Zay Flowers’ absence didn’t stop the Baltimore Ravens from steamrolling their way past the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, but his potential return could be crucial for their Divisional Round clash with the Buffalo Bills.
Flowers, who suffered a knee injury in the regular-season finale, missed his first game in two seasons when Baltimore racked up 299 rushing yards against Pittsburgh.
Without Flowers, the Ravens leaned on their tight ends and depth receivers. Rashod Bateman opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown, while Tylan Wallace, Nelson Agholor, and Isaiah Likely all made timely plays in the passing game. It was a collective effort that worked against a Steelers team overwhelmed by Baltimore’s dominance on the ground.
Still, the Bills are no Steelers. Facing a team that has been unbeatable at home, the Ravens know they’ll need every weapon available—including their first-ever Pro Bowl receiver. Head Coach John Harbaugh offered an update on Flowers’ status this week, and while it wasn’t definitive, it gave fans some hope.
Zay Flowers is officially in "We’ll See Mode"
When asked about Flowers’ availability for Sunday’s game, Harbaugh kept things pretty vague:
“That’s in ‘we’ll see mode,’” he said. “He’s working hard to get back, and we’ll see toward the end of the week if he’s practicing. He could play without practicing, for sure, if he feels healthy enough and if it’s safe for him.”
"We'll see."
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 13, 2025
Coach Harbaugh on WR Zay Flowers: pic.twitter.com/Qg0lY5OLLx
Flowers’ knee injury has clearly been a tough hurdle, but if anyone can make an impact without a full week of practice, it’s him. The second-year receiver has been a difference-maker all season, leading the team with 74 catches for 1,059 yards.
The Ravens and Bills faced off in Week 4, with Baltimore cruising to a 35-10 win. But that game feels like ancient history. Buffalo is a different beast now, led by a rejuvenated Josh Allen and an offense bolstered by the addition of Amari Cooper. The Bills also welcome back defensive standouts Matt Milano and Taron Johnson, two players who weren't there Week 4 but could be difference makers come Sunday.
This makes Flowers’ potential return even more critical. Buffalo will focus on slowing Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, so having Flowers as a yards-after-catch threat could open up the offense. His ability to stretch the field and make defenders miss would be invaluable against a Bills secondary that has been vulnerable to big plays.
Without Flowers, the Ravens would once again rely heavily on their tight ends and supporting cast. While that worked against Pittsburgh, it's not guaranteed that it'll happen again—let alone against Buffalo.
If Flowers is cleared to play, his presence could be the X-factor Baltimore needs to keep pace with Buffalo’s high-powered offense. Whether or not he suits up, this game is shaping up to be a heavyweight fight.