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The Ravens will celebrate the team’s 30th anniversary at Sunday’s home opener against the Browns. Cleveland radio host Andy Baskin considers the timing of the event to be “a giant middle finger” to Browns fans. “I just think it’s kind of horse you-know-what that they’re doing this against the Browns,” Baskin said Tuesday on “Cleveland’s Talking Heads,” a show on 92.3 The Fan. “I understand that they probably wanted to do it in their season opener, and I get that, but did you really have to pick the Cleveland game to do this? You want to talk about poking the bear on this one.” Baskin takes exception to celebrating the 30th year of the Ravens’ existence against the Browns. In 1996, Browns owner Art Modell moved the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore. The team’s name was swapped from Browns to Ravens, and the Cleveland Browns franchise returned in 1999 as an expansion team with different players. Since returning in 1999, the Browns have just three 10-win seasons. They have more winless seasons (one, 2017) than AFC North titles (zero). “It’s such a wound because we haven’t had success since then,” Baskin said. The Ravens have won a pair of Super Bowls since their creation in 1996, and they’re the AFC North favorite this year despite an 0-1 start. “The problem I have with the whole thing is, I care, people my age care, anyone that rooted for the Browns more than 30 years ago cares,” Baskin said. Baskin suggested he can’t be the only Browns supporter who feels the same way, although his cohost, Jeff Phelps, pushed back on Baskin’s idea. Phelps didn’t feel the timing was mean-spirited, but rather a scheduling coincidence that put the Browns in Baltimore for the franchise’s home opener in the Ravens’ 30th season. “What a bunch of clowns the Ravens are,” Baskin said. “Yes, good organization. Yes, we love Ozzie [Newsome] for what he did in Cleveland, but did they really have to pick this game to celebrate their 30th season?” Planned celebrations for the franchise include pregame recognitions of the first Ravens season in 1996 and a halftime show featuring franchise legends. Fans attending the game will also receive a “Ravens Forevermore” flag commemorating the team’s 30th season in existence. “They should’ve spent 30 years in prison for this,” Baskin said. “Ravens Forevermore” is a brand campaign the team plans to use throughout the 2025 season. “Our 30th season is just the start,” Ravens senior vice president of marketing Brad Downs said in an August news release. “The Ravens have solidified themselves as a pillar of Baltimore sports over the last three decades, and this year’s team is excited to add to that remarkable legacy.” “The next line should be, ‘the legacy of how we stole a team from Cleveland the same way Indianapolis stole a team from us,’” Baskin said. Related Articles Watch Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law 5 & Dine: What to eat at Ravens’ M&T Bank Stadium Ravens came close to making NFL history on Kyle Hamilton’s risky lateral 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills John Harbaugh says Ravens need to be more ‘thoughtful’ with late leads The Baltimore Colts, of course, moved to Indianapolis in 1984 in a move that surprised and angered Baltimore football fans. For Ravens fans, Sunday’s game offers a chance to reminisce. Not only about the start of the franchise, but also about its quarterback lineage. The Browns named Joe Flacco their starter ahead of the 2025 season. He famously won a Super Bowl in Baltimore before being replaced by Lamar Jackson. The switch worked well for the Ravens, as Jackson has won a pair of MVPs as the Ravens’ signal-caller while Flacco has bounced around franchises as his career winds to an end. Jackson, however, is still looking for his first Super Bowl. The Ravens are big favorites Sunday, favored by 11 1/2 points over the Browns. “Man, I hope the Browns stick it right to them this weekend,” Baskin said. “I’ve never wanted them to win more than I do this week.” Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

Episode 3 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. Preston and Coleman react to the Ravens’ shocking 41-40 loss to the Bills and look ahead to Week 2’s matchup with Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns. You can watch it weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The start of football season means the return of well-loved concession stand bites — and the debut of new dining options — at the Baltimore Ravens’ home M&T Bank Stadium. As the stadium reaches the finish line of an infrastructure renovation totaling about $489 million, the stadium has rolled out its official lineup of concessions. Menu items include preexisting fan favorites such as The Ravenous Chicken fried chicken boxes, upgrades to game staples like hot dogs and entirely new concession additions. Prices of new offerings range considerably, from an expanded $5-and-under Flock Friendly Fare menu to exclusive options available at the stadium’s new members-only clubs. “We want to make sure that our fans can come and enjoy themselves but also feel like they’re able to get a good price,” said Jessica Gomes, vice president of hospitality strategy at M&T Bank Stadium, at a Tuesday media tour. Whether you’re looking for a budget meal or a highbrow dining experience, here are five concession stand items at M&T Bank Stadium that you might flock to when catching a Ravens game. Popcorn dusted with the Blackbird seasoning is one of the food items available this year at M&T Bank Stadium. