All Activity

He better not. I would sue the league if I were Lamar then.

Nobody has told me what he did to win that sb. As always along for the ride. if a mouse is on a bullet train that travels at 350 mph between cities is it the fastest mouse in the world? No. If that train derails did the mouse just sitting in the corner make it happen? No. The mouse was along for the ride and whatever happens happens.

The guy pushed dhop first. Lamar should not be bothered by this. If the league can’t keep the players safe then it is their right to defend themselves.

I think 2 yrs in a row 0-2.

There were two kinds of football fans late Sunday night. Some saw the Ravens’ three quarters of dominance build a two-possession lead and figured that was enough, they could guess the ending and chose to go to sleep. The rest stayed up to witness the Bills crawl back and win 41-40 in an instant classic. Here are five stats that help explain the nearly unfathomable loss the Ravens suffered on Sunday night: 99.1% With four minutes, 48 seconds left, the Bills had the ball just inside the red zone. It was third-and-10. They trailed by 15 points. At that point, ESPN analytics gave the Ravens a 99.1% chance to win. A Buffalo comeback was, by that measure, nearly impossible. Josh Allen found wide receiver Joshua Palmer for an 8-yard pickup that gave them a fourth-and-short. Then the reigning Most Valuable Player took off out of the pocket flinging a prayer toward the end zone, answered by Keon Coleman who corralled a tipped ball in the back of the end zone — the starting blocks of what proved to be an improbable ending. According to NextGenStats, it was the 13th-most improbable comeback by any team over the last decade. Buckle your seatbelts for this next one: ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg pointed out that since the turn of the century teams trailing by 15-plus points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter have won three times of 2,316 games. 277 There have been 277 games in the history of the NFL where a team scored 40-plus points and rushed for at least 235 yards. That couples the regular season and the playoffs. On Sunday night, the Ravens became the first team to eclipse those lofty offensive marks and lose, dropping such teams to 277-1. “The offense put up 40 points,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “No way that we should be in that position as a defense. I don’t know. We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” 155.8 As anyone inside the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills will tell you, with Lamar Jackson, the Ravens always have a chance to win. The two-time MVP quarterback can famously drum up magic from a broken play, like his 15-plus-yard backward scramble that he turned into a 19-yard gain. NextGenStats clocked him traveling 75.9 yards on that play. Jackson finished with impressive marks in the win: 209 passing yards completing 14 of 19 attempts two scores and no turnovers. According to The 33rd Team, Jackson was blitzed on 10 of his 22 drop backs. He never seemed rattled. Jackson clocked a nearly perfect 155.8 passer rating completing 7 of 9 for 140 yards and a touchdown. ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder pointed out that Jackson’s 94.0 quarterback rating was the highest QBR in a losing effort since Week 9 of 2022. All that for naught in an instant classic. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is pressured by Bills defensive end Javon Solomon in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Jackson performed well in the Week 1 game, but the Ravens' defense faltered in the fourth quarter. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) 251 Allen put on a fourth-quarter masterclass, aided by a gassed Ravens defense. He ripped through the secondary without much resistance. Allen’s 251 yards in the fourth quarter were the fourth most of any quarterback this century, according to ESPN’s Ben Solak. The final frame showing landed behind Drew Brees with 294, in 2008; Ben Roethlisberger with 264, in 2010; and Dan Prescott with 254, in 2020. Of the top-five finishers on that ridiculous list of performances, Allen was the only one to win the game. To add insult to improbable Baltimore injury, Allen became the first player to have 250-plus passing yards and a pair of rushing scores in any single quarter in NFL history. Related Articles John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads Ravens coach John Harbaugh defends late 4th-down decision vs. Bills READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY 41 The Bills kicker who sank the game winner was 41-year-old Matt Prater, a veteran picked up off the street three days before the game. Prater had been staying game ready kicking field goals in an empty high school stadium. Buffalo called him when Tyler Bass, an organizational mainstay, landed on the injured reserve. Prater barely knew his teammates’ names. Allen admitted that he met Prater in the locker room on Friday. The quarterback found the kicker after a 32-yard try split the uprights sealing the comeback win and shouted, “”Hey! Welcome to Buffalo baby!” Sure, it was Allen and running back James Cook who did most of the damage out of the backfield. Wide receiver Keon Coleman figured to play an important role in this game. No one could have anticipated Prater – who was drafted in 2007, when the two quarterbacks were starting middle school – would be the one to decide a victor. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

Okay, time to move on. The Browns come to town, now, will there be a hangover from that late night fantastically high flying LOSS, after surrendering a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter? Will they be mad, crazy mad as most fans are today, and take it out on the Browns? Cleveland's defense is for real, let us start there. They held the high flying Bemgals offense to, ready, 7 yards, yes, 7 yards in the 2nd half of their game. They have a tremendous pass rush, the Ravens line will be tested early and often. The Browns offense though is not that dangerous, no matter who is at quarterback. But we know Joe, he loves to throw crossing and seam routes, and take shots deep down field. But he is a statue, just as likely to dump it down to keep from being clobbered. Their only real threat is at tight end where the Ravens have a terrible time covering. Folks, I love Joe, yes, the Super Bowl run was the most unexpected run I've ever witnessed. But more than that, he finished a half with a torn acl & pcl, I'll never forget how tough he is. With that said, it is clobbering time, its time to wake up this pass rush, ther line of the Browns is not very good, get to him early and often. So, who ya got?

