Game week thread - Ravens at Bills SNF

[Dillenger4]

6 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

This game is also concerning to me as it could be the defining factor in gaining home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I know, I know way to early to be thinking of the end of the season...it's never too early!  Then the next game is a division game on the road @ the NY Jets followed by the Dolphins at Buffalo. Could be a tough first three games considering how poorly that Buffalo secondary has looked in preseason. 

 

Buffalo lost the opener to the NY Jets in 2023 and to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021 and this loss was at home. Buffalo lost the home opener to the Ravens at Baltimore in 2018. Buffalo also lost an away game opener to the NY Jets in 1017. 

 

Now, considering Josh hasn't played in any preseason games and could be rusty and have timing issues with his new receivers is another factor.

 

I'm hoping that the Bills come out and destroy those first three teams and go on a tear this season and win that home field while remaining injury free. It would be nice to finish a season that way. Home field and an AFC Championship game in Buffalo is my hopes for the 2025 season.

 

 

Yes sir - finally someone who gets it. EVERY GAME MATTERS and the AFC rival games matter more!!!! This is a huge game and very well can determine home field.

[Logic]

Just now, Dillenger4 said:

There is no motivation "edge". You could say the exact same thing last year in the playoff game: "Oh , the Bills beat us in the last playoff matchup"..  didn't seem to work now did it?!?

This is the NFL dude... they are both amped and ready 100% Sunday night.

 

That's like saying Josh has an extra edge because all the dweebs are saying we should have lost if not for the drop in the EZ. So, he wants to prove this year that he is better and that he is THE MVP for a reason and that his marriage doesn't affect his play and that our WR's are good enough despite what the dweebs say etc etc etc.

 

So, looks like we have the edge! There you go. GO BILLS!!

 

(sarcasm... I think).

Ya know what?

It was silly of me to dare to have a different opinion than you. I was under the mistaken impression that we're on a discussion forum. Nevermind the fact that I still predicted the Bills to finish 13-4 and claim the one seed, and that this is one of only four losses I've prognosticated for them.

It was probably also silly of me to try to guess at the psychology of this game when you very clearly know it lock, stock, and barrel.

I bow to your wisdom. You win. Your cookie is in the mail. Congratulations.

 

 

[Dillenger4]

8 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I don't even remember who, but someone on these boards told me that this is "arguably the most important game of the season." Also, how do you last three minutes with Collinsworth?

Week one is a liar.

I hear week 3 and 6 are liars too.

[finn]

26 minutes ago, NickelCity said:

Having just one known quantity at outside corner feels pretty dang risky. Benford is easily the second most important player on this roster.

I'm not sure what Beane has in mind. What's the best-case scenario, realistically? That White is adequate and stays healthy all year? That seems risky, given his age and injury history. If he goes down or has hit the wall (or both), the cupboard is bare. Strong? He's promising but raw. Ingram? Yikes. Hope against all evidence that Hairston can fill in despite missing much of training camp as well as the first four weeks of the season?

 

I'm waiting for a trade announcement just like two years ago, with a slate of extensions to make salary cap room. Not where you want to be with the season starting next week. 

 

Someone make me feel better. 

[mannc]

On 8/27/2025 at 1:26 PM, Lost said:

WTF is wrong with Benford?

 

 

If Benford is hurt, we are cooked.  I hope it’s not some lingering concussion issue…

[Dillenger4]

Just now, Logic said:

Ya know what?

It was silly of me to dare to have a different opinion than you. I was under the mistaken impression that we're on a discussion forum. Nevermind the fact that I still predicted the Bills to finish 13-4 and claim the one seed, and that this is one of only four losses I've prognosticated for them.

It was probably also silly of me to try to guess at the psychology of this game when you very clearly know it lock, stock, and barrel.

I bow to your wisdom. You win. Your cookie is in the mail. Congratulations.

 

 

Thanks - I'll take chocolate chip pot brownies please. Going to see Bobby Weir this weekend!

[Johnnycage46]

19 minutes ago, Logic said:

Predictions:

- Collinsworth says "Patrick Mahomes" at least three times, despite the fact that he's not playing in the game.
- I am sick of Collinsworth by the third minute of the 1st quarter.

- Ravens are more "up" for the game than the Bills due to getting knocked out of the playoffs by them last year.

- Ravens win, NFL prognosticators overreact, declare Ravens Super Bowl favorites and ask "is the Bills' window closed?!"

- Bills proceed to finish the season 13-4 and claim the number one seed because week one barely means a thing.

On to Sunday night. GO BILLS!!!

 

 

You have the patience of a saint! I'm tempted to mute the whole broadcast lol

[Dillenger4]

1 minute ago, finn said:

I'm not sure what Beane has in mind. What's the best-case scenario, realistically? That White is adequate and stays healthy all year? That seems risky, given his age and injury history. If he goes down or has hit the wall (or both), the cupboard is bare. Strong? He's promising but raw. Ingram? Yikes. Hope against all evidence that Hairston can fill in despite missing much of training camp as well as the first four weeks of the season?

 

I'm waiting for a trade announcement just like two years ago, with a slate of extensions to make salary cap room. Not where you want to be with the season starting next week. 

 

Someone make me feel better. 

I "think" his plan is that we have Benford and Max as our starters, with White as BU. Let's get Max back before we panic. It will be tough for sure... but that is the plan.

