Week 1: Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills Preview
When and Where: Sunday, September 7th, 8:20 PM at Highmark Stadium
How to Watch: Airing on NBC
Betting Line: Baltimore -1 O/U 50.5
Key Storylines
MVP Affair: 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson and 2024 MVP Josh Allen
Playoff Rematch: The Bills beat the Ravens in the 2024 Divisional Round at Highmark Stadium to advance to the AFC Championship Game
Injuries: The Bills will be without their starting kicker and may also be without their CB2. The Ravens will be without their starting FB and their TE2.
Rookie Debuts: Buffalo has 4 or 5 2025 draftees that will be making their NFL debuts. Baltimore has a few as well, including 1 starter.
Same Faces, New Places: FA signings Joey Bosa and Joshua Palmer are making their highly anticipated Buffalo Bills debuts. The Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins and Jaire Alexander are expected to play key roles for Baltimore this season.
Farewell Season: This will be the final season opener at Highmark Stadium and kick off the Farewell Season 1973-2025.
Friday Injury Report
Matchups to Watch
Bills Secondary vs the Ravens’ passing attack: Ja'Marcus Ingram and Dorian Strong are expected to see increased snaps due to injuries. Christian Benford was nursing a groin injury earlier this week. Can Cole Bishop be the guy lining up at safety next to Taylor Rapp?
Bills LBs vs Lamar Jackson: Contain, contain, contain. Matt Milano will need to put on the cape.
Battle in the Trenches: The Bills’ offensive and defensive lines will have their hands full vs the Ravens’ pass rush and offensive lines. Buffalo played better in their playoff victory against the Ravens last season, but were dominated at the line of scrimmage in their regular-season loss. Derrick Henry cannot be allowed to gain a head of steam in the backfield or its going to be a long night for the defense.
Josh Allen vs Ravens’ Safeties: How will Joe Brady and Josh Allen attack the Ravens’ secondary? Kyle Hamilton is arguably the best safety in the NFL and is paired up with the talented first-round pick, Malaki Starks. This will be an interesting chess match to watch Sunday Night.
X-Factors
Baltimore Ravens: WR Zay Flowers and LB Kyle Van Noy - players with Flowers' speed is something the Bills’ secondary has struggled with. Van Noy had one of his best games of the season against the Bills in their week 4 matchup last year.
Buffalo Bills: TE Dawson Knox and DT Deone Walker - Knox is an excellent blocker in the running game and is often overlooked as a pass catcher. Allen spoke highly of Knox and his offseason in a recent interview. Walker may be a 4th round draft pick but I expect he will see the field early on Sunday night to help create penetration in the middle of the line for the Bills’ defense.
Keys to Victory
The Bills will win the turnover battle, and rookies will step up in their debuts to narrowly defeat the Ravens in a battle of Super Bowl favorites.
Prediction
Bills 27 Ravens 24
Go Bills!
