Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens fell short again of their goal to win a Super Bowl when they got eliminated early in the playoffs of the 2024 NFL season. The team that ended their season? Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
The Ravens will go back-to-back dates with Buffalo, as the Bills will also be their first assignment in the2025 campaign.
It will be an interesting matchup, to say the least. Apart from the fact that these two teams met in the last playoffs, this Week 1 game will also feature the last two NFL Most Valuable Player Award winners in Jackson and Allen. Jackson won the award in 2023 for the second time in his career while Allen bagged his first MVP plum in the 2024 campaign.
History is not on the side of the Baltimore Ravens for Week 1 date with the Bills
Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen
Bills quarterback Josh Allen has the ball stripped by Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus. The turnover led to a Houston field goal in a 22-19 Texans overtime win to knock the Bills out of the playoffs.
Lots of eyes will be on this heavyweight matchup between the Ravens and the Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. For the Ravens, it’s a chance for them to score some measure of revenge against Allen and the Bills. For Buffalo, a win again over the Ravens would send a strong statement across the league right away.
For what it’s worth, history appears to suggest that Week 1 is not going to be a positive experience for the Ravens.
ViaGrant Gordon of NFL.com:
While it will be a historic Week 1 matchup, history doesn’t bode well for Jackson and the Ravens.
In Week 1 rematches of playoff games from the previous seasons, the postseason winner has won each of the last seven contests, including the Chiefs beating the Ravens last year — and the Detroit Lions defeating the Los Angeles Rams.
In the Ravens’ 27-25 loss to the Bills in the divisional round game last season, Jackson threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns with an interception on 18-of-25 passing. Allen, on the other hand, had 127 passing yards and zero touchdowns on 16-of-22 pass completions but had two rushing scores.
Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen, Derrick Henry
Sep 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) speaks with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after the game during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
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