Game week thread - Ravens at Bills SNF

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

At first I hated this week 1 matchup, but now not so much. Usually we have to wait weeks for this caliber of game as the Bills usually destroy teams right off the bat. It’s nice having a quality opponent to really gauge where this team is. 

[newcam2012]

1 hour ago, FranchiseSavior said:

The difference between Lamar and Mahomes and to a lesser extent Allen is when Lamar makes a mistake the defense isn't getting him the ball back.  Josh can play like complete cheeks and be giving an opportunity to win the game.  Lamar was given that very opportunity and marched his team down the field scored the TD hit the TE in his belly and the TE dropped the ball.  The silly thing is Josh severely underthrows the TE.   The TE makes a heck of a play to get back to the ball an attempt to save his QB and its somehow the TEs fault they lost the game however Lamar hits his TE in the stomach and the narrative is Lamar couldn't get it done.  

I can totally demolish your theme in "13 seconds."

[Negan]

https://www.footballzebras.com/2025/09/week-1-referee-assignments-2025/

 

John Hussey head ref Bills Ravens.

 

I always liked John and calls a fair game.  Usually let's the players play.

 

Better than Kemp or Hochuli for sure.

[dollars 2 donuts]

I love the Bills.  The Bills forever.  Long live the Bills.

 

…but man this one feels like an L.

 

Namely for 2 reasons:  

 

We’ve started slowly every year this decade, except for the Rams game, and

 

This D smells so much like a late January Bills D…3 Dlinemen down, we don’t know who one of the starting CBs is, and our safeties are playing together against live ammo for the first time in awhile.

 

I hope I am wrong.

 

Go Bills!

 

[McBean]

I do not feel confident at all in this matchup. 
 

The only thing the Ravens did was go out and get Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks, adding to an already elite secondary.

 

Going to need Palmer or someone like Kincaid to step up.

 

I won’t ever count us out because we have #17, the best player in the league IMO.

 

Go Bills

Edited Tuesday at 10:08 PM by McBean

[newcam2012]

13 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

At first I hated this week 1 matchup, but now not so much. Usually we have to wait weeks for this caliber of game as the Bills usually destroy teams right off the bat. It’s nice having a quality opponent to really gauge where this team is. 

I agree. Sure seems like the defense is a work in progress with all the new additions including coaches. I think they will have a decent learning curve and hopefully by playoff time they are a refined unit. The Ravens week one is a beast of a challenge. 

[hondo in seattle]

In two games last year, the Ravens outgained us 878 yards to 677.  

 

Their D was good enough to get us off the field sometimes

 

Our D pretty consistently failed except for the take-aways in the playoff game.  

 

As an agile defense that typically runs a 4-2 and is built to defend the pass first, we don't do well against power backs like Henry.  What makes this game more challenging is that the Ravens can throw, too, so we can't sell out to stop the King.  And I agree with other posters who say the Ravens may have the best overall roster in the league.  They're well coached, too.  

 

If the D doesn't stiffen, and the O starts rusty, this game could get away from us much like last year's regular-season contest.  I hope for the best while fearing for the worst.

[newcam2012]

1 minute ago, McBean said:

I do not feel confident at all in this matchup. 
 

The only thing the Ravens did was go out and get Jaire Alexander, adding to an already elite secondary.

 

Going to need Palmer or someone like Kincaid to step up.

 

I won’t ever count us out because we have #17, the best player in the league IMO.

 

Go Bills

The best Bills path of victory is to create turnovers on defense and longer ball control scores on offense. Of course, that's a bit simplified but those are two key components to a victory. The Bills path to a win is dramatically reduced if the Ravens play a clean game. This isn't an ideal matchup for the Bills. 

[FLFan]

3 minutes ago, McBean said:

I do not feel confident at all in this matchup. 
 

The only thing the Ravens did was go out and get Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks, adding to an already elite secondary.

 

Going to need Palmer or someone like Kincaid to step up.

 

I won’t ever count us out because we have #17, the best player in the league IMO.

 

Go Bills

Alexander has not practiced since August 9 and is unlikely to play.  His frequent injury status is the reason he was available.  He has not been elite in performance for quite some time.  The Ravens were counting on a bounce back by Alexander but so far it looks like they may have lost that bet.  

 

 

[boyst]

5 minutes ago, McBean said:

I do not feel confident at all in this matchup. 
 

The only thing the Ravens did was go out and get Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks, adding to an already elite secondary.

 

Going to need Palmer or someone like Kincaid to step up.

 

I won’t ever count us out because we have #17, the best player in the league IMO.

 

Go Bills

alexander isn't going to play and Allen owns him 

[newcam2012]

2 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

In two games last year, the Ravens outgained us 878 yards to 677.  

 

Their D was good enough to get us off the field sometimes

 

Our D pretty consistently failed except for the take-aways in the playoff game.  

 

As an agile defense that typically runs a 4-2 and is built to defend the pass first, we don't do well against power backs like Henry.  What makes this game more challenging is that the Ravens can throw, too, so we can't sell out to stop the King.  And I agree with other posters who say the Ravens may have the best overall roster in the league.  They're well coached, too.  