John Harbaugh isn’t ignorant of the allegations that, when it comes to fourth-quarter collapses, the Ravens are in a league of their own. During his Monday news conference following an agonizing 41-40 defeat at Buffalo that prompted a late night of crunching film to figure out where his team went wrong, the Ravens’ longtime coach alluded to a number courtesy of The Athletic’s Mike Sando: Since 2022, seven teams have led at least 20 games by 9-16 points in the fourth quarter. Baltimore has played in 31 and lost six of them, four more than the next most. “That’s too many,” Harbaugh said, an acknowledgment of concern furrowing his eyebrows. “I don’t care how many two-score leads you have.” Here are those six fourth-quarter, double-digit crumbles: Week 2 vs. Miami in 2022; Week 6 at New York Giants in 2022; Week 12 at Jacksonville in 2022; Week 10 vs. Cleveland in 2023; Week 2 vs. Las Vegas in 2024; and Sunday night’s Week 1 loss in Orchard Park, New York. Half of them came in 2022. They’re averaging one per year since. According to the Associated Press, under the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, the Ravens have squandered 17 double-digit, second-half leads. That’s the most for any coach since at least 1991. Harbaugh acknowledged the need for some semblance of change. “I do believe that we need to be really thoughtful on how we decide that we’re going to approach those situations going forward,” he said. “Let’s give it some thought. Let’s give some thought to our play calling. Let’s give some thought to our defensive play calling. Let’s give some thought to our mindset, like how we’re going to talk to one another.” On Sunday night, the Ravens clung to a 15-point lead in the game’s final four minutes — a figure that will be rehashed ad nauseam all week, if not longer. That’s because Buffalo then scored 16 straight points in three scoring drives against a sputtering defense while playing keep-away from the Ravens’ stalling offense. Harbaugh said Sunday night, “We’ve had situations where we have done that in the past, but there have been too many of them.” He added on Monday morning: “We’re two scores up. We’re trying to keep a lead against Josh Allen or any of these great quarterbacks in this league. What’s our mindset on defense? How are we going to approach this? How are we going to talk to one another on the sideline to try to find a way to get the win? History will remember this comeback for the snowball of Ravens errors that left the door open for Buffalo to come crashing through. Related Articles READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills There was rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s errant extra-point try that he chalked up to “bad timing.” Then, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie dropped what would have been a game-altering interception. On the next Bills possession, they moved the sticks on a pair of third downs and scored a touchdown on fourth down. Derrick Henry fumbled the ball back on the ensuing possession. A Bills touchdown, then Ravens three-and-out in 32 seconds, preceded Buffalo cruising into field goal range to put the game to bed. “We’re banging our heads on the wall about it at this point,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” What’s Harbaugh’s philosophy when his team holds a lead in the fourth quarter, consciously or subconsciously, knowing their past propensity to cough it up? “My philosophy always, on offense, is the best way to burn clock is to get first downs,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the best way to burn time.” A Ravens offense that finished the night averaging 8.6 yards per play — nearly a first down every snap — moved the chains just three times in the fourth quarter. On their final three drives, a fumble sandwiching two punts, Baltimore moved the chains only once. Pundits will take a microscope to Harbaugh’s conservative choice to punt rather than go for it on fourth-and-3 on the Ravens’ 38-yard line as a bullet point in the argument for poor decision-making, although that choice wasn’t an obvious decision, even in hindsight. Defensively, the Ravens couldn’t do much to slow down the often-mystifying quarterback play of Josh Allen. He threw for 251 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Harbaugh said they “tried everything.” They went man, zone, blitzed, burst off the edge, showed one thing and dropped to another. None of it worked. It left Baltimore vulnerable to a double-digit fourth-quarter unraveling. No. 6 since 2022, in part defining their shortcomings. “It becomes a game scenario,” Harbaugh said, “that we need to be really intentional about going forward.” Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

A fan pushed Lamar's head after the Hop td. Lamar pushed the fan back. Fan was banned Now the problem, players are prohibited from touching fans, even in a retaliation way. Automatic suspension so the rules say. So, does Lamar get suspended and for how long?

So a fan pushes Lamar's head, Lamar pushes him back. Fan was banned for life. Now, does Lamar get suspended, per league rules?

To go, or not to go; that was the question. It was the one the Ravens were facing late Sunday night in Orchard Park, New York, where they were clinging to a two-point lead over the Bills and facing fourth-and-3 from their own 38-yard line with 1:33 remaining. It was the one still lingering uneasily less than 24 hours after a stunning collapse and 41-40 defeat. Go for it, get it and the game is over. Go for it, don’t get it and the Bills are sitting pretty already in range for a go-ahead field goal. Or, don’t go for it, punt and rely on the defense to stop quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen, who was inevitable down the stretch at Highmark Stadium. By now, the NFL world and beyond know which door Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose. Allen and the Bills, of course, made Harbaugh pay for his decision to punt and put the ball in Allen’s hands. “I did think about going for it,” Harbaugh said after the game. “If it’s fourth-and-3, if you don’t get it, they’re in field goal range. So, I think punting it is probably what most people would do there.” On Monday and with the benefit of hindsight, not much had changed for the man in charge of making such decisions. “I don’t think you could sit there and say, ‘Well, I should’ve been more aggressive,” Harbaugh said in his day-after debriefing in Owings Mills. “I don’t think you can definitively say that’s the right thing either. You can’t really say that for sure. Because you could make that choice and could easily be having the conversation the other way.” The analytics suggested the choice wasn’t that difficult. Related Articles READER POLL: Does Ravens’ collapse vs. Bills alter your expectations for the season? 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills According to data guru Ben Baldwin and his Fourth Down Bot, going for the first down on what he had as a fourth-and-2 would have increased the Ravens’ chances of winning to 84%, up from 76% from punting. They also had a 60% chance of being successful, according to the model. ESPN analytics suggested a nearly identical outcome and still favored Baltimore trying to pick up the first down on fourth-and-3 and even a little beyond that distance. But instead of the Ravens going for it, like they had deep in their own territory late in the first half of a game against the Chargers last season, Harbaugh opted to punt. Jordan Stout booted a 42-yard kick that went out of bounds on the 20. Nine plays later, 41-year-old Matt Prater knocked in the game-winning field goal as time expired. From where the second-longest tenured coach in the league sat, though, it wasn’t quite so simple. “The ball gets batted down there it’s, ‘Why didn’t you just give it to [running back] Derrick [Henry] or put it in [quarterback] Lamar’s [Jackson] hands and let him run it?’ That’s the catch-22 of the whole conversation,” he said. It was a choice, Harbaugh also said, that had to be made quickly and with multiple variables. “You gotta say, ‘Do we have a call we really like? Do we have a call we love here?’” he said. “Because you have to send the punt team out or you’re gonna have a delay of game, or have to send the offense out or you’re not gonna get the play off.” Ravens coach John Harbaugh, left, talks with an official before Sunday night's game against the Bills. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) The Ravens were flush with three timeouts, so even if they didn’t get a first down, they could have used said timeouts to stop the Bills from running the clock down to a few seconds, then kicking the game-winner. Harbaugh also said he would have had to use one of those timeouts to get the play in before the play clock expired, however. There was also the matter of Jackson, who said after the game that he was cramping at that point. “If I wasn’t, everybody in here knows I would’ve been trying to go for a fourth-and-3,” the star quarterback said. He wasn’t the only option, either. Henry tore through the Bills’ defense most of the night, racking up 169 yards and two scores on 18 carries. The Bills had also largely stymied Baltimore’s ground attack late in the fourth, which essentially left Harbaugh with an existential choice. Did he trust his defense enough to stop a player that it struggled to contain for much of the evening? Or could he live with putting the ball in the hands of his best player — Jackson — and live with the outcome? Last season against the Chargers, he chose offense. The circumstances were different, but not so much to be cast aside. Trailing 17-10 late in the second quarter and facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 16, the Ravens called a direct snap to tight end Mark Andrews, who surged forward to successfully convert the first down. Baltimore eventually went on to win, 30-23. Like then, the numbers favored the bold this time. There were also the plays leading up to it to consider. On first down, Henry picked up just 1 yard. On second down and with Henry on the sideline, receiver Zay Flowers took a read-option from the quarterback and gained no yards. On third down, Jackson’s pass to receiver DeAndre Hopkins picked up 6 yards. That left the decision then to Harbaugh. “I’m not shying away from putting our defense out there,” Harbaugh said. “If you get stopped on fourth-and-3, it’s, ‘Did you think about punting the ball, putting your defense out there and giving them a chance to win the game?’ That would’ve been the next conversation because they would’ve been in field goal range already. “I trust our defense, and I’m going to trust our defense in a lot of big situations because our defense is going to be really, really good. I know there’s doubt about that right now, but I guarantee our defense is going to play really good defense.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Harbs is tied for 15th in NFL history in wins, with 1 super bowl victory.

