The Baltimore Ravens are kicking off their 2025 season in the most exciting way possible. After falling to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs last year, they will have a chance at revenge and get the bad taste out of their mouth in their Week 1 matchup in Buffalo.
Baltimore is quickly developing a rivalry with the Bills after several intense games over the past few seasons. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike mentioned the team cannot wait for Sunday night, and they will have to be at the top of their game if they want to come out on top. Here are three matchups the Ravens must win to defeat Buffalo in Week 1.
3 crucial matchups the Ravens must win to defeat the Bills in Week 1
Marlon Humphrey vs. Khalil Shakir
This is Buffalo’s best receiver versus Baltimore’s best corner. Khalil Shakir might be the most underrated wideout in the NFL, while Marlon Humphrey is an All-Pro who was recently disrespected by the NFL Top 100. Of course, Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr could use various defensive backs against Shakir, but Humphrey should be his main matchup.
In 2024, Shakir hauled in 76 passes for 821 yards and four touchdowns. While the numbers seem underwhelming for the top wide receiver on one of the better offenses in the league, his impact is electric. He had 597 yards after the catch in 2024, a mark that was good for second in the NFL. The 25-year-old was also as reliable as it gets, catching 76% percent of his targets. He is one player Baltimore must stop in Week 1, and Humphrey will be up for the challenge.
Humphrey was a game-changer on defense last year, making six interceptions, including his first-career pick-six. He also forced two fumbles. He was one of the only defenders forcing turnovers, and played perhaps his best season to date. While he is a versatile corner, he mostly sits in the slot, which is where Shakir does much of his work. Look out for Humphrey to use his physicality to keep Shakir at bay.
Ravens wide receivers vs. Bills cornerbacks
While the Ravens are the best team in football at pounding the rock, Buffalo’s corners will be a weak spot they look to exploit. The opposition has a Pro Bowl-level starter in Christian Benford, but outside of him and slot corner Taron Johnson, they have a slew of unproven talent set to take the field.
First-round pick Maxwell Hairston and offseason signing Tre’Davious White are injured, which paves the way for sixth-round pick Dorian Strong and 28-year-old Ja’Marcus Ingram to get key reps. The two have been splitting starting snaps at practice, but regardless of who gets most of the playing time, they will have their work cut out for them against Baltimore’s deep receiving group.
In years past, Baltimore has had mediocre passing offenses. However, Lamar Jackson finally has a unit that strikes fear into the rest of the league. Rashod Bateman was an elite scoring threat in 2024, scoring nine touchdowns in the regular season and adding one in the playoffs against the Bills. He also totaled four receptions and 66 yards in that game. Baltimore did not have Zay Flowers in last year's playoff matchup, though, and he should prove to be the exact piece Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken was missing.
General Manager Eric DeCosta also added veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, and Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker are expected to be great depth pieces. That deep unit should put Buffalo to the test.
Roquan Smith vs. James Cook
Like Baltimore, the Bills thrive on the ground. Running back James Cook is coming off a 1,009-yard, 16-touchdown campaign and his second-straight Pro Bowl appearance. He is an explosive runner and can make anyone miss. He had 4.9 yards per carry in 2024 and helped pace one of the better offenses in the NFL. The Ravens’ All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, though, is looking to limit that production.
During his press conference on Wednesday, Smith highlighted how he is focused on stopping the run.
“I think it starts with stopping the run,” Smith said. “Making the guys one-dimensional, and that starts with stopping Cook. Got a lot of respect for him and the way he’s running the ball…Force it to be a drop back game.”
In 2024, Baltimore had far and away the best run defense, holding opposing teams to just 1,361 yards on the ground, 227 yards less than the second-place Minnesota Vikings. Smith was at the forefront of that, and he expects to continue to lead a dominant run defense on Sunday night.