### **History Is Not on Ravens' Side in Season Opener Against Bills**
The Ravens will be looking for a measure of revenge when they face the Bills **—** the team that beat them in the AFC divisional round in January **—** in the season opener on "Sunday Night Football."
However, history is not on Baltimore's side in the matchup that features star quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, who edged out Jackson for the MVP award last season.
"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," [NFL’s Grant Gordon wrote](https://www.nfl.com/news/history-suggests-josh-allen-s-bills-will-thwart-lamar-jackson-s-ravens-in-week-1-showdown). "Furthermore, it will mark the fourth Week 1 matchup all time between an MVP and an MVP runner-up regardless of position. In each of the following showdowns, the MVP's team came out on top, per NFL Research."
Of course, none of that will matter when the Ravens and Bills take the field in Buffalo on Sept 7. And if you're looking for a stat that favors the Ravens, here's one: Jackson is 20-5 in primetime games, the best record by any quarterback since the 1970 merger (minimum 15 starts).