We are the only team in league history to have 40+ pt and 235 yds rushing to lose. The d was not ready. And that shows good coaching and preparedness?

Look...this team played solid football until very late in the game against a very good team. They fell apart I agree because their conditioning looked poor. Maybe they should have played the regulars some in pre-season though I understand the reluctance to get a good player injured. The defense ran out of gas again, I agree. Roquan seems to have become lost and I don't know why. The secondary played well enough to win but the D-line got no pressure on Allen all game. Did Green play more than a few downs? He was not a factor but then there was no pressure from anybody. That sounds like a defensive coaching deficiency. Meanwhile the O skill players were on fire. Henry, Lamar, Flowers, Bateman all played very well. But when they had the ball for the last series, they attempted to run out the clock and couldn't do it. Sometimes you've just got to pass to get another first down even when you're trying to run out the clock. But in the end, the Defense lost this game big time. When your team scores 40 points, you should come away a winner. Instead the Defense caved in and the offense went too conservative too early. Most of the blame I have to put on Orr, our DC. We just didn't stop them when we had too and when we were up 15 points.

The Ravens collapsed. Again. Baltimore led the Bills by 15 points with less than four minutes remaining in Sunday night’s game in Orchard Park, New York, but fell apart in a stunning 41-40 loss. Did the shocking defeat alter your expectations of the Ravens for the rest of the season? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

Stephens was getting torched by Rogers, a pi that lead to a score, a dropped int that resulted in a score oh and giving up big plays, because he "slipped". It's one game, the 1st game. Im gonna chalk it up to running out of gas. This was a team loss, offense could have won the game by running out the clock. They could have been more aggressive in the 4th and score another time when up by 15. The defense could have made one stop at the end. Or how about that 4th and 2 in the redzone where the pass was tipped and bounded to a Bills receiver for a score. No, you should not lose a game where you score 40 pts, yes, run the clock out, maybe throw on 1st down with less than 2 mins left in the game and they are expecting a run...

I'm pissed. All we heard in the offseason was that our D was revamped. We jettisoned Stephens and swapped him out with a Alexander and what did it get us. They didn't have all pro-receivers and they tore us up. This D is a joke and the O's play calling at the end was laughable. No killer instinct in the end and that's on Harbaugh. Oh yeah and Roquan is getting worse.

