Game week thread - Ravens at Bills SNF

[YattaOkasan]

4 hours ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

I told you all that we should have re-signed Rasul Douglas who understands the complex McDermott system when we had the chance !!

 

But no one ever listens to me !!

That’s my fault. I was yelling CB! And I should have yelled “like a good neighbor…”

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, MasterStrategist said:

This game should've been "even" to start, from a betting perspective.  

 

Money pouring in on Ravens, it was close to 84% of handle on Ravens ML a day or so back.

 

Ravens: less Likely

Bills: less Max, most likely Tre, and certainly <100% Benford, Keon and Shakir if they all play.  Add in Bass dealing with his own injury issues and a shaky 1 preseason outing --- then no Hoecht or Oji

 

I think it will take a real impacful turnover, special teams play, or multiple of these for Bills to win.  At home opening night, crowd will be electric but can our offense come out "hot" - because we will need that against what looks like another top notch Ravens team (maybe the most talented/physical overall team in afc).

 

Need that "spark" / emotion on the field to start.  Going to be fun regardless, week 1 doesnt foretell the season and we need to get guys healthy long term, if that means being cautious with some guys.

 

We got Josh Allen - our super hero.  Go Bills !!!

[bobobonators]

Seems like possible Coleman injury swinging the line in favor of the Ravens?

[Big Blitz]

11 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Seems like possible Coleman injury swinging the line in favor of the Ravens?

 

I guarantee he doesn’t practice tomorrow.  
 

[Richard Noggin]

Aren't the Benford and White injuries more impactful? (than Coleman, as posited above)

Edited September 4 by Richard Noggin

[BigDingus]

 

Always the best breakdowns. 

 

Unfortunately, he has the Ravens winning. Honestly, I do too.

 

The Bills have come out sloppy in opening games. We have a lot of injuries on defense already. Ravens are looking to get revenge & wanting to make a statement (for the playoff loss & for Lamar not winning MVP). Our starters didn't get much play time in the preseason. 

 

Kind of an unfortunate game to pull week 1, but it'll be fine either way. Really just want to see them play hard & stay healthy.

[Billsfed1]

I think Brady will look to pass more this year with all these receivers.

 

The Bills love to run the football and i’m sure they’ll hit the 30+ mark in this one, but I see dialed up shots in this game.  

 

You can still get the benefit of the yardage on a PI, and the Ravens were handsy in the playoffs last year.  

 

My personal guess…Davis/Allen/Palmer (and Shavers if he plays) all ball out on the Ravens.

 

D has some big moments to make it a decisive 2-score W

[Big Blitz]

I think whoever has the ball last wins.  

[newcam2012]

3 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

I genuinely don’t know how we win this game.

 

Our defensive backfield is a shell.

Would like to hear a solid strategy on how the Bills D slows down the raven offense. I can't come up with one. 

[newcam2012]

2 hours ago, SCBills said:

Not sure I can remember a season opener the fanbase has been this negative over. 
 

Cant say I necessarily blame anyone.. the preseason was ugly with all backups, we’re playing a tough opponent and everyday there’s a new soft tissue injury, but yeesh…

 

I'm just negative on this game. You take everything into consideration the path to a Bills victory is much slimmer than the Ravens. Agree? 

 

The Bills should be fine going forward as the schedule is more favorable, young guys get valuable playing time, and hopefully players get healthy. 

[Scott7975]

On 9/2/2025 at 7:35 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

I wonder if private lot parking rates will jump another $10, like they have every year since they started stadium construction. It cost $40 to park ¾ of a mile away last year. Same lot used to be $15.

 

I had a Drs appointment the same day as I think it was the red and blue scrimmage and I seen signs out for $50 then lol.

 

On 9/2/2025 at 8:39 AM, dorquemada said:

 

I'd rather play him in the january cold than mild conditions.  Have a feeling he's going to have his ears pinned back ready to go

 

I'd bet the players feel different. It hurts a lot more to hit in the freezing weather than it does in decent weather.