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Flavor-dusted popcorn This season, M&T Bank Stadium’s popcorn has gotten dressed up, with a slight dusting of the stadium’s proprietary Blackbird seasoning. The seasoning doesn’t obstruct the nostalgic flavor of classic stadium popcorn but rather accentuates it with a smoky, peppery bite; citrus notes; and the occasional whole fennel seed. This year, you’ll find Blackbird seasoning on almost everything at the stadium — including on chicken items, house-made kettle chips and various condiments. A box sells for $1.99, earning it a spot on the 11-item Flock Friendly Fare menu. Vegan hot dogs at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Upgraded hot dogs Hot dogs are nothing new at M&T Bank Stadium (or any stadium, for that matter), but this season, they’ve gotten an upgrade with all-beef franks made by national brand Bovine & Swine. Make no mistake — these are hefty dogs, encased in natural beef and with less of the sponginess and artificial meatiness you might find in an inferior product. The original hot dog goes for $3.49, making it another addition to the Flock Friendly Fare menu. The size serves the hot dogs well, especially when they’re topped with a variety of ingredients for the stadium’s rotating “Hot Dog of the Game.” On Tuesday, M&T Bank Stadium Executive Chef Adam Lizak presented the Baltimore Dog, topped with crispy sticks of fried bologna, lightly caramelized onions and mustard spiked with more Blackbird seasoning. Eating plant-based? The stadium also sells vegan dogs, which taste like well-spiced Italian sausages with a bit of the starchy aftertaste you might expect from a meat substitute, topped with pickled onions for, as Lizak said, “a little pop.” Sticky Blackbird wings at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Member-exclusive wings As a part of its renovation project, the stadium has also debuted three new members’ clubs — and at The Raven, located near the 50-yard line and designed in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, guests will find premium chicken wings, coated in a sticky, sweet sauce infused with, you guessed it, more Blackbird seasoning. The wings themselves are mild, with a delicate sweetness and a light hand on the seasoning mix. On-the-side ranch dressing is on the thinner side but unnecessary for wings without any heat. (It’s a more natural fit for the rainbow carrot crudité served with them.) The wings’ standout quality, as with the new hot dogs, is their plumpness. If you’re like me, you’ll need to take several bites on one side of the drumette before you hit bone — a virtual anomaly in the world of wings. French fries at M&T Bank Stadium are one of the food items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Seasoned potato wedges Another vessel for Blackbird seasoning is the stadium’s western-style potato wedges, which are fluffy and meaty on the inside with a percussive crunch, thanks to a light coating on the fries. An order of wedges goes for $3.49, putting it on the Flock Friendly Fare menu and making it a complement for a new Flock Friendly $4.99 BBQ Chicken Sando, a massive square of pizza from the Ravens’ new brand Charm Crust, or an unctuous corned beef stack on marble rye from the stadium’s new O Line Provisions deli concept. Compared to the stadium’s Blackbird kettle chips, the French fries boast more heartiness, sustenance and textural variety for game-day munching. Western Maryland Lemonade at M&T Bank Stadium is one of the drink items available this year. (Lloyd Fox/Staff) Local lemonade To wash down all of the new concessions at the stadium, the Ravens have partnered with Western Maryland Lemonade — proclaimed the “official lemonade of the Baltimore Ravens.” It’s a mild, hydrating beverage that might benefit from a bit more tartness but would hit the spot on a hot Sunday afternoon. For sweet bites to pair with the sweet sip, the stadium carries ornately decorated cupcakes, banana pudding and melt-in-your-mouth rock candy sticks from local Baltimore sugar shop Sistahs’ Sweets. Have a news tip? Contact Jane Godiner at jgodiner@baltsun.com or on Instagram as @Jane.Craves. View the full article

