Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Picks and Predictions September 7th 2025

MVP Quarterbacks Headline Sunday Night

The NFL season kicks off with one of the marquee matchups on the Week 1 slate as Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens visit Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Both quarterbacks enter the season with NFL MVP awards already on their résumés, and each is chasing another run to the Super Bowl.

Allen and the Bills knocked the Ravens out of the divisional round in January, edging them 27-25 in a thriller. That win avenged a lopsided 35-10 regular-season defeat to Baltimore. The two MVPs will renew their rivalry Sunday night in Buffalo, giving fans a matchup that feels like a playoff preview.

For more in-depth previews of the opening weekend slate, visit the NFL previews page

Revamped Defenses Tested Early

Baltimore arrives with the league’s top-ranked offense from 2024, a unit that made history as the first ever to post over 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season. But the spotlight will be on the defenses, both of which went through significant makeovers in the offseason.

The Bills added former Chargers star Joey Bosa to bolster their pass rush and drafted several defensive pieces, including first-round corner Maxwell Hairston Jr. and second-round defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Still, the secondary is a concern as Tre’Davious White and Christian Benford missed extended practice time leading into Week 1.

The Ravens invested in their secondary by signing corner Jaire Alexander and selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first round. Combined with linebacker Roquan Smith, who anchors the league’s top run-stopping unit, Baltimore believes it can control games by limiting explosive plays.

Check out the latest NFL betting odds to see how oddsmakers view this defensive duel.

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Battle on the Ground

While Allen and Jackson headline the matchup, the ground game could decide the outcome. Buffalo’s James Cook and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry each tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns last season with 16, matching Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs. Both runners signed contract extensions to remain franchise cornerstones.

Roquan Smith emphasized that stopping the run is the key to slowing Allen. If the Ravens contain Cook, they can force Buffalo into a one-dimensional passing attack. On the other side, Baltimore’s offensive line will need to create lanes for Henry against a Bills front energized by Bosa.

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Redemption Storylines

Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has circled this matchup since January. His late-game drop in the playoff loss at Buffalo cost Baltimore a chance to tie the game, and he admitted the mistake left him “gutted.” With Isaiah Likely sidelined by a foot injury, Andrews will be leaned on heavily in the passing game.

Meanwhile, Allen knows this matchup is bigger than just Week 1. With Highmark Stadium hosting its final home opener before the team moves into a new facility, the Bills will rely on their fans to fuel them in what could be a defining early-season statement.

Get to know more about both squads on the NFL teams page

Betting and Handicapping Outlook

With two explosive offenses and revamped defenses, the Ravens-Bills showdown is a game handicappers are eyeing closely. Both teams averaged over 30 points per game in 2024, and the line reflects expectations of a high-scoring contest.

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