BOLD PREDICTIONS: A Divisional Round Rematch

Ravens at Bills

In a rematch of a 2024 AFC Divisional Playoff, it’s the Ravens at Bills as Baltimore opens their 30th season by visiting Orchard Park, NY for a Sunday Night Football primetime showdown (8:20 p.m. kickoff). Last season, Buffalo and Baltimore were the AFC’s No. 2 and No.3 playoff seeds, respectively, with the Bills winning the thrilling postseason matchup, 27-25. In Week 4, the Ravens emerged victorious, 35-10, during a SNF contest in Charm City.

• Television: NBC / WBAL Ch. 11 (Baltimore)
• On The Call: Mike Tirico (PBP), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Melissa Stark (sideline)
• Officiating Crew Chief: John Hussey. In 2024 Hussey’s crew did not officiate a Ravens game. He was on the call for a Bills game in Buffalo against the Titans during which the home team was flagged 5 times vs. Tennessee which had yellow laundry tossed in their direction 8 times. Hussey and his crew averaged 11.5 accepted penalties per game, with the home team receiving 6 penalties on average while the visitors marched backward 5 ½ times per game. Incidentally, Hussey’s crew threw the fewest flags among all 17 officiating crews in 2024.
• Forecast at Kickoff: 56 degrees, winds WSW 7 mph, gust up to 22 mph, 19% chance of precipitation
• Betting Line:
  • DraftKings: Ravens – 1 ½ , over/under at 50 ½ points
  • Fanduel: Ravens – 1 ½, over/under at 50 ½ points
  • Fanatics: Ravens -1, over/under 50 ½
  • ESPNBET: Bills – 1 ½, over/under 50 ½
  • Bet365: Ravens -1, over/under 50 ½

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Tony Lombardi

Since their loss in Buffalo back in January during the Divisional Round, the Ravens have placed added emphasis on producing turnovers and protecting the football. And that’s understandable given that the Ravens lost the turnover battle during that game 3-0 yet they had a chance to tie it up with less than 2 minutes to go. Take away even one of those turnovers and the Ravens probably win.

The Bills thrive on turnovers. It was critically essential to their success in 2024 when they finished with a +24-turnover ratio, the league’s best. That’s nearly 1 ½ more possessions per game. Earlier during the 2024 season, the Ravens and Bills had one turnover each during the Ravens 35-10 trouncing of Buffalo.

Fast forward to the present, Buffalo has a nicked up secondary while the Ravens could be without Patrick Ricard who is integral to the rushing attack. So, we might see Lamar Jackson lean on the pass game a bit more early on in this one.

The betting line is intriguing. You’d think that with so many accolades swinging the way of the Bills while at home upon the big stage of Sunday Night Football in a season opener, this should be a Buffalo minus-3 game. It’s not. My Spidey senses are tingling.

• Lamar throws for 225 and 2 scores
• Mark Andrews catches 6 balls for 80 yards and a score
• Derrick Henry runs for 130 yards and 2 scores
• Ravens sack Josh Allen 3 times, one by Odafe Oweh is a strip sack
• Baltimore wins the turnover battle 2-1
• Tyler Loop connects on his first FGA in the 4^th to redeem a missed PAT

Ravens 30, Bills 23

[Bold Predictions: NFL 2025]

Rob Shields

Both teams have some injuries that could be important. The Bills could be missing some members of their secondary and even if they play, they will be banged up.

The Ravens likely will be missing Pat Ricard and Isiah Likely.  As Warren Sharp pointed out, the Ravens offense is less efficient when they go three wide and don’t have the heavier personnel out there.  On the other hand, maybe DeAndre Hopkins makes a difference there, and we shouldn’t sleep on Charlie Kolar.

You never know how teams will play in Week 1.

This game means more to the Ravens, even though they are the road team, because of the difference in schedules.  The Bills are likely to be the AFC’s top seed since their schedule is total garbage and if the Ravens win this game, it at least gives them a chance to get home field over them.

That said, I’m taking Buffalo because the game is in Buffalo and I think Josh Allen has all of his pieces and that ultimately will be the difference in what should be a very good game.

Bills 24 Ravens 23

Jason Woolbert

The Ravens lost basically the same so-called revenge game to the Chiefs last season by a toe.  I see no reason to change that.  The Ravens have the better roster but will lose last second, again, thanks to dumb plays, penalties which will draw our ire against the refs, and garbage off-schedule miracles by Josh Allen.  Boo hiss, all is doom and gloom.

Really though, it’s not nearly as big a deal as the national media especially is making it out to be.

