that this play was Buffalo’s death knell, as it took away every ounce of momentum and led to seven more points in Baltimore’s favor.

Allen herself pointed out that her momentum prepared her to reach the end zone again and bring the score to four points at 21-17 in favor of the Ravens. Instead, everything good was undone by a trick for which there is no excuse. The question now is whether they will learn from it and what they will take with them.

“They” say that no halftime lead in the NFL is ever safe, but somehow the Ravens’ 21-3 lead felt as safe as it can be thanks to a Bills team that was in almost every way was overwhelmed and overwhelmed. To Josh Allen’s credit, he did some great things when he found the time, and Buffalo’s running game wasn’t hampered by the league’s toughest defense. Had the score been closer, it’s possible that the Bills’ running game would have served as a positive talking point beyond these few words.

The Bills had not been on the losing side in 43 games during the regular season prior to Week 4. In fact, they hadn’t lost a game by more than six points in the regular season during that span. Seriously.

The last time they lost by more than six points outside of the postseason? It was in 2021 and against the Indianapolis Colts when Buffalo lost 41-15. Interestingly, it was a game where they were completely swept off the map by their opponent’s running game. Running back Jonathan Taylor had 32 carries for 185 yards and four touchdowns.

This loss to the Colts was a thorn in the side of many Bills fans. Monday’s defeat is sure to get worse. Fortunately, Derrick Henry failed to set an NFL record for the number of 200-yard rushing games, as he “only” managed 199 yards on 24 carries on the ground. Although he eliminated Henry’s 87-yard run, he still managed 23 carries for 112 yards.

There will certainly be a lot of negative articles in the coming days about Tyler Bass missing his second kick of the season. His counterpart, the esteemed Justin Tucker, was not asked to attempt a field goal but made all five of his extra points. One can recall that Tucker suffered quite a few missed shots in the first three games.

It’s worth wondering how many people willing to upset Bass are willing to admit that Josh Allen made the kick after an 18-yard sack much more difficult. Or will they admit the weather was bad, which never helps kickers? Yes, as Sean McDermott said again after the game: Bass is expected to make his kicks. He is capable, but not always capable. The Bills’ failure to hit that kick didn’t cost them a win in Week 4. However, lack of preparation and execution does.

What Buffalo can take away from this game is a healthy helping of humble pie when it was needed. Remember, last season there was a 4-0 Miami Dolphins team that was the talk of the NFL before their embarrassing trip to Orchard Park, NY.

Head coach Sean McDermott needs to get to the bottom of the problem. You will definitely see these Ravens again if they want to make the playoffs. If they had to lose a game like that against Baltimore, at least they got it out of their system in September.

After the dust settles, the Buffalo Bills are still in first place in the AFC East, still at 3-1 and still ahead of the Baltimore Ravens. Next up for the Bills is a visit to Texas with the Houston Texans, who are 3-1 and in first place in the AFC South.