In the chaos of a nightmarish defensive performance against the Baltimore Ravens, where the Buffalo Bills’ defense was steamrolled by the likes of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers for three and a half quarters, one player rose above the fray. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the Bills’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, delivered a career-defining performance that not only salvaged the game but also signaled his arrival as a cornerstone of Buffalo’s defense.
The Bills’ defense struggled mightily against Baltimore’s star-studded offense, surrendering 10 rushing plays of 10 yards or more, including three exceeding 30 yards and two surpassing 40. Yet, in the crucial fourth quarter, with the game hanging in the balance, Oliver took control. His defining moment came when he blasted through the line, tackled the 250-pound Derrick Henry at the line of scrimmage, and stripped the ball away. Linebacker Terrel Bernard recovered the fumble at the Ravens’ 30-yard line, a play that sparked Buffalo’s comeback victory.
“That play more than any other was the key to Buffalo’s stirring comeback,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “You could feel his play out there. Whether it was the run game, the pass game, couple good hits on the quarterback, couple big plays in the run game behind the line of scrimmage, and then forcing the fumble.”
Oliver’s stat line was impressive: a 15-yard sack on the elusive Lamar Jackson, four quarterback pressures, five tackles, five stops (a Pro Football Focus metric indicating tackles that constitute offensive failures), and the game-altering forced fumble. “Ed had a big game,” McDermott noted, underscoring the impact of Oliver’s performance.
Selected ninth overall in 2019, Oliver arrived in Buffalo with sky-high expectations. Top-10 picks are supposed to become stars, racking up Pro Bowl nods and All-Pro honors. Yet, for much of his career, Oliver has been a good but not great player, showing flashes of brilliance without the consistency to match his draft pedigree. He has never earned a Pro Bowl selection or All-Pro recognition, and at times, he’s been overshadowed by the Bills’ more celebrated stars, like quarterback Josh Allen.
However, Oliver’s 2023 season hinted at his potential. He recorded career highs of 51 tackles, 72 pressures, and 9.5 sacks, showcasing the disruptive force the Bills envisioned when they drafted him. Despite a step back in the first half of 2024, where injuries sidelined him for two games, Oliver began to regain his form in the season’s second half. His performance against Baltimore was a culmination of that upward trajectory.
“Last season was an up and down season for me, but toward the end, I started putting it together,” Oliver said. “I just think I picked up right where I left off. You never really can put your fingers on it, but I just started turning in the right direction towards the end of the year.”
Beyond his on-field contributions, Oliver’s growth as a leader has been equally significant. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich praised Oliver’s performance against Baltimore as “the best overall game he’s played,” attributing it to his dedication during training camp and his evolving football maturity. “Really cool to see Ed, even from last year to this year, has matured in a tremendous way,” Babich said. “He’s really becoming a leader, which is cool to see.”
Oliver’s ability to dominate in both the run and pass games has made him a linchpin of Buffalo’s defense. His early sack on Jackson, a quarterback notorious for evading pressure, set the tone, while his relentless pursuit of Henry showcased his physicality and instincts. Yet, Oliver remains grounded, emphasizing team success over personal accolades. “I don’t go into a game and say, ‘I don’t want to make any plays today,’” he said. “That’s the objective every game. They rolled my way this past game, and I was happy with me, for my own personal reasons. But it could have been anybody, and I’d have been just as happy.”
Despite Oliver’s heroics, the Bills’ defense exposed vulnerabilities against Baltimore. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard, along with safeties Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop, struggled with poor angles, slow diagnoses, and an inability to shed blocks, contributing to Baltimore’s dominant rushing attack. Oliver’s performance nearly became a footnote in a potential loss, but his game-changing fumble forced on Henry ensured it was the defining moment.
Quarterback Josh Allen, who has seen Oliver’s growth firsthand, was effusive in his praise. “He played unbelievable,” Allen said. “When you got a quarterback that talented over there and a running back that talented over there, it takes everybody doing their job and a few guys doing more than their own job, and I think Ed did that.”
Oliver’s performance against Baltimore was a reminder of why the Bills invested a top-10 pick in him. At 27 years old, he’s entering his prime, and his 2023 season and recent standout games suggest he’s ready to deliver the consistency Buffalo has long awaited. “You want to continue to grow and improve and evolve, and he wants to continue to take his game to another level,” McDermott said. “He’s shown that he’s worked and put himself in that position. Now it’s the week-in-and-week-out intentionality.”
As the Bills aim to solidify their defense and compete in a stacked AFC, Oliver’s emergence as a dominant force and leader could be the key to unlocking their potential. Six years after being drafted, the once-forgotten first-rounder is no longer in the shadows. Ed Oliver is commanding the Bills’ defense—and he’s just getting started.