All eyes will be on the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The two teams square off in a playoff rematch in the first Sunday Night Football game of the 2025 season, and it should be a great one.
Baltimore is seeking revenge against Buffalo and is looking to start on the right foot on what they hope is a road to the Super Bowl. For the Bills, they have a chance to immediately prove themselves as the team to beat in the AFC. With so much recent history between these two teams, there are several intriguing storylines that NFL fans will be watching for on Sunday.
3 key storylines to watch in Ravens' season opener against Bills
The Battle of MVPs: Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen
The 2024 MVP race is likely one that will be debated long after the end of Lamar Jackson's and Josh Allen's careers. While Allen was the heartbeat of the Buffalo offense and ultimately claimed the award, many still believe Jackson was the rightful winner. Neither player has last year’s MVP outcome on their mind in this game, but fans will be treated to perhaps the best quarterback matchup of the season.
Allen is coming off an electric season when he totaled over 4,000 total yards and 40 touchdowns. He was significantly more careful with the ball than in years past, throwing just six interceptions. In 2025, he once again has one of the better offensive lines in the league and is supported by two-time Pro Bowl running back James Cook. His receiving group looks to take massive strides, as well, with Khalil Shakir continuing to be an underrated weapon and Keon Coleman eyeing a second-year breakout. His production should take a leap, as he looks to move to 4-3 against Baltimore.
Jackson should also see improvement with a supporting cast that somehow got even better this offseason. He will likely fall short of his 2024 numbers that saw him put up an unheard of 5,000-plus total yards and 45 touchdowns, but the offense’s efficiency will once again be off the charts. Coaches have mentioned Jackson looks even better each year, and with the same weapons returning and a jump-ball target finally pairing up with Jackson in DeAndre Hopkins, he will be a hard man to stop this year.
How will Baltimore’s offensive guards fare against Buffalo’s defensive line?
If there is any area of concern for the Ravens, it is offensive guard. They lost Patrick Mekari to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, and unproven guard Andrew Vorhees will be stepping up in his spot. Not only will the unit have to deal with the growing pains of Vorhees, but inconsistent starter Daniel Faalele could also cause problems at right guard. The duo has potential, but the floor is very low, and Buffalo could take advantage.
With Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, and A.J. Epensa hurting you off the edge, the Ravens cannot overlook the Bills’ interior defensive line. Ed Oliver has long been feasting on opposing offensive lines from his defensive tackle spot, but T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker are flying under the radar. The rookie duo provides size and explosiveness next to Oliver and can quickly disrupt the backfield, especially on passing downs. They will undoubtedly be a handful for Vorhees and Faalele.
Can Tyler Loop handle the pressure, and does Matt Prater still have some left in the tank?
The kicking situation for both teams has quickly become the most interesting aspect of Sunday’s game. Everyone knew Baltimore could have their hands full with rookie kicker Tyler Loop, but after the Bills placed Tyler Bass on injured reserve and signed 41-year-old Matt Prater, both sides could face kicking woes.
For the Ravens, Loop looked terrific in training camp and preseason, but his first NFL regular-season game will throw a boatload of pressure his way, especially in a place like Buffalo. Add that to the pressure of replacing Justin Tucker, and the rookie could struggle. He looks prepared, though.
On the other side, Prater should kick for the Bills for at least the first four weeks. Bass has been dealing with a hip and groin issue, so who better to call upon than Prater? He is entering his 19th NFL season and is one of the greatest of all time at the position. He is 15th on the all-time scoring list and is still doing a respectable job late into his career. He was perfect in 2024 on six attempts before injuring his meniscus, and has hit over 80% of his tries in each of the past four seasons. Still, it is fair to wonder if regression will begin to hit, especially after a serious injury last year.