Bills-Ravens Divisional game has uncanny similarity to scenario in 1991

The jubilation of Buffalo Bills fans after the team’s 31-7 shellacking of the Denver Broncos will gradually die off as they are reminded that the next opponent is the Baltimore Ravens—a team that beat them 35-10 in prime-time earlier in the season.

For those who don’t remember, the 3-0 Bills, coming off consecutive blowout victories over the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars, were manhandled by Derrick Henry who ran for 199 yards (the Ravens had 271 rushing yards total). After going down 21-3 at half, the Bills couldn’t put together a comeback.

The Ravens were 1-2 heading into that game—they needed to win it. The Bills didn’t.

Sunday’s game reminds me of a very similar situation in Buffalo Bills history. 

In 1991, the 5-0 Buffalo Bills, coming off three blowout wins earlier in the season, went into Arrowhead Stadium to take on a 3-2 Chiefs team that was scrapping to keep their heads above water.

Just like this year’s Ravens versus Bills matchup, the game was on Monday Night Football.

The 1991 Bills were in the heart of their Super Bowl years. They featured Hall of Famers up and down their lineup and had the eventual league MVP in Thurman Thomas and the runner-up in Jim Kelly.

The Bills were 3-point favorites heading into Arrowhead and on paper should have rolled over them—after all, they had just come off a Super Bowl appearance and were primed to coast through the regular season to get to another Super Bowl.

If anyone remembers that game, the Bills were pushed around both offensively and defensively. 

The Chiefs rushed for 239 yards that night, seeing two different running backs, Christian Okoye and Harvey Williams, rush for over 100 yards.

The high-flying Bills offense, which had averaged 453 yards per game to that point, could only muster 211 total yards as Kelly was sacked six times.

The Chiefs beat the Bills in Arrowhead, 33-6. Tomahawk Chops were in full force and Kansas City fans were in their element. (I should know—I was nine years old and at the game).

The Chiefs needed to win that game. The Bills didn’t.

After the loss to the Chiefs in 1991, the Bills finished their regular season 8-2 to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs.

In the Divisional round of the playoffs that season, guess who the Bills hosted? Yup, the Chiefs.

The Bills threw their “revengence” (I made up a word) on the Chiefs and beat them 37-14.

The Chiefs were held to 77 yards rushing and the Bills offense put up 448 total yards—a complete 180 from their matchup earlier that season.

Bills fans got their “revengence” too! I vividly remember a mock-Tomahawk chop throughout the Rich Stadium crowd that day.

Will history repeat itself when the Bills host the Ravens this Sunday?

We won’t know until the game is played. But, if Bills Mafia thinks that just because the Ravens put a hurting on the Bills 16 weeks ago that it will happen again this week, this is proof that motivation and an atmosphere change can significantly sway a football game.