On 9/2/2025 at 10:03 AM, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I don't think I've ever seen this message board so down in the dumps and dreading the 1st week of the season like this, at least not under the current Josh Allen led Bills.  The Ravens are a great football team, that much is a given.  However, the last time I checked, so are we!  The game is in Buffalo, James Cook will be fresh and ready to show off his newfound 'freedom, and the new editions to the D.line are ready to get after it!  Last home opener at Highmark and it's Sunday night football as well.  I can't wait to circle back to this thread after the win to make sure all the negative nancies are still with us!  Buffalo 27, Ravens 20.  Go Bills!!!!

 

The only reason I'm down is all the injuries we've had all camp and still have now... now we are about to go play one of the most physical teams in the NFL.

[Scott7975]

On 9/2/2025 at 4:00 PM, 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.  

 

He didn't hit him in the stomach. He threw it behind him. Should have still been a routine catch but it was behind him none the less. Lamar still had 2 turnovers. In a loss its turnovers that cost you and your team had 3 total turnovers. If the game was flipped and Josh did that, everyone would be blaming Josh for the loss.

[Scott7975]

On 9/2/2025 at 9:13 PM, newcam2012 said:

The winner of this game has a nice advantage of hosting a playoff game if they meet again

 

Not necessarily. Depends on overall record at the end of the year. Bills could lose this game and still finish with a better record. Ravens play in a far tougher division than we do as well.

[Special K]

Remembered this from last year's playoff game......let's get this heavyweight bout underway......Go Bills!!!

 

 

[HIT BY SPIKES]

HUGE GAME!!!

 

Planning a Hunger Strike for the game

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

6 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I think it’s just nerves over the opponent. Baltimore just seems to have given us serious matchup problems the last few times we played them. Even that playoff win— we had to basically play keep away to keep our D off the field, and then barely won. 

Because Ravens are the far far FAR more physical team and McDermott's defense is historically terrible against physical teams. Add injuries to the mix? They're toast.

[RoscoeParrish]

1 hour ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Because Ravens are the far far FAR more physical team and McDermott's defense is historically terrible against physical teams. Add injuries to the mix? They're toast.

Honestly, the Ravens are up there with the Eagles in terms of the most top to bottom talent.

 

As we see in the playoffs, it’s not necessarily enough to overcome Lamar’s playoff struggles, but Lamar is right up there with the best in the league in the regular season.

 

Combined with them being probably the antithesis to our team’s identity, and this being their game circled all offseason, I really wouldn’t be surprised that they blow us out. I hope the Bills can squeak one out, but the Ravens winning by two scores seems just as likely as a Bills win by 3.

 

Ultimately, it won’t really affect how I feel about the Bills either way. Even if we lose badly, if we see them again in the playoffs, we can be pretty confident Lamar will try to give away the game.

[Einstein]

8 hours ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

MVP Josh Allen

 

He is pretty much our only chance imo.

 

Him going superhero.

9 hours ago, Andrew Son said:

We’re down one starter, correct?  Just like BAL

 

We have 5 hurt starters.

 

Benford, Tre, Bass, Shakir, Coleman

 

Even if a couple of them play, they’re going to be playing at less than 100%.

[Coffeesforclosers]

8 hours ago, SCBills said:

Not sure I can remember a season opener the fanbase has been this negative over. 
 

Cant say I necessarily blame anyone.. the preseason was ugly with all backups, we’re playing a tough opponent and everyday there’s a new soft tissue injury, but yeesh…

 

 

Makes you wonder if we should bother watching the game!

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Heading into the “belly of the beast” this morning, flying to BWI for a quick visit to my company’s corporate headquarters, where I shall be rocking a Bills hat to the consternation of my Ravens fans management team…if I don’t check back in by end of day, you all know whodunit! 😆