Bills 27 Ravens 23

Kevin McNelis

A regular season win against the Bills doesn’t feel like it would avenge the way the season ended last year… but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be a great way to start this season. The Ravens come into Buffalo slightly favored by most of the Vegas oddsmakers, but the game is more or less a pick ’em. While I understand that, I would also draw attention to the regular season game these two played last year. Winning looks a lot more doable for the Ravens when they don’t cough the ball up three times, so let’s hope they can take care of it and do what they did during that 35-10 win in Week 4 of last season: feed Derrick Henry.

— Sure, having Henry rip an 80+ yard run to start the game definitely boosted his final numbers, but he finished that game with 199 yards and two touchdowns on 24 attempts. I don’t expect it will be easy going, but I still think he ends Week 1 with 100+ on the ground and a trip to the end zone.

— Lamar and the offense will deal with difficulty getting in sync out of the gate since the first-team offense didn’t have everyone on the field at all during the preseason, and it’ll be a loud environment in Buffalo. They have at least two pre-snap penalties in the first half, one of which kills a drive. With communication on pre-snap adjustments proving difficult, Lamar will lean on his ol’ reliable target: Mark Andrews. Andrews has a much more pleasant trip to Buffalo this go-round with six receptions for 75 yards and a TD. When Mark scores, he gives an uncharacteristically animated celebration to the Buffalo crowd. I’m talking an “I can’t hear you,” shushing the fans kind of celebration.

— The game will be close. Buffalo will benefit from a few broken plays after Baltimore shifts more coverage into the box to contain Allen as a rushing threat. Baltimore scores late to take the lead, and when the Bills offense takes possession with a chance to drive the field and win, Allen faces pressure up the middle, bombs the ball in the air and throws a game-sealing interception… to Malaki Starks. Welcome to the NFL, kid.

Ravens 24 Bills 20

Jared Pinder

Another season begins with a “revenge game.” However, this time I do think the Ravens will prevail. if they can’t win this game, it would set them up for a ton of questions of why this team can’t rise to the moment. If they win, they block out those questions for the time being.

Lamar and Henry have a great game, each scoring two or more touchdowns.

The defense makes enough plays with one of the new players in the secondary having an interception.

Mike Green records his first sack of his career.

Ravens 27 Bills 20

Chris Schisler

These are the kinds of games that I hate having to have a prediction for. The Ravens and the Bills feels like a toss-up game. The Bills are at home, they’re tough to beat. I think the Ravens are the better team, and should be able to run the ball and force their style of game on Buffalo. It’s not with an abundance of confidence, because I do see this as a close game that is a toss-up, but give me the Ravens to start the season strong. Lamar Jackson will put on a show. More importantly the Ravens defense will show how much further along they are this September than they were last September. Josh Allen will impress, he’s Josh Allen, but he will be in for a tough night. Give me the Ravens by a FG.

Ravens 20 Bills 17

John Hughey

The NFL could not have done a better job scheduling a Week 1 primetime game. Two teams that feel like this is truly their year to lift the Lombardi Trophy will get their season started together on Sunday Night Football, when the Ravens head to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills. There are plenty of storylines in this contest to get even the casual fan excited for kickoff. The Ravens look locked and loaded to finally get over the hump, and what better opportunity to get off on the right track than a 2024 Divisional Round rematch? With the Bills secondary coming in a bit banged up, Sunday night could present the opportunity for the Ravens passing attack to pick up where they left off last season.

— Mark Andrews rewrites his wrongs from last season, recording two receiving TDs

— Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson put on a show, combining for 6 total TD passes in a battle of the last two MVPs

— James Cook’s holdout brings a slow start, leading to under 70 rushing yards and no TDs on the ground

— Kyle Hamilton shows why he just became the highest-paid safety in the league, picking up an INT and a sack

— Jackson continues his clean play from the pocket, not throwing an INT, but puts the ball on the ground from a Greg Rousseau strip sack.

Ravens 31 Bills 24

Chad Racine

We couldn’t ask for a more exciting season opener. After a rough start to the season last year and a heartbreaking loss to the Bills, the Ravens will have an opportunity to wipe the bad taste out of their mouths. We don’t really know who these two teams are yet but I feel the Ravens are much better on paper.

Lamar Jackson will throw for 3 touchdowns, zero interceptions and 225 yards.

Keaton Mitchell will break free for a 30 yard touchdown.

Mark Andrews has a much better night in Orchard Park with a touchdown reception and 75 yards.

Charlie Kolar and Rashod Bateman both have touchdown receptions.

Kyle Hamilton shows why he was just made the highest paid safety with a sack and interception.

Mike Green records a sack in his first NFL game.

Travis Jones has a sack forced fumble.

Ravens 31 Bills 20

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