It’s playoff football, and the Baltimore Ravens are headed back to a familiar setting: Buffalo in January. This Sunday, Baltimore squares off against the Buffalo Bills in a heavyweight divisional round clash at Highmark Stadium.
The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, and it’s shaping up to be a battle of two of the league’s best offenses—and two MVP-caliber quarterbacks.
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have been at the heart of this season’s MVP debate, and now they’ll get the chance to settle it on the field. Baltimore’s run-heavy attack has been virtually unstoppable, with Derrick Henry leading the way alongside Jackson. Meanwhile, Buffalo rebounded from a slow start to dominate their wild-card matchup against Denver, with Allen tossing two touchdowns and their ground game racking up 210 rushing yards.
These two teams already met in Week 4, where the Ravens demolished the Bills 35-10 at M&T Bank Stadium. Derrick Henry stole the show with a jaw-dropping 87-yard touchdown run on Baltimore’s first play, setting the tone for a game in which the Ravens rushed for nearly 300 yards. But don’t expect Buffalo to roll over this time. Their offense has found its rhythm, their defense is playing at a high level, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
For Baltimore, it’s a chance to punch their ticket to a second straight AFC Championship game, while Buffalo looks to defend their turf and make a deep playoff run.
We caught up with Brandon Ray, the site expert over at Buffalowdown to give Ravens fans the low-down on the Bills ahead of the highly anticipated matchup.
Ravens vs. Bills Divisional Round matchup analysis
What lessons from the Week 4 loss to the Ravens are the Bills applying now?
Reflecting on the 35-10 loss to Baltimore earlier this season, what specific areas have the Bills focused on improving to avoid a similar outcome in this high-stakes rematch?
First, the Bills are healthier than they were in Week 4. The last time the Bills and Ravens faced off, Baltimore was going up against second and third-string linebackers in Buffalo. Not to mention, cornerback Taron Johnson was out and the Bills lost Khalil Shakir early on in the game. However, the biggest lesson that they have learned since that beatdown was that the Bills are a second-half team. Usually in the third quarter, the Bills come alive and suddenly play like the best team in the league.
They are able to do this by playing perfect complimentary football. The offense applies pressure and the defense is able to make the necessary stops that is needed. It also helps too that the Bills have learned to run the ball more with James Cook, who averages five yards per carry.
How significant is home-field advantage for the Bills in this matchup?
With the Bills being undefeated at home this season, how do you anticipate the energy at Highmark Stadium influencing the team’s performance against Baltimore?
Usually I would say that the Bills would take on any opponent anywhere, home field or not. However, that's not the case this time. The Bills are undefeated at home this season. No team has been able to outperform the Bills in front of Bills Mafia. Having the advantage of playing in front of their own fans on their own turf is a massive advantage that no one is talking about enough.
Which Bills defender needs to have a standout game?
The Ravens’ offense can be explosive, especially with Lamar Jackson leading the charge. Which player on Buffalo’s defense do you think is most crucial to stepping up and making game-changing plays in this matchup?
Ed Oliver has to be the X-factor for the Bills' defense. He's been inconsistent this entire seasons but has had his moments of coming through for the defense. He has to be the one that steps up and applies the pressure on Lamar Jackson in the pocket and stop Derrick Henry at or behind the line of scrimmage. If #91 goes wild, Buffalo's defense will be a in great position to succeed.
What’s Buffalo’s biggest worry heading into this game?
Every playoff matchup brings some nerves. What aspect of the Ravens’ team or game plan is most concerning for the Bills and their fans this week?
Sticking with the defensive line...the biggest area of weakness for the Bills is their ability to stop the run. We all remember what happened back in Week 4 when Derrick Henry rushed for an 87-yard touchdown on Baltimore's opening play. The Bills are giving up over 115 yards per game this season which is not exactly the best when you're going up against the Ravens. If Baltimore is able to control the line of scrimmage and push around the Bills' defensive line, Buffalo is in for a world of trouble.
How do you see this game playing out?
What’s your prediction for the game, and what do you think will be the deciding factor in whether the Bills come out on top or fall short against the Ravens?
The Bills look a lot better than they did going into Week 4. The health is way better, the rushing attack has become one of the best, and the overall offense has clicked for the better. In order for the Bills to come out on top, it's all about consistently getting into the endzone and putting pressure on Lamar Jackson to have to play perfect football. If Buffalo can just apply even one big stop against Jackson and the offense, that will allow Josh Allen to do what he does best; put on his Superman cape and carry the Bills to the AFC championship game. Buffalo finally breaks the narrative and gets past the Ravens in the divisional round, winning 28-24.