The Ravens lost their season opener on a night that will surely be reviewed as a Game of the Year candidate. This one, a stunning comeback by the Buffalo Bills, 41-40, happened in the same building where Baltimore’s playoff hopes crumbled seven months ago. Here are five things we learned from the game: Ravens are still ‘banging their heads’ trying to close out games Just past the five-minute mark, the Ravens clung to a 40-25 lead. The offense was clicking, marking the first 40-point outing of the NFL season. The only issue was that the second was right on their tail. All the Ravens had to do was close the door and twist the lock. What ensued over the next five minutes of game play was practically unfathomable. And still, par for the course for a reputation the Ravens are struggling to shed. “I don’t want the Ravens to be known as a team that gets up big and blows the lead,” said Kyle Hamilton, newly christened as the highest-paid safety in NFL history. “It’s not who we are and we got to prove that to everybody else because as of right now that’s what we’ve been doing.” Since 2021, the Ravens have lost eight games in which they held a win probability of at least 90%, which is three more than the next closest team. That’s according to ESPN. This one was particularly gutting. It was supposed to be a dish of revenge. For three quarters they were serving it cold, converting improbable third downs that yielded even more ridiculous touchdowns while holding an offense piloted by the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player at arm’s length. What followed was a medley of divine intervention and downright lackluster football. Bills quarterback Josh Allen jetted out of the pocket and flicked a throw toward the end zone. Dawson Knox’s outstretched hand tipped the ball ever so slightly near the goal line, softening the ball’s flight path and sending it careening into Keon Coleman’s hands — a lucky bounce and impressive catch calling all the fans who fled for the exits scrambling back to their seats for an eight-point game. Two plays into Baltimore’s next possession, running back Derrick Henry fumbled the ball away — a first for the future Hall of Famer since Week 11 last year. He later told his teammates, “put the loss on me. I own it like a man.” Buffalo needed only one minute to spin that into a touchdown. The football gods intervened again. In that same corner of the end zone where Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion along with the Ravens’ season, Allen went right over there for his own game-tying try. Buffalo’s attempt was shut down on a pass well-defended by cornerback Nate Wiggins. As if Martin Scorsese or Christopher Nolan interjected to direct the ending, the Ravens went three-and-out and handed the ball back to the Bills, who stormed upfield and won the game on a field goal courtesy of a kicker who was staying game ready at an empty high school field two weeks ago. Add Sunday night to that growing screenshot of before and after score bugs that circulates on social media after every blown Ravens lead. Even if this game didn’t carry the same weight as the playoff loss, it left the locker room dismayed all the same. “We’re banging our heads on the wall about it at this point,” Hamilton said. “We just need to figure out how to win games. We are winning them for 45 minutes, but you have to win for 60 minutes.” Added Henry: “This one is definitely going to sting for a while. It’s Week 1. We still feel that we should have won, but it’s over now. We’re just focused on getting better, deciding on the things we need to work on and go to work. We look forward to the next one.” And Jackson: “We’ll probably let it linger tonight and then forget about it, because we’re going to have to get prepared for the Browns, our divisional rival.” Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for one of his two touchdowns in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Henry finished the game with 169 rushing yards and one costly fumble. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Derrick Henry still has juice, despite crucial gaffe Lamar Jackson sprinted toward the end zone cupping his hands like he was holding something valuable, tasking himself with the prized delivery. After Henry broke free for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter, a thundering stiff arm on the way there, Jackson slammed an invisible crown down atop the 31-year-old’s head. Henry finished with 169 yards on 18 carries and two mystifying touchdowns that embody what he means to this offense: The second half of perhaps the best one-two punch in the league, worthy of a second teammate pretending to crown him on the sideline after the next touchdown. And yet, his night will be overshadowed by a costly, uncharacteristic error. Henry coughed up the ball shortly before the two-minute warning. He fumbled thrice all last year. This one, jarred loose by defensive lineman Ed Oliver, was a right hook to the gut. Henry forked the ball over to an offense teeming with new life — one that would ride enough momentum to close the gap of a 15-point deficit. Buffalo found the end zone four plays after the fumble, hanging a gray cloud over an otherwise exceptional individual performance. Henry, in totality, did the thing he has done for the entirety of his short Ravens career. Ignore those who say he’s too old and continue to dominate. As ESPN’s Mina Kimes pointed out on X, “even the nerds have abandoned the usual carries/age arguments when it comes to him. Like everyone just acknowledges he isn’t a real person.” Hard to argue with that after watching Henry run all over a top half of the league run defense who packed the box for a lot of the night. Baltimore’s run game was projected to be a strength, as it was last year. As it has been for much of the John Harbaugh era. The trio of Henry, Jackson and Justice Hill accounted for the best rushing attack in the NFL last year. Postulating how offensive coordinator Todd Monken might have fun including a healthy Keaton Mitchell (a healthy scratch Sunday night) was a fun exercise. No matter. Henry showed how unstoppable Baltimore’s offense can be when it leans on him. Remember that picture DeAndre Hopkins posted in February 2020 of him, Jackson and Henry, dreaming about what an offense with all three might look like? Five years later we have an answer. Jackson glided in for one touchdown and threw a pair. Hopkins endeared himself to Ravens fans with a ridiculous one-handed grab. And the bell cow back bulldozed for two scores. Consider his historical context: With Henry’s 107th career rushing touchdown, he passed Jim Brown for sixth on the NFL’s all-time list. Sunday marked the second time in Henry’s career in which he ran for 120-plus yards on fewer than 10 carries which, according to ESPN, is tied for the most by any player this century. Later, on Henry’s 49-yard carry, he hit a top speed of 19.84 mph. The old guy’s still got it. Henry, who scoffs at any suggestion that the age-induced-decline might be imminent, doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander is called for interference in Sunday's loss to the Bills. Alexander struggled in his Ravens debut. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Defense isn’t close to being the feared group they aspire to be This could still change. There’s time to fix it. But outside of a few stone-walling plays on third down and red zone stands, Baltimore’s defense did not appear to be the “feared” group they have preached all offseason. The game that set off that specific discourse from cornerback Marlon Humphrey felt eerily similar to this one. It was the primetime matchup against Cincinnati in November. That one fell Baltimore’s way, 35-34. This one didn’t, marred by a comeback that stung even worse when a high-octane offense exposed the flaws in the defense. The biggest lesson the Ravens’ defense learned when they lost to Buffalo in the playoffs was the importance of forcing takeaways. Three takeaways to none can all but guarantee victory. Senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano did the math, saying three would give a team a 90-plus-percent chance at victory. His group nearly forced two Sunday night: Malaki Starks let slip what would have been an acrobatic, highlight reel pick on the first drive, then an interception by Chidobe Awuzie that was called back after officials ruled it touched the grass first. Not only did the Ravens fail to forcefully steal the ball away, they barely managed to get hands on Allen, albeit sparring with a top-tier offensive line. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike accounted for Baltimore’s only sack, compared with two by the Bills. Allen and all his mastery cut up a gassed Ravens defense in the fourth quarter, using all parts of the field to seamlessly drive down the field and mount a comeback. His 251 passing yards in the fourth quarter marked the fourth best final frame this century. Teams don’t fear defenses that watch offenses — even premiere ones — meticulously pick them apart in the fourth quarter. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener “We talked about it all offseason how we struggled last season at the beginning,” Hamilton said. “Then [we said], ‘It’s a new year, and it’s a new team,’ and then we come out here and do that. We are saying the same things. Well, we are saying something different, but we are doing the same things.” At one point, Hamilton’s eyes floated up to the scoreboard. He saw Buffalo hung 497 yards on them. Allen threw for 394 yards (251 in the fourth quarter) and two touchdowns without a turnover. Those numbers made Hamilton sick to his stomach. This defense still has the ceiling to be that of which they aspire. The talent is littered all over the field. Tyler Loop’s one miss proves critical He’s going to want one back. Tyler Loop doinked an extra point try and the Ravens lost by one point. That’s the unfortunate, mathematical reality of being an NFL kicker. Welcome to the league, rookie. Loop was sharp otherwise, as many expected him to be. The sixth-round pick was nearly perfect through training camp and showed off noticeable leg strength throughout the preseason. Expecting him to perfect would have been a fool’s errand. But Loop made his first big league kick, a 52-yarder, then slipped on the chip-shot extra point. It was the kind of kick that in the moment, particularly after a touchdown by Henry that erected the 15-point lead in the first place, can be brushed aside. It doesn’t come back to bite until Buffalo creeps back into the game. Then you start looking at the scoreboard and counting on your fingers how it might play out. “It was with my start to the ball,” Loop explained postgame. “I was just back there and kind of [had] a mental lapse in the process and kind of went, ‘Oh, here we go’ and not the smooth process we’ve been working on, and it broke.” Loop, maturely, pocketed it as a learning experience. “Every team in the NFL is a good team,” Loop said. “If you don’t show up and bring your A-game every day, someone’s going to beat you.” The first 6 weeks of the schedule are intimidating. It just got that much tougher. Skipping over a Week 2 home opener against the Browns, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. Beating the Bills would have provided a bit of insurance going into a home game against Detroit, a familiar foe in Kansas City at Arrowhead, then a pair of home games against the Texans and and Rams. That’s five playoff teams from a season ago in six weeks for a team that, despite being considered one of the best in the NFL with pundits galore picking them to be in the Super Bowl, has historically struggled to get off to a clean start. Just last year, the Ravens opened the season 0-2 when Isaiah Likely’s shoe was half a size too big and they delivered a clunker against Las Vegas before getting on track to a historic regular season. Bills coach Sean McDermott, left, and Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, greet at midfield following Sunday's thriller. The Ravens lost, 41-40, after leading by 15 points late in the fourth quarter. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) “You’ve got to fight those negative thoughts off because at the end of the day,” left tackle Ronnie Stanley said, “it’s not gonna help you win the next week.” Sunday night was a confounding loss for these Ravens. One that, for folks who have followed the team closely these past few years, feels all too familiar. A game this early doesn’t put a bow on a season one way or the other. The Ravens thumped Buffalo in Week 4 last year then laid an egg at Highmark Stadium three months later. The long view is this loss leaves the Ravens playing catch up for the conference’s top seed and the right to home-field advantage. In the short term, the Ravens can’t afford to drop a game. And losing at Kansas City becomes all the more costly if Baltimore is ever going to dethrone the AFC’s dynasty. “Hopefully you learn from it and keep getting better; you get better throughout the course of the season and become the team you’re going to be,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a long journey.” Maybe avoid the unfiltered sports talk radio discourse this week. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