Taron will have to shade towards the #2 side all game.

[Logic]

1 minute ago, Dillenger4 said:

Thanks - I'll take chocolate chip pot brownies please. Going to see Bobby Weir this weekend!

Nice! I just checked his page and didn't see anything. Where and with what outfit is he playing this weekend?
 

[Dillenger4]

Carlsbad California. I think it's some Ratdog guys... I'll look. (as his band mates)

[Rocky Landing]

5 minutes ago, finn said:

I'm not sure what Beane has in mind. What's the best-case scenario, realistically? That White is adequate and stays healthy all year? That seems risky, given his age and injury history. If he goes down or has hit the wall (or both), the cupboard is bare. Strong? He's promising but raw. Ingram? Yikes. Hope against all evidence that Hairston can fill in despite missing much of training camp as well as the first four weeks of the season?

 

I'm waiting for a trade announcement just like two years ago, with a slate of extensions to make salary cap room. Not where you want to be with the season starting next week. 

 

Someone make me feel better. 

We should all know by now that Beane is never done.

[Dillenger4]

5 minutes ago, Logic said:

Ya know what?

It was silly of me to dare to have a different opinion than you. I was under the mistaken impression that we're on a discussion forum. Nevermind the fact that I still predicted the Bills to finish 13-4 and claim the one seed, and that this is one of only four losses I've prognosticated for them.

It was probably also silly of me to try to guess at the psychology of this game when you very clearly know it lock, stock, and barrel.

I bow to your wisdom. You win. Your cookie is in the mail. Congratulations.

 

 

BTW - I'm just amped up for the game. Not chasing you or putting you down... just really want this win!

Go Bills!

[Rocky Landing]

Just now, Dillenger4 said:

BTW - I'm just amped up for the game. Not chasing you or putting you down... just really want this win!

Go Bills!

I have tempered my expectations, especially for week one.

[Virgil]

I hate to say it, but I'm not optimistic about this game.  Outside of the Rams game a few years back, we tend to start slow, and that's assuming everyone is healthy.  I fully expect some rust with Josh, Shakir, and a few other guys, especially in their timing.  The Ravens are going to be hungry for revenge.  I know the game matters for tie-breakers and I would love to pull out the win, but I'm not holding my breath.  

 

With that being said, I don't put a lot of stock into Week 1 games, and we will be a very different team come week 7, with suspensions and injuries coming back to us.  

[finn]

45 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

I "think" his plan is that we have Benford and Max as our starters, with White as BU. Let's get Max back before we panic. It will be tough for sure... but that is the plan.

Taron will have to shade towards the #2 side all game.

Yes, it seems Taron and the safeties will need to help out the second corner no matter who he is. But do you really start a guy who is promising but clearly wasn't ready even before he missed weeks of training camp, as well as the first four weeks of the year? I mean, you do if you're the Browns, but not if you expect to go to the Super Bowl. 

45 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

We should all know by now that Beane is never done.

Right, hence my expectation that a trade is in the offing. The problem is just too glaring. Trouble is, you don't want to give up too much with a promising first-round pick ready to start next year, probably, so you're not going to get much, either. 

[MPL]

I like that we're talking about slow starts but not remembering that Lamar Jackson also did not play this preseason, and that the Ravens started 0-2 last year after a week 1 loss on primetime against the team that bounced them from the playoffs and a very bad loss against the hapless Raiders in week 2. 

[Rocky Landing]

For what it's worth, Bills are slightly favored in Vegas, by average -1.5 points. (=doomed)

[Dillenger4]

29 minutes ago, finn said:

Yes, it seems Taron and the safeties will need to help out the second corner no matter who he is. But do you really start a guy who is promising but clearly wasn't ready even before he missed weeks of training camp, as well as the first four weeks of the year? I mean, you do if you're the Browns, but not if you expect to go to the Super Bowl. 

Right, hence my expectation that a trade is in the offing. The problem is just too glaring. Trouble is, you don't want to give up too much with a promising first-round pick ready to start next year, probably, so you're not going to get much, either. 

Are you referring to our first round pick, Max Hairston? If so, damn right we do. He starts as soon as he is healthy. He WAS showing great speed and awreness according to many reports before he got hurt. Only way we don't start him is if Tre White balls out - which I highly doubt happens. Good if he does but let's be real.

[Rocky Landing]

6 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

Are you referring to our first round pick, Max Hairston? If so, damn right we do. He starts as soon as he is healthy. He WAS showing great speed and awreness according to many reports before he got hurt. Only way we don't start him is if Tre White balls out - which I highly doubt happens. Good if he does but let's be real.

Rex Ryan might have done that-- he threw Ron Darby in right away, iirc, and it worked out well. Rex would likely have kept Hairston off IR for that reason. But, I don't believe that's how McD develops CBs, and I would say that Hairston's IR designation makes it very unlikely he sees the field in any meaningful way before week six at the earliest.

[stevewin]

2 hours ago, mannc said:

If Benford is hurt, we are cooked.  I hope it’s not some lingering concussion issue…

Speaking of concussions, one thing I haven't seen a lot of discussion on is Grable was put in concussion protocol early August and then was put on IR to start the season.  That's a long time for a concussion to clear - and  Grable had the inside track to be our swing tackle to start the season