Elvis Dumervil headlines the Week 1 inactives for the Baltimore Ravens ahead of their season-opening game with the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
The Ravens will host the Bills at 1:00 p.m. ET, and must face a potent offense without one of their key pass-rushers. Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees would have counted on Dumervil to help trap Buffalo’s mobile quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the pocket.
Fortunately for the Ravens, they aren’t short of options on the edges. Rookie Kamalei Correa and Albert McClellan can help cover for Dumervil.
It will also help to still have Terrell Suggs on the other side. Expect Pees to move the veteran around to help exploit mismatches along the Bills’ O-line.
Meanwhile, the Bills have left rookie running back Jonathan Williams out of the fray. His absence means the onus will be on LeSean McCoy to try and overcome a tough run defense.
Baltimore’s defensive front is loaded with brawn and playmaking potential, thanks to Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan. Pees will know that bottling up McCoy is the key to beating the Bills, who trust a run-first attack on head coach Rex Ryan’s watch.
The Ravens have the talent to make a run at the AFC North title this season, provided they stay healthy. But proving their playoff credentials has to mean beating a Bills side still suspect on defense, and potentially one-dimensional on offense.
Here’s the full list of inactives, per the league’s official site:
Buffalo Bills
Bryson Albright, LB
Colt Anderson, DB
Cardale Jones, QB
Patrick Lewis, C
Walt Powell, WR
Kevon Seymour, DB
Jonathan Williams, RB
Baltimore Ravens
Elvis Dumervil, OLB
Javorius Allen, RB
Will Davis, SS
Kenneth Dixon, RB
Willie Henry, DT
Jerraud Powers, DB
John Urschel, C
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Leaving out Allen and rookie Dixon means the Ravens will rely on Terrance West and Justin Forsett to handle the rushing chores. The latter’s versatility should prove decisive against an overmatched Buffalo defense.