Week 1 gave us one of the more anticipated AFC matchups right out the gate. Josh Allen’s Bills against Lamar Jackson’s Ravens. Two teams with Super Bowl aspirations, two superstar quarterbacks , two franchises looking to prove something in 2025. What we got was straight out of a movie, hard fought contest that revealed a lot about both squads some promising, some concerning and a finish only the best script writers could make.
Buffalo Bills
Positives: The Bills defense looked suspicous for stretches, especially against the run. Derrick Henry opened the game doing anything he wanted to the Bills defense. Luckily, especially after last year’s inconsistency, Sean McDermott’s group played disciplined football late. The secondary, showed flashes of being able to rotate safeties and mix coverage in ways that slowed Lamar in the second half. Offensively, Josh Allen and the troops were able to rally all second half and ppulled off one of the craziest 4th quarter combacks you'll see.
Down 15 in the 4th Josh Allen scored three td's one in the air two on the ground brining the Bills back from 15 down to a 41-40 lead.
Negatives:
Buffalo’s defense gave up a ton of rushing yards Baltimore gashed them n the ground all night the Ravens finished the day with 238 rushin yards. Tackling and tackling angles were sloppy at times, and Buffalo’s front seven couldn’t consistently clog lanes until the game was on the line. Allen’ did not turn the ball over but some stalled drives earlier put the Bills in that 15-point hole . They can’t rely on fourth quarter heroics every week.
- Josh Allen is still one of the few QBs who can erase a 15-point deficit in a single quarter.
- Keon Coleman looks like a legitimate high ceiling WR he made the plays Buffalo needed late.
- Buffalo’s run defense is an actual vulnerability teams that can run effectively will test them all year.
- Reliance on late comebacks masks mid game execution problems. That’s not a sustainable season plan.
- Special teams matter Prater (new addition) simply had to make that kick, and he did; confidence in kicking and coverage will shape close games.
Baltimore Ravens
Positives: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry combined for a monstrous attack Henry ran with the kind of power that still wears defenses down, and Lamar mixed accurate passing with his legs to keep the chains moving.
Zay Flowers continued to ascend as a truly dangerous vertical/slot weapon consistent separation and YAC made the Bills pay throughout. For three quarters Baltimore executed the script perfectly, run the ball, control clock, and keep Allen off the field.
Negatives
The collapse in the fourth quarter was the story. Two three and outs and a fumble by Henry on late drives. Plus a defense that simply ran out of answers against Allen’s late game performance. Turning what should have been a statement win into a heartbreaking loss. The Ravens late game play, call/clock management and tackling in space also need urgent review letting Buffalo sustain two long, game deciding drives is fatal.
What we learned
- Baltimore can dominate with the run/pass combo (Henry + Lamar) they controlled big chunks of the game.
- Closing out games is still a problem, giving up 16 fourth quarter points is inexcusable
- Zay Flowers is a real No. 1 playmaker in this offense his development is legit.
- Turnovers and short drives (three-and-outs) will sink this roster in tight AFC races they must fix late-drive execution.