40 points, not ready to play? 15 pt lead in the 4th quarter, not ready to play? 3 punts? The Bills once again could not stop this offense for 3 quarters. No, they were ready to play, with just over 2 minutes left in the game, the Ravens had the ball. Yet they ran out of gas or took their foot off of the gas earlier in the quarter, maybe thinking 1 td in the 4th was enough. Even so, the offense could have iced the game, Bills had 0 timeouts left. 1 or 2 1st downs, Ravens win 40-38. But no, maybe conditioning was the factor? Then maybe it was coaching. The defense reversed back to last year's early defense, cant hold a lead. This after a pretty good first game of the season performance against one of the best teams in the league, holding them to 25 pts in 3 quarters. Stopping not 1, not 2, but what, 3 2 pt conversions? But alas, when this team needed a stop, they just ran out of gas. The Bills had almost 500 yards of total offense, 497, became the 1st team to overcome a 15 pt deficit in the final 4 minutes of a season opener in history, of course while wearing Pocahontas under shorts So yes, maybe it was coaching; conditioning for 4 quarters

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Ravens had Buffalo buried. Up big, 40-25, in the fourth quarter with the once-deafening home crowd silenced and thousands of Bills fans already filing for the exits. All Baltimore had to do was close. Instead, the Ravens collapsed. Again. Jaire Alexander’s defensive pass interference cracked the door. Tyler Loop’s missed extra-point attempt pushed it slightly. Derrick Henry’s fumble busted everything open. It was Alexander who played a key role in allowing Josh Allen to march the Bills back from the dead. What should have been a statement win to open the season turned into another nightmare, a 41-40 unraveling that looked far too familiar. This wasn’t just a bad loss. It was a flashing red warning sign for a franchise that’s been incapable of closing big games in critical moments. The Ravens have now lost eight games since 2021 in which they, at one point, had a win probability of at least 90%, according to ESPN research. That’s three more than the next closest team. Eight times Baltimore has been in total control in just the past four seasons, only to hand it away. On Sunday night, the Ravens’ latest collapse didn’t feel like an anomaly. That’s because the signs were there before the eventual collapse. Alexander’s penalty in the second quarter put the Bills in a prime position to trim Baltimore’s lead. At the end of the first half, the defense allowed a last-second sideline completion that gave Buffalo exactly one second for a field goal to bring them back within one possession. Throughout, though, the Ravens still looked like the better, more talented team. But their mistakes kept them from burying the Bills time and time again. By the fourth quarter, Henry, who dominated to the tune of 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns, coughed up the ball in a crucial spot. The Bills scored a few plays later, although Allen was unable to find Keon Coleman on a 2-point conversion attempt, temporarily preserving Baltimore’s 40-38 lead at the two-minute warning. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Henry’s magic disappeared on the ensuing drive, when he was stopped for a 1-yard gain. The Ravens went three-and-out during the contest’s most critical point. By the time Allen was carving up Alexander and the secondary moments later on the game-winning drive, the disastrous outcome felt inevitable. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Henry’s first half was dominant, a stark contrast to the downhill running that Baltimore lacked here in January. Quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson played “great,” in coach John Harbaugh’s eyes, spreading the ball, managing tempo and moving the chains with his right arm and legs. For three-plus quarters, the Ravens looked like bullies to a Bills team that went 8-0 at home last season. And yet, with the game in its hands, Baltimore let it slip away. Super Bowl contenders don’t lose games like this. Not when they’re up 15 with less than four minutes left. Certainly not when the opponent’s fans are streaming toward the parking lot. The best teams slam the door shut. They bury this bugaboo in a season in which many in the football world predicts them to host the Lombardi Trophy. The Ravens didn’t. Ravens coach John Harbaugh, right, and Bills coach Sean McDermott shake hands after Sunday night's game. “We're disappointed, but we’ll be fine,” Harbaugh said after the stunning defeat. (Gene J. Puskar/AP) A collapse like this couldn’t have come at a worse time, either. Buffalo marked the first test of a six-week gantlet with the Ravens now staring down the Browns, Lions, Chiefs, Texans and Rams before the bye. Five playoff teams from a year ago by mid-October. “We’re disappointed, but we’ll be fine,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll get back to work. This is how the NFL works. It’s a tough league. You play tough games in tough environments. Hopefully we learn from it and keep getting better. You get better over the course of the season and become the team you’re going to be. It’s a long journey.” The Ravens wanted to open strong. Instead, they’ll carry a crushing loss and the same old questions into the rest of the six-week storm. Jackson and Alexander insisted the Ravens will use the next 24 hours to reflect on the loss before turning their attention toward their Week 2 opponent, a Cleveland squad led by Joe Flacco. Those feelings weren’t in unison across the visitors’ locker room. “This one stings,” Henry said. “It’s going to sting for a while.” Last season’s 0-2 start dug Baltimore a hole it eventually climbed out of. But in reality, the team’s biggest issues, such as not finishing in critical spots, lingered. Their latest defeat in prime time marked another entry in that uneasy category. Buffalo’s game-winning chip-shot field goal came from Matt Prater, a veteran signed off the street days before kickoff, representing another indignity in a collapse already full of them. The Ravens had Buffalo beaten. The scoreboard suggested it, the fans in the aisles nearly confirmed it. But Sunday night’s final scene with red fireworks shooting into the air and shocked white jerseys retreating indoors with their head bows said otherwise. Until the Ravens prove they can finish consistently, it really won’t matter what the calendar says. September or January, Baltimore’s ending still looks the same. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) fumble the ball as he is hit by Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown past Buffalo Bills safety Cole Bishop (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Show Caption1 of 18Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Expand View the full article

