The final score Sunday night read Bills 41, Ravens 40.
That doesn’t come close to telling the full story of the final home opener in the history of the current Highmark Stadium – one that will go down as one of the more improbable wins in team history.
Kicker Matt Prater, 41 years young, kicked a game-winning, 32-yard field goal with no time left on the clock as the Bills scored 18 points over the final 3:56 of game time to erase a 40-25 deficit and absolutely steal a season-opening win.
After a game in which the Bills’ defense couldn’t get a stop, the Ravens made a crucial error when All-Pro running back Derrick Henry lost a fumble with 3:06 remaining.
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Bills quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a pair of touchdowns during an improbable, 41-40 victory Sunday night. Derek Gee/Buffalo News
That gave Josh Allen and Co. another chance, and the Bills’ MVP quarterback knew what to do with it. Allen finished 33 of 46 for 394 yards and two touchdowns – a passer rating of 112.0. Somehow, someway he did enough to lead his team to its 12th straight home victory. That’s the second-longest such streak in team history, behind only a 15-game home winning streak from 1990-91.
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Here are four more observations from a wild win:
1. Allen made more history. The quarterback’s fourth-quarter rushing touchdown was the 66th of his career − breaking a tie with Thurman Thomas to set a new Bills franchise record. Allen joins Cam Newton (63 rushing touchdowns with Carolina) as the only quarterbacks to lead a team in that category.
2. Ed Oliver was a beast. The Bills’ big money defensive tackle earned his paycheck Sunday, forcing Henry’s fumble in the fourth quarter, while also registering a big sack against Lamar Jackson in the first quarter. On a tough night for the defense, Oliver was a bright spot.
3. There was only one reported injury. Returner Brandon Codrington returned to the game. Codrington was announced as being questionable to return after getting his knee bent back in the third quarter on a punt return. He was able to get back on the field for a kick return before the quarter ended.
Running back James Cook also briefly visited the sideline medical tent in the first half, but no injury was ever announced and Cook did not appear to miss any significant playing time. He had a strong game, finishing with 13 carries for 44 yards and five catches for 58 yards.
4. Prater enters the record book. When the 41-year-old kicker took the field for an extra point in the first quarter, he became the oldest player to appear in a game in franchise history – by a lot. Prater is 41 years, 28 days old. The record for the Bills’ previous oldest player was held by quarterback Bill Munson, who was 38 years and 85 days when he appeared in a game Nov. 4, 1979, narrowly edging out Doug Flutie (38 years and 61 days).
5. Tre’Davious White’s return will have to wait. The veteran cornerback was ruled inactive Sunday night. White’s delayed return is not a big surprise, considering he was doubtful for the game because of a hamstring injury he suffered ahead of the final preseason game against Tampa Bay.
Wide receiver Curtis Samuel was also inactive for the Bills. It’s been a fairly miserable summer for Samuel, who is in the second year of a three-year contract he signed before the 2024 season. Samuel missed the preseason with a hamstring injury and an illness kept him out of the final exhibition game against the Buccaneers.
Samuel’s cap hit of $9.065 million ranks eighth on the team and is the highest among all wide receivers.
Rookie defensive end Landon Jackson was also inactive for the Bills, along with center Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, rookie offensive lineman Chase Lundt and rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock.
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