Arguably, the biggest matchup in Week 1 of the new NFL season was the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Buffalo Bills. It was a rematch of last season’s divisional round playoff game, as well as a matchup between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, who finished second and first, respectively, in the MVP balloting in 2024.
This game was an instant classic. Baltimore took control in the second quarter and held a 40-25 lead in the fourth quarter before Allen led a spirited comeback that culminated with a Matt Prater field goal with no time left. The Bills won, 41-40.
For Baltimore, running back Derrick Henry ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver Zay Flowers had seven catches for 143 yards. Overall, it ran for 238 yards and three touchdowns, as Jackson logged 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground to go along with his 209 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.
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It meant that the Ravens set a new NFL record by becoming the first team to score at least 40 points and establish at least 235 rushing yards in a loss. Teams that had put up such numbers had previously won 277 consecutive games.
There is no doubt that the Ravens have plenty of firepower, between Jackson, Henry, Flowers, and tight end Mark Andrews. This season, they also have veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler who has gone over the 1,000-yard mark seven times in 12 previous seasons.
Last season, the Ravens were third in points and first downs and first in rushing yards and total yards. But they lost by two points to Buffalo in the divisional round after Andrews fumbled a Jackson pass late in the fourth quarter on a two-point conversion try that would’ve tied the score.
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Baltimore has been knocking on the door of true Super Bowl contention over the last few years, but it has been unable to get over the hump and reach the big game. It has resulted in Jackson being tarred with the reputation of being unable to get things done deep in the playoffs.
But despite Sunday’s loss, perhaps a spry Hopkins could make the difference for the team. After all, Jackson set career highs last season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes and an NFL-high 119.6 passer rating, and at age 28, he is firmly in his prime.
An argument could be made that he and not Allen deserved last season’s MVP award.
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