Ninety-nine percent of Sunday night was a reminder of how lucky the Ravens are to have Derrick Henry. He broke several rushing records, scampered for two touchdowns and carried Baltimore’s offense for the majority of the game. But most people aren’t going to remember Henry’s historic performance. Instead, it’ll be his only blemish — a fourth-quarter fumble that preceded the Ravens’ historic collapse in their 41-40 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York. “I gotta take care of the ball. I told my teammates after the game to put the loss on me,” Henry said. Henry dominated before that costly mistake. He tallied more than 150 rushing yards and averaged more than 9 yards per carry. It felt as though almost every time Henry touched the ball, he reached the second and sometimes third level of the Bills’ defense. He ran untouched on his 46-yard fourth-quarter touchdown. With Baltimore up eight points and 3:10 left on the clock, it turned to Henry. Then Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver quickly penetrated into the backfield and got his arms around the running back. He ripped at the ball and forced Henry to fumble, leading to a Buffalo recovery and ensuing touchdown. That play wasn’t the ultimate deciding factor in Sunday’s game, though. The Ravens’ defense allowed 497 total yards after saying all week how prepared they felt entering the first game. Newly signed cornerback Jaire Alexander was relentlessly targeted in the fourth quarter, surrendering chunk play after chunk play. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed an extra point attempt. “When the offense puts up 40 points, no way we should be in that position,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. Some of those plays are understandable. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player and Buffalo has built a stellar surrounding cast around him. The Bills have one of the best late-game offenses in football and have played in tight, intense games throughout Allen’s tenure. That’s why Henry’s fumble came as a complete shock. He’s one of the best running backs in NFL history at protecting the football, fumbling just 21 times on 2,373 career carries. That means that every time Henry totes the rock, he has a 0.88% chance of coughing it up. “If I take care of the ball, I feel like it’d be a different situation,” Henry said. Ravens running back Derrick Henry fumbles the ball as he is hit by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the fourth quarter Sunday in Orchard Park, New York. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Just like tight end Mark Andrews’ drop on a 2-point conversion attempt in the postseason, it was one of Baltimore’s most reliable players letting it down in the game’s final moments. Since 2021, the Ravens have lost eight games in which they had a win probability of at least 90% at one point during the game, according to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak. That’s three more than the next closest team. “You got to make plays to get off the field and you got to stay on the field,” coach John Harbaugh said. It’s the first game Baltimore has lost when Henry has rushed for more than 100 yards. In a contest that featured so many offensive fireworks, Henry reminded everyone that he’s one of the greatest running backs of this generation. Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens report card: Position-by-position grades for 41-40 loss to Bills Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener He finished the second quarter with more than 100 yards for the sixth time in his career, which is tied for the second-most such performances in the NFL since 1991. Henry’s 107 career rushing touchdowns moved him to sixth all-time, passing Hall of Famer Jim Brown. He tied Walter Payton for the most 150-yard rushing games by a running back at least 30 years old. It was the seventh time that he’s rushed for that many yards in the past two seasons. Henry shouldn’t be this good. Not when he’s 31 years old — an age that running backs typically fall off a cliff — or when he’s accumulated more than 4,000 carries in his football career spanning high school, college and the NFL. But the veteran continues to redefine the position. It’s a cruel twist that his performance Sunday ended with him taking responsibility not for a defining road win over a fellow Super Bowl contender, but for a devastating loss that he’ll carry the weight of himself. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Here’s how the Ravens graded out at every position after a 41-40 loss to the Bills in their season opener: Quarterback Lamar Jackson was content to dink and dunk for most of the first half, but he threw some nice crossing routes to slot receiver Zay Flowers. He also showed good touch on the 29-yard touchdown pass to veteran DeAndre Hopkins down the right sideline in the third quarter. Most damaging to Buffalo were Jackson’s keepers on option runs off the perimeter. Most teams keep a player outside to keep Jackson inside the tackles, but he took advantage of the Bills for 70 yards on six carries. Jackson finished with a passer rating of 144.6 to go with 209 yards and a pair of touchdown passes, but even that wasn’t good enough. Grade: A Running backs Buffalo wanted no part of Derrick Henry. At 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, he ran both inside and outside, several times bouncing outside on tosses. Henry, though, showed good vision with several cutback runs, and he finished with two rushing touchdowns and 169 yards on 18 carries. There were times when it seemed as if Buffalo defensive backs purposely took the wrong pursuit angles because they wanted no part of Henry. But Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble led to a touchdown that brought the Bills within 40-38 with just under two minutes left. The Ravens couldn’t reboot the offense on the next series. Grade: A- Offensive line There were only a few instances in which the Ravens were beaten up front. This group dominated the Bills and got a good push off the ball. But the Ravens still need to make some improvements. Right tackle Roger Rosengarten needs to step up his game, and center Tyler Linderbaum still struggles with big nose guards over top of him. Both Linderbaum and Rosengarten had problems with defensive end Joey Bosa at times, as well as defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who finished with three tackles for loss and a sack. Both players came up big for the Bills late in the game, even though the Ravens dominated up front for nearly 3 1/2 quarters. The Ravens will learn from this, but Sunday night still seemed like a wasted effort. Grade: B Receivers This group was the best on the field. The Ravens worked the short passing game to perfection for most of the first half and then shifted to more middle-of-the-field passing in the second. The Bills couldn’t contain Flowers, who had seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. Hopkins had a nice one-handed touchdown catch down the right sideline in the third quarter, and at times it looked as though the Ravens were running a seven-on-seven passing drill. The Ravens also got a strong effort from tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, a practice squad call-up who was Henry’s lead blocker on several runs around the corner. But not even this group could save the Ravens from a pending disaster. Grade: A Defensive line The Ravens had a good mix up front, and they held Buffalo to 54 rushing yards in the first half. But they couldn’t get a lot of pressure on quarterback Josh Allen when it counted. When they did, he was elusive and brought the Bills back in dramatic fashion. End Nnamdi Madubuike had six tackles and nose guard Travis Jones finished with three. But when the game counted the most, Buffalo outscored the Ravens, 22-6, in the fourth quarter. One touchdown came off a Ravens turnover, but that’s when great players make big plays. Buffalo finished with 497 yards of total offense. Grade: C- Related Articles 5 things we learned from the Ravens’ 41-40 loss to the Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens show vs. Bills that some things never change | COMMENTARY Ravens RB Derrick Henry’s historic night overshadowed by fumble: ‘Put the loss on me’ Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Linebackers The Ravens shuffled a lot of players in and out of the lineup, which at times included rookies Teddye Buchanan and Mike Green. But an old problem resurfaced. When this team needs a sack in crunch time, who is going to be the outside linebacker to deliver? Green might one day become that player, but probably not in his rookie season. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith led the Ravens in tackles with 10, but he has problems in pass coverage. Weak-side linebacker Trenton Simpson struggled getting off run blocks for most of the game and finished with one tackle compared with three for Buchanan. Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy had a strong game and finished with three tackles and one quarterback hurry, and backup outside linebacker Tavius Robinson was decent. The Ravens need a stronger presence on the outside, a game-changing pass rusher. Grade: C Secondary Maybe it was an omen when Buffalo drove 48 yards in four plays at the end of the first half, which resulted in a 43-yard field goal by Matt Prater. Because in the final quarter, when the Ravens should have taken over, they had virtually nothing. All this talk about a rebuilt secondary was just that: talk. Cornerback Nate Wiggins struggled, and so did Jaire Alexander, who missed two weeks of practice toward the end of training camp. He looked bad and slow. Both safeties, Kyle Hamilton (nine tackles) and rookie Malaki Starks (seven tackles), played well and controlled the middle of the field. Nickel back Marlon Humphrey also had a strong game with four tackles. But there is still something missing from the back end of this defense. It might be communication, because even though the group played in preseason, this was the first time they were on the field for a full 60 minutes. The unit played well when Buffalo used its vanilla offense, but in crunch time, they didn’t get it done. In fact, we’ve seen this act before, like at the beginning of last season. Grade: D Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander, left, is called for pass interference on Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer. Alexander struggled in his Ravens debut. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP) Special teams Rookie Tyler Loop converted on field goal attempts of 52 and 49 yards, but he did miss an extra point try. The Ravens gave up kickoff returns of 41 and 31 yards as both Brandon Codrington and Ty Johnson averaged 27.6 yards per return. The Ravens’ Rasheen Ali averaged 27.8 yards on six kickoff returns, but they got very little from rookie punt returner LaJohntay Wester. He only fielded one punt for 6 yards. Backup safety T.J. Tampa Jr. had two special team tackles. Grade: B Coaching Offensive coordinator Todd Monken had the Bills completely off balance for most of the game. He ran dives up the gut and tosses to the outside. The Ravens had a good mix of passes both short and intermediate, and the defense played well enough to win before the fourth quarter. Regardless, every team wants to win the first game. It’s a big relief, but the Ravens have to wait until game No. 2 to experience a victory. They wanted to avenge last year’s divisional playoff loss to the Bills, but Buffalo wasn’t having it at Highmark Stadium, which will be torn down after the season. Maybe the Ravens can win here in the new stadium. Regardless, they put a lot of time and effort into this defense, including adding free agents and assistant coaches. Yet, in crunch time, they faded. That’s not good enough. The prevent defense prevented nothing. Grade: B Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. Ravens running back Derrick Henry runs for a touchdown during the first half of Sunday's 41-40 loss to the Bills. The Ravens' offense graded out well in its first game of the season, but the defense struggled against the Bills' explosive offense. (Adrian Kraus/AP) View the full article

