The Baltimore Ravens have likely had Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills circled ever since the NFL schedule was released.
Buffalo ended Baltimore's season back in January with a 27-25 victory in the AFC divisional round of the playoffs, and if that weren't bad enough, Bills quarterback Josh Allen edged Ravens QB Lamar Jackson for the MVP award two weeks later.
But Sunday's road matchup is an opportunity for revenge, and with it being at Highmark Stadium, possibly beating the Bills in front of their home crowd is the kind of revenge that makes it worth the wait.
"That team sent us home out of the playoffs, so I don't think it's just going into a normal game per se," Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley said, via the team's official website. "We were very unhappy with the result last time we were there. A lot of us will give anything to leave there with a dub."
The down side for the Ravens, however, is that they won't be heading into their season opener with a fully healthy roster.
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Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters this week that that its possible recently signed Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander might not make his team debut in Buffalo. Alexander is battling some knee issues that have kept him from practicing for the last three-plus weeks.
Then on Wednesday, it was revealed that tight end Isaiah Likely would also miss Week 1 while recovering from offseason surgery.
"#Ravens TE Isaiah Likely, who is recovering nicely from a broken bone in his foot, is not expected to play in the team's opener against the #Bills, sources say," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport wrote on X. "Likely underwent surgery in late July and is healing as expected. He should be ready early in the season."
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Losing a player of Likely's caliber is a big blow for the Ravens offense facing a Bills defense that ranked 24th against the pass last season (226.1 yards allowed per game) and could be without its two top corners-Christian Benford and Tre'Davious White-in Week 1.
Likely really came on strong last season, setting new career highs in receptions (42), receiving yards (477), and touchdowns (six). He finished fourth on the team in targets (58) and yards, and was third in touchdowns.
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