Ravens Seek Redemption in Primetime Clash With Bills

Baltimore made a few costly mistakes in a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round last season.

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on Jan.19, 2025. Al Bello/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens are eager to get back at the Buffalo Bills in their week 1 matchup.

The Ravens return to Buffalo on Sunday for a primetime contest. The season opener is a grudge match for the Ravens, who lost to the Bills in the final minutes of the Divisional Round last season. Speaking to reporters Monday, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike said the game lights a fire under the team.

“[T]hat was the last place we played last season,” Stanley said. “And to be able to start off the season like that has definitely been talked about, and we’re very excited for that opportunity.”

Madubuike spoke further about the prospect of again facing the Buffalo Bills.

“You want to get that bad taste out of your mouth from the last game that we played over there,” he said. “So it gets everybody fired up and ready to go and gives us a motivational factor just to put our best foot forward in practice.”

The Ravens faced off against the Bills in the Divisional Round on a frigid and snowy January evening at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. After trading touchdowns in the first quarter, the Ravens were hampered by turnovers on back-to-back possessions. First, quarterback Lamar Jackson threw an interception to safety Taylor Rapp. On the next drive, Jackson was sacked and fumbled the football; it was scooped up by edge rusher Von Miller, who returned it to the Ravens’ 20-yard line, crushing the Ravens’ momentum and setting the Bills up for a go-ahead touchdown.

Buffalo scored another touchdown while the Ravens added a field goal to make the score 21-10 at the half. Baltimore hit another field goal and scored a touchdown, but missed a 2-point conversion attempt in the third quarter to bring the score to 21-19. The Bills kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 27-19. On the Ravens’ final possession with just over 90 seconds left in the game, Jackson threw a strike to tight end Isaiah Likely for a touchdown, but the Ravens missed a 2-point conversion attempt and did not recover the onside kick. The Bills won 27-25.

A reporter asked Madubuike if he watched the film from the game and what he thought about it.

“It’s not a good feeling,” the defensive lineman responded. “We lost. There’s things that we did good, there’s things that we did bad, but the bad override[s] the good, and that’s why we lost. So it’s definitely something that we’re looking to, and we really want to tighten the bolts on that.”

The game is likely to have emotional significance for veteran tight end Mark Andrews. Normally a dependable pass catcher for Lamar Jackson, Andrews had a costly fumble that prevented a scoring opportunity in the fourth quarter, and dropped Jackson’s pass on the final two-point attempt.

Stanley said Monday that Andrews is looking to put those mistakes behind him.

“Every game is going to be important to him,” Stanley said. “I know the type of competitor Mark is, and he’s not going to let one moment, one bad thing happen to set him back.

“He’s a true warrior, and he’s going to push forward through those moments, and I know he’s excited to prove [to] himself and everyone else that he’s still that guy.”

The Ravens’ three turnovers proved to be a difference maker in last season’s matchup. Madubuike stressed the importance of winning the turnover battle on Sunday.

“It’s huge when you take the ball away from the offense,” he said. “When you win the turnover battles, you’re more likely to win the game...the last time we went out there, they won the turnover battle.

“I think we had zero turnovers and they had three ... and it was still a tight game. So, just imagine [if] we even had the same amount of takeaways as they did.”

Madubuike also put emphasis on stopping the Bills’ rushing attack and putting quarterback Josh Allen in uncomfortable situations where the defense can capitalize on opportunities to disrupt Allen.

The Ravens returned nearly every key contributor who played in the playoff loss. Stanley said Monday that the game feels different for them.

“[T]hat team sent us home out of the playoffs,” he said. “So I don’t think it’s just going into a normal game per se. I think we’re very unhappy with the result last time we were there and a lot of us will give anything to leave there with the dub.”