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Week 1 preview: Bills vs. Ravens (SNF)

Oliver Myers
Syndication: Democrat and Chronicle

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

It has not been long since the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens last met.

In what is becoming a great NFL rivalry, the Bills and Ravens are meeting up for their season opener at Highmark Stadium on Sunday Night with their last meeting ending in a 27-25 Bills victory in the AFC divisional round seven months ago.

Both teams are hungry and reeling from years of unsuccessful pushes for the AFC title, always one step away. With an offseason of rest and retooling for both teams, this has the potential to be one of the best games of the year, and it could have massive playoff implications in just the first week. Let’s take a dive into some of the key things to watch in the game, starting with Friday’s injury reports:

Bills injury report

  • K Tyler Bass (hip/ groin) – DNP (IR) – Game: OUT
  • CB Tre’Davious White (groin) – DNP – Game: DOUBTFUL
  • WR Elijah Moore (personal) – Full – Game: (-)
  • WR Keon Coleman (groin) – Full – Game: (-)
  • CB Christian Benford (groin) – Full – Game: (-)
  • WR Khalil Shakir (ankle) – Full – Game: (-)

Ravens injury report

  • TE Isiah Likely (foot) – DNP – Game: OUT
  • FB Patrick Richard (calf) – DNP – Game: OUT
  • CB Jaire Alexander (knee) – Full – Game: (-)
  • OL Daniel Faalele (illness) – Full – Game: (-)

Bills’ secondary injuries: Cause for concern?

Buffalo struggled to stay healthy for the entirety of training camp, with the injury bug biting early and often. A large portion of offensive and defensive starters had to sit out of preseason and training camp to ensure their health for the regular season. Safety Cole Bishop, slated to start for Buffalo, missed vital reps during the preseason due to a quad injury that he suffered in early July. This is a concern for fans and staff alike as Bishop is relatively inexperienced, and the developing second-round pick needs more reps to progress his skills and be evaluated by the coaching staff.

A bigger concern is the likely absence of starting CB Tre’Davious White. Also, although Benford practiced in full on Friday, he still needs to be cleared to play. Veteran Ja’Marcus Ingram and rookie Dorian Strong could get their name(s) called upon to step up. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich had good things to say about Strong at his press conference, saying, “The improvement over the last two weeks has been incredible.”

The Bills will have to rely heavily on Taylor Rapp and Benford (if he plays) to provide a grounding force in the secondary. The next man up mentality is in full swing in Week 1 for Buffalo.

Defensive line needs to perform

In Week 4 of the 2024 season, Derrick Henry ran for 199 yards on 24 touches against Buffalo, leading the Ravens to a 35-10 victory. While Buffalo found a way to slow him down in the playoffs, it is imperative that they stop the run to force Lamar Jackson into unfavorable situations. The Bills’ new and improved d-line has a large task ahead of them. The Ravens’ offensive line is consistently strong, and the running back behind it is arguably the best in the NFL. Joey Bosa and Ed Oliver will play a crucial role in maintaining the edge and securing the interior. More importantly, rookies TJ Sanders and Deone Walker could make a name for themselves in Week 1 by slowing the Ravens down in the middle.

X-factor players

Josh Allen

The 2024 MVP is looking to have another big year as the integral piece of the team. If he performs to his standard, the Bills will be nearly unbeatable. Josh Allen needs to play smart, keep the ball out of harm’s way, and deliver the big plays we know he is capable of in order to leave with a win. The “everybody eats” mentality should continue, spreading the ball around to all the talented receivers on the Bills offense. If Allen can stay clean and make good decisions, the game is Buffalo’s to lose.

Matt Milano

While earlier I placed emphasis on the defensive line, the run-stopping, former All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano will need to play a large role Sunday night. While his run-stopping abilities are incredible, a lack of playing time in the past few seasons due to injuries has led some to question his prevalence in the Bills’ defense. Milano needs to be the All-Pro that we know him to be, run stuffing and strong in pass coverage, as the Ravens love to use their tight ends over the middle. Even more of a challenge, Milano will have to keep track of the ever-elusive Lamar Jackson as he scrambles and rolls out of the pocket. Milano will be one of, if not the most important, keys to a Buffalo victory.

This is shaping up to be another intense matchup with two of the giants in the AFC. While an incredibly even matchup, both teams have weaknesses to exploit. Buffalo will have to stay secure in the secondary, even with the injuries and lack of experience. Baltimore will have to make sure their run game goes efficiently, or they’ll face having to make risky decisions in order to move the ball.

What a way to kick off Sunday Night Football for the 2025 NFL season.

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