The NFL’s Week 1 Sunday Night Football matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills is set to be the game of the week. The Ravens are out for revenge against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. They have the makings of a unit ready for a Super Bowl run in 2025, but it will not come easy on Sunday.
Buffalo has one of the league’s most explosive offenses, and while their defense has some question marks, a strong rookie class including Maxwell Hairston and T.J. Sanders, and veteran acquisitions like Joey Bosa and Tre’Davious White should help shore up the group this year.
Their roster is deep, too. Here are three Bills players that the Ravens cannot afford to overlook in Week 1.
3 Bills x-factors the Ravens can't afford to ignore in Week 1
Keon Coleman
Wide receiver Keon Coleman played in 13 games last year and managed just 29 receptions on 57 targets. He also had five drops and a scarily high 13.5% drop rate. However, he did rack up 556 yards on an impressive 19.2 yards per catch, a mark that was third in the league among players with at least 20 receptions. It was a disappointing year from the 2024 second-round pick, but he could be in for a big 2025 debut.
Coleman has been a star in training camp, showing out as an end zone monster. He is also expected to continue his dominance as a deep threat, and the game against Baltimore could be an outstanding opportunity for him to start on the right foot.
Another day, another Keon Coleman touchdown at #Bills training camp. Excited to see what he and Josh Allen can do during this week’s joint practice with the Bears. Coleman has dominated camp #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/TTPvWC3Qj7
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 12, 2025
The Ravens have uber-talented cornerbacks in Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Jaire Alexander. However, Alexander’s status is unknown, and even if he plays, Baltimore’s man coverage schemes could give Coleman plenty of one-on-one opportunities. At 6-foot-4, he is the ideal jump ball target, and if the Ravens do not properly game-plan for him, he could take over the game.
Jordan Hancock
Rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock may not get in on a ton of action on Sunday, but the path for reps is there with Hairston’s injury. He possesses the versatility to play anywhere within the secondary. After an impressive preseason, Bills fans are demanding to see him on the field when the regular season kicks off.
Hancock does it all. He can play nickel and safety at a high level, acting as a stout defender against the run and limiting receivers after the catch. He is an impressive tackler, and Baltimore’s electric offense could hit some roadblocks with Hancock protecting the open field.
It can be easy to look past a 2025 fifth-round selection, but Hancock is as battle-tested as it gets, balling out at Ohio State. Baltimore cannot overlook the 22-year-old rookie.
Deone Walker
Rookie fourth-round pick Deone Walker is a massive defensive tackle who could be a game-wrecker on Sunday. He stands at 6-foot-7, weighs 331 pounds, and while he sounds like the type of player to be a dominant run stuffer, he is actually electric as a pass rusher.
Through three games of preseason action, Walker earned a 90.5 pass rush grade, per Pro Football Focus. He had 0.5 sacks, five hurries, and batted down a pass attempt. He has quick feet, excellent athleticism, and the size and length to overwhelm opposing offensive linemen. If he sees a ton of action in Week 1, look out.
The Ravens need to do a deep dive on Walker if they want to dominate on offense like they usually do. With Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele being unproven guards, Walker could have himself a game.
While none of these players are stars just yet, they could be underrated x-factors in Sunday night’s matchup.