 

If the D doesn't stiffen, and the O starts rusty, this game could get away from us much like last year's regular-season contest.  I hope for the best while fearing for the worst.

Really good post here Hondo. 

[fergie's ire]

4 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

"Bring lil'dirty back" is hilarious in it's own rights 😂😂😂

I think we should start a grass routes campaign to bring l'il dirty back....not as a player but as a leading the charge type person...just to get him back.  Love that guy....but not as a player.

[MasterStrategist]

16 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

In two games last year, the Ravens outgained us 878 yards to 677.  

 

Their D was good enough to get us off the field sometimes

 

Our D pretty consistently failed except for the take-aways in the playoff game.  

 

As an agile defense that typically runs a 4-2 and is built to defend the pass first, we don't do well against power backs like Henry.  What makes this game more challenging is that the Ravens can throw, too, so we can't sell out to stop the King.  And I agree with other posters who say the Ravens may have the best overall roster in the league.  They're well coached, too.  

 

If the D doesn't stiffen, and the O starts rusty, this game could get away from us much like last year's regular-season contest.  I hope for the best while fearing for the worst.

Last year doesnt matter at all.

 

That first game LY, we were down all our entire middle of defense (no Milano, TB, or Taron). 

 

New season, alot of young players we are counting on to contribute immediately (especially on defense).  Ravens will be down Likely, who is a nightmare matchup.  That has a severe impact on their 2 TE sets.

 

Turnovers will be key as always.  I got Bills by a FG.

[Simon]

13 minutes ago, fergie's ire said:

I think we should start a grass routes campaign to bring l'il dirty back....not as a player but as a leading the charge type person

 

What happens when he comes out of the tunnel and starts running the wrong way?

[Dunkirk Donski]

46 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

I love the Bills.  The Bills forever.  Long live the Bills.

 

…but man this one feels like an L.

 

Namely for 2 reasons:  

 

We’ve started slowly every year this decade, except for the Rams game, and

 

This D smells so much like a late January Bills D…3 Dlinemen down, we don’t know who one of the starting CBs is, and our safeties are playing together against live ammo for the first time in awhile.

 

I hope I am wrong.

 

Go Bills!

 

I feel the same way but listen:  the last thing we want are lame ass ravens fans coming over here seeings us with our tail between our legs.  Jus sayin 

[BillytheKid]

17 hours ago, FranchiseSavior said:

Has Josh turned the ball over in the playoffs?  Josh had 2 ints against the mighty Skylar Thompson led Dolphins that nearly cost you guys the game.  Then he had 2 more  TOs when they needed to beat the Dolphins to get in the playoffs and the defense bailed him out. 

Josh has the best TD to turnover ratio ever in the playoffs in the history of the NFL. So that settles any argument you are trying to make. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

23 minutes ago, Dunkirk Donski said:

I feel the same way but listen:  the last thing we want are lame ass ravens fans coming over here seeings us with our tail between our legs.  Jus sayin 

 

DD, please.

 

That is why I want to vomit even just thinking about losing this game.

 

I’d give my left nut to win this one, and my left nut is my favorite.

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:13 PM by dollars 2 donuts

[Buffalo03]

If we win this game, we should be 6-0 or 5-1 at the bye. 4-2 or worse with the schedule we have after the Ravens game would be failure

[SCBills]

1 hour ago, McBean said:

I do not feel confident at all in this matchup. 
 

The only thing the Ravens did was go out and get Jaire Alexander and Malaki Starks, adding to an already elite secondary.

 

Going to need Palmer or someone like Kincaid to step up.

 

I won’t ever count us out because we have #17, the best player in the league IMO.

 

Go Bills

Ravens have had the best roster in the AFC for 3 years now. 
 

It’s a matchup league and Alexander probably isn’t playing.  No Likely would be big as well to cancel out us without Hairston and Hoecht. 
 

Fwiw.. there’s a lot of dooming on here and I’d like to point out that we have year 2 Keon, year 3 Kincaid and upgraded with Palmer while adding two very talented DT prospects and Joey Bosa. 
 

Yall can be worried all you want, but there’s no reason our Offense shouldn’t be better than the already elite one we had last year, while our dumpster fire defense of a year ago comes into the year with an actual pass rusher opposite Rousseau with two high ceiling DT’s rotating in, two healthy talented linebackers to go with a Top 10 slot, Top 12 corner and Safety who is above average in our system.  I’m not going to doom over this game because of CB2 and Bishop.  
 

Figure it out, we’re at home and it’s the last home opener at the stadium. 
 

This preseason of playing all backups has half the fanbase on tilt. 
 

(not all this is directed at you.. just in general)

[hondo in seattle]

53 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Last year doesnt matter at all.

 

That first game LY, we were down all our entire middle of defense (no Milano, TB, or Taron). 

 

New season, alot of young players we are counting on to contribute immediately (especially on defense).  Ravens will be down Likely, who is a nightmare matchup.  That has a severe impact on their 2 TE sets.

 

Turnovers will be key as always.  I got Bills by a FG.

 

I want you to be right!