We were not ready to play. This was a coaching issue.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A little more than seven months after the Ravens’ painful loss to the Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs, they found a new low Sunday night. With Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass placed on injured reserve just days before the season opener at Highmark Stadium, 41-year-old Matt Prater, signed to the practice squad, came off the couch and made a 32-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bills to an improbable 41-40 victory. The kick capped a nine-play, 66-yard drive in the game’s final 93 seconds — the same amount of time that was left when Ravens tight end Mark Andrews dropped a would-be game-tying 2-point conversion the last time the teams met in January. The stakes were higher than, but this loss was even more inexplicable. Unlike the last time, there was no snow, but there were plenty of stars Sunday night at Highmark Stadium. Once again, both teams provided a heavy dose of drama. With Baltimore clinging to a 40-32 lead after a rare fumble by Derrick Henry that the Bills recovered, quarterback Josh Allen plunged into the end zone from a yard out to set up a chance to tie the score. But when Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins broke up a 2-point pass intended for Keon Coleman in the corner of the end zone, it looked as if the Ravens might survive. They found a way to let victory slip from their grasp — again. It was a matchup that had the sizzle of a heavyweight fight, with the NFL’s two most recent Most Valuable Player Award winners, Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, going toe-to-toe in a rematch of January’s thriller. The star quarterbacks did not disappoint. Jackson completed 14 of 19 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and added 70 rushing yards and a score on six carries. Allen did what he does best, too, scrambling, surviving and keeping his team in it, completing 33 of 46 passes for 394 yards and two touchdowns while adding 30 rushing yards and two scores on 14 carries. But Allen was at his best late. He went 11-for-14 with 166 passing yards and a touchdown in the final 7:16. For much of the night, it looked as if the Ravens had finally moved past their foibles. Related Articles Instant analysis from Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to Bills in season opener Ravens QB Lamar Jackson shoves Bills fan who hit him on helmet Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins turns first target into highlight reel TD catch Ravens vs. Bills live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s shocking 41-40 loss Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell surprise scratch for season opener vs. Bills Henry finished with 169 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while receiver Zay Flowers added a career-high 143 yards on seven catches and another score. Baltimore has perhaps the best roster in the sport, and everywhere Jackson turned, another big-time player was making a big play in a big game. First, it was the future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back. Henry, at age 31, continues to defy reality and was burying defenders when he wasn’t leaving them in his dust. With Baltimore trailing 7-3 early in the second quarter, he raced through the right side of the line, and when Cole Bishop came running toward him, the 6-foot-2, 252-pound Henry swatted the safety to the turf like a gnat on his way to a 30-yard gallop for the score. His 107th career rushing touchdown moved him to sixth all-time as he surpassed Jim Brown. That was just the beginning. With Buffalo hanging on early in the fourth and Baltimore clinging to a nine-point lead, Jackson delivered a dazzling body blow, escaping a wave of Bills defenders on a third-and-10 from his own 35 with the swiftness of Houdini and emerged 19 yards downfield. One play later, Henry delivered what appeared to be a knockout blow, racing 46 yards down the left sideline for the touchdown that made it 40-25 with 11:42 left. Instead, Baltimore’s revamped defense — from players to coaching changes — couldn’t hold up in the end. The Ravens squandered a pair of 15-point leads, both in the fourth quarter. The loss also puts them in a hole in the AFC North, one game behind the Steelers and Bengals with the Browns and former Baltimore Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco coming to town next week at M&T Bank Stadium. Now the question is how and if the Ravens can bounce back after another familiar defeat. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (56) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates after a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Show Caption1 of 15Baltimore Ravens wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) grabs a pass for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills linebacker Keonta Jenkins (49) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)Expand View the full article

Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ stunning 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 of the NFL season on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York: Mike Preston, columnist: The Ravens should never go to Buffalo again. If it happens, cancel the plane reservations. Ignore any possible hotel deals. For whatever reason, the Ravens choke in Buffalo. In January, they committed three turnovers in a 27-25 loss to the Bills in a divisional round playoff game. Sunday night, they had what appeared to be several insurmountable leads and blew it again, this time 41-40, as kicker Matt Prater converted a 32-yard field goal as time expired. Buffalo went 66 yards in nine plays with no timeouts to set up the kick. The Ravens still have defensive problems and again appeared lost in the secondary. They allowed passes to the sidelines and in the middle of the field, a definite no-no regardless if it’s a prevent defense or not. The Ravens should have won this game easily. Offensively, they dominated the Bills with both the running and passing games. Buffalo couldn’t contain running back Derrick Henry, and the Bills had no answer for speedy slot receiver Zay Flowers, who turned several short catches into long gains. But defensively, the Ravens still have problems on the back end despite bringing in several new players. It’s back to the drawing board for a team that still needs to prove it can win big games. Josh Tolentino, columnist: Orchard Park turned into a gut punch all over again. The Ravens looked like they had exorcised that demon when Derrick Henry ran wild in the first half, crossing the century mark before halftime. For much of the evening, Baltimore dictated the terms, with Henry pounding the Bills’ front and Lamar Jackson stretching the field with his arm and legs. But things turned ugly late, and it was Henry’s fourth-quarter fumble that opened the door. The Ravens led 40-25 in the fourth quarter but dropped the season opener in heartbreaking fashion on a last-second field goal to a kicker who was added to Buffalo’s roster just days ago. The Bills scored 16 unanswered points to send the Ravens home 0-1. The latest chapter of heartbreak closed another trip to Highmark Stadium that will add to the sting Baltimore suffered here in January. The start looked like a statement, powered by a rejuvenated Henry and a defense playing with poise. Baltimore gave up an opening-drive touchdown, but didn’t allow another Buffalo TD until the second half. Yet, that’s exactly when the Ravens crumbled. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the end looked hauntingly familiar. Sunday was another collapse in the same building that crushed Baltimore nine months ago. Until the Ravens prove they can finish consistently, many questions will continue to hover this talented, but undisciplined roster. Sam Cohn, reporter: What a football game. What an ending. The Ravens led by 15 points in the fourth quarter and folded like a cheap lawn chair. Their defense looked gassed after a high-scoring affair. In poetic fashion, the Bills had a missed 2-point conversion in the same corner of the end zone where Mark Andrews dropped a game-tying 2-point conversion in January. It gave the ball back to Baltimore with a shot to close out the win. They went three-and-out. Then the Bills drove down the field with ease, twice embarrassing Jaire Alexander, and lighting Highmark Stadium ablaze. This game isn’t an indictment on the season to come, nor will it define the rivalry. But it’s a game the Ravens had no business losing. Sam Jane, reporter: Same year, different story for the Ravens in Buffalo. A key drop of the football — this time Derrick Henry’s fumble — cost Baltimore a opening-night victory. The Ravens blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead to the Bills and reigning MVP Josh Allen, with several mistakes in the game’s final minutes that cost them: Cornerback Jaire Alexander’s pass interference penalty, Henry’s fumble and Baltimore’s offense inability to end the game with two minutes remaining among them. It was a shocking late-game twist, a vicious reminder of the problems that have plagued the Ravens in recent years. C.J. Doon, editor: In games between these two elite teams, points matter. Like, a lot. Think of the three points Josh Allen stole at the end of the first half, driving against a conservative Ravens defense with two long passes in the final 31 seconds to set up a field goal. Remember the Ravens’ 12 men on the field penalty that gave the Bills a chance to go for two, only for Keon Coleman to catch the ball after going out of bounds and nullifying the score? How about the missed extra point from rookie Tyler Loop, who was otherwise solid in his NFL debut. Of course, we’re not talking about those small margins if the Ravens just take care of business. They were up 40-25 with five minutes left, then had to defend a potential game-tying 2-point conversion with just under two minutes remaining and then their unstoppable offense couldn’t get a first down when it mattered most. It was a stunning collapse that has become all-too-familiar for the Ravens and their fans. Never has such a dominant team been so untrustworthy late in games. Related Articles Ravens fall apart late in shocking season-opening loss to Bills, 41-40 Ravens QB Lamar Jackson shoves Bills fan who hit him on helmet Ravens’ DeAndre Hopkins turns first target into highlight reel TD catch Ravens vs. Bills live updates: Postgame reaction and analysis from Baltimore’s shocking 41-40 loss Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell surprise scratch for season opener vs. Bills Bennett Conlin, editor: How did Baltimore lose this game? The Ravens were up 15 points with under four minutes remaining. The Bills won in regulation. What is it with this team and failing to finish games? The Ravens gave up a miracle fourth-down touchdown reception. A tipped pass was somehow brought in by Keon Coleman to cut the deficit to 40-32. Then, almost instantly, Ed Oliver stripped Ravens running back Derrick Henry in Baltimore territory and Bills fans erupted with a newfound hope. Baltimore’s defense quickly yielded a touchdown, but stopped the 2-point conversion. The defense failed again after a Baltimore three-and-out. The Ravens want to be feared defensively. Well, they’re closer to being feared by their own fans than opposing offenses. And John Harbaugh will have to answer for a shocking collapse from his team. The Ravens bungled the end of the first half defensively, and there’s a case the Ravens should have gone for it on fourth down of their final drive instead of punting. What a mess. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article

Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson shoved a Buffalo Bills fan after being hit on the helmet by the same fan during the third quarter of Sunday night’s season opener in Orchard Park, New York. A quartet of Ravens, Roger Rosergarten, Justice Hill, DeAndre Hopkins and Jackson, celebrated DeAndre Hopkins’ remarkable one-handed touchdown catch near the front row of fans toward the end zone at Highmark Stadium. The fan, a young man with a red Josh Allen jersey, appeared to first hit Hopkins in the head, then pushed against Jackson’s helmet. The quarterback pushed the fan with two hands back into the crowd, then ran to the Ravens’ sideline. NBC showed the interaction on its broadcast. The fan was ejected from the game, according to a Ravens spokesperson. The moment came after Hopkins’ touchdown catch, his first with the team after signing a one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason. The 33-year-old veteran snagged his first target from Jackson, scoring a 29-yard touchdown to push the Ravens ahead 34-19. There aren’t many instances of players shoving fans in recent NFL history. Former Bills defensive lineman Shaq Lawson was videoed shoving Eagles fans during a postgame interaction. The Bills fined the defensive end, but the league chose not to suspend him. Jackson entered the fourth quarter with 12 completions for 194 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 attempts. He also added 57 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, helping Baltimore take a commanding 40-25 lead. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Jane at sjane@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Sam_Jane230. View the full article