Perhaps lost in the Ravens’ hectic 41-40 collapse against the Bills was a risky decision made by safety Kyle Hamilton on a 2-point conversion attempt. With the Ravens leading 34-25 early in the fourth quarter, the Bills attempted a 2-point try to pull within seven. Hamilton intercepted Allen’s pass, effectively ending Buffalo’s chances of making it a one-possession game. Well, that’s until he pitched the ball from the 1-yard line back to linebacker Kyle Van Noy in the end zone. Hamilton’s decision brought into play the little-known 1-point safety. Yes, a 1-point safety. If Van Noy had been tackled or taken a knee in the end zone after Hamilton pitched the ball back to him, the Bills would’ve received one point. Unlike a traditional 2-point safety that would occur during regular game play, the Ravens still would have received the ball on the ensuing kickoff. Fortunately for Baltimore, Van Noy took the ball just out of the end zone and took a knee at the 2-yard line. The linebacker ended the play instead of trying to create a long return — if the Ravens returned the intercepted pass for a score, it would’ve resulted in two points in their favor. The potential for a 2-point play in Baltimore’s favor is why Hamilton tossed the ball to a teammate, but tossing the ball back into the end zone created a risk. Coach John Harbaugh was seen on the TV broadcast speaking to Hamilton as he came back to the sideline. Baltimore’s coach liked the interception, but he hated the desperate attempt for an unneeded return. Harbaugh felt the decision was a mental mistake by the fourth-year professional. “I just questioned whether he actually went to Notre Dame or not,” Harbaugh said at his Monday news conference. There has never been a 1-point safety in the NFL, but Hamilton came close to making the historic error. Harbaugh says he doesn’t expect the NFL’s highest–paid safety to take that risk twice. “I thought that was one of the most foolish things I’ve ever seen,” Harbaugh said. “He agreed, and it should never happen again.” The Ravens got away with that fourth-quarter miscue, but others in the final five minutes handed them their first loss of the season. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. Related Articles 5 stats behind the Ravens’ unbelievable Week 1 collapse against Bills 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 View the full article

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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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

DeAndre Hopkins isn’t the focal point of the Ravens’ offense, but the veteran wide receiver turned back the clock for his first catch in Baltimore. With the Ravens up 27-19 late in the third quarter, Lamar Jackson finally looked Hopkins’ way. He threw the 13th-year wide receiver a deep ball. Hopkins’ left arm was being pinned down by Bills cornerback and Baltimore native Christian Benford, so he stuck his right hand up, snagged the ball and fell to the turf for a 29-yard touchdown reception. Jackson sprinted toward the end zone to celebrate his new teammate’s first catch as a Raven. NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth laughed at the play, repeating “Oh, wow!” His broadcast partner, Mike Tirico, yelled, “The veteran’s still got it!” The play put Baltimore up 34-19 at the end of the third quarter. Jackson’s first pass in Hopkins’ direction resulted in a touchdown, but the quarterback had plenty of success targeting his other playmakers, too. He found Zay Flowers six times for 134 yards and a touchdown in the first three quarters. Perhaps the only negative of Jackson’s opening three quarters was an interaction with a Buffalo fan after the Hopkins touchdown. As the Ravens celebrated near the stands, a fan reached over the wall separating players and fans to touch a pair of Baltimore players, including Jackson. Baltimore’s quarterback then shoved the fan before returning to the sideline with his teammates. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The NFL season is finally here. The Ravens take on the Buffalo Bills on “Sunday Night Football” in a rematch of last season’s AFC divisional round clash. Returning to Orchard Park, New York, Baltimore is seeking revenge after having its Super Bowl dreams dashed in that January defeat. Follow along here for live coverage and analysis before, during and after the game. View the full article

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell is inactive for Sunday night’s season opener against the Buffalo Bills. The move comes after Baltimore decided to keep four running backs on its roster, along with Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Rasheen Ali. It is also mildly surprising. But with Ali featuring on special teams units and likewise able to return kickoffs, Mitchell, who is entering his third season and just over 18 months removed from a torn ACL, became less likely to chew up an active roster spot with the need for six inactive players. Though Mitchell had five kickoff returns for 134 yards, including a 32-yarder, in last season’s AFC divisional round loss at Highmark Stadium, he also did not play a snap on offense. The other inactive players for Baltimore were less surprising. Tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) and fullback/tight end Patrick Ricard (calf) were both ruled out Friday. Outside linebacker David Ojabo, who was a healthy scratch for four games last season, is once more. The Ravens’ other inactives are rookie offensive tackle Carson Vinson and undrafted rookie safety Reuben Lowery III. Among the inactives for Buffalo are cornerback and former Raven Tre’Davious White, who was listed Friday as doubtful with a groin injury. The Bills’ other inactive players are wide receiver Curtis Samuel, defensive back Jordan Hancock, center/guard Sedrick Van-Pran Granger, offensive tackle Chase Lundt and defensive end Landon Jackson. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bills live updates: 2025 season begins with playoff rematch It takes a ‘village’: After Ravens cut, Beau Brade gets chance with Giants Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ defense can’t afford another September slip | COMMENTARY Ravens will be thin at key position in season opener against Bills Ravens vs. Bills staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s opener at Buffalo? View the full article

LANDOVER— Beau Brade hadn’t been cut since fifth-grade basketball. Then the former River Hill High School and University of Maryland star defensive back was released by the Ravens on Aug. 26, just before the start of the season. But it didn’t take long for Brade to find his next NFL destination as the New York Giants claimed Brade off waivers and signed him the following day. The Giants had the league’s third-highest waiver priority and were one of two teams to put in a claim on Brade along with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a strong preseason last year, Brade made the Ravens’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent and was active for 11 games, playing primarily on special teams. However, with the Ravens’ added secondary depth this offseason, namely first-round draft pick Malaki Starks and undrafted rookie standout Reuben Lowery, Brade was released. The 23-year-old safety said that he could sense something coming after his playing time in the last two preseason games. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta praised Brade on the day of his release and said that the team hoped to bring him back on the practice squad. That reunion didn’t happen, however, as the Giants were interested in adding Brade to their 53-man roster. After receiving confirmation from his agent, a sense of relief washed over as Brade quickly got to East Rutherford, New Jersey, and met everyone within the organization. Giants general manager Joe Schoen described Brade as “smart, tough and dependable” in his Aug. 27 press conference. “I for sure do feel like [I have a chip on my shoulder],” Brade told The Baltimore Sun. “Especially with that happening and then I feel like opportunities I had or didn’t have the last place I was at. I appreciate them for showing me and teaching me what they know. I had a lot of leaders that I could learn from the past season there, even coaches or players. We had a stacked safety room last year, so being able to take that here is great and also learn from the guys here. “All the guys and coaches here, I feel like really helps me in my mindset. I’ve had countless defensive back coaches in the last six years. I’ve had more than eight now. So, it’s been great to hear everybody’s teachings, and it makes me more of a better player.” Sunday afternoon against the Washington Commanders, Brade returned to Maryland for the first time as part of the visiting team. His parents, Ron and Angela, have rarely missed a game throughout his football journey, starting with his youth football days on the Columbia Ravens and Western Howard County Warhawks. Signing with the Giants is helpful in that regard, as more than half of Brade’s games are within a three-hour drive from home. While Brade was inactive for Sunday’s season opener, Ron and Angela were once again in the building, decked out in their Giants blue. Angela and Ron Brade, parents of former Maryland and River Hill football star Beau Brade, pose at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., for the Giants' season opener against the Commanders. Beau was claimed by the Giants after being cut by the Ravens. (Jacob Steinberg/Staff) Although they were Brade’s only family in attendance, his familial and community support runs deep, with many now repping Giants gear. It extends from Howard County to Southern Virginia and beyond, in what his parents affectionately described as “the village.” Brade’s younger sister Brielle was particularly ecstatic about the news as she’s been a longtime Giants fan. Meanwhile, Brade will now be closer to his older sister Bianca, who is in the second year of her MBA program at Columbia University. “I think that the nicest thing is that he has been so local, it’s been a lot easier for us,” Ron Brade told The Sun. “A lot of the Maryland games, there would be times where we had 10-15 people that were coming to the games. So, he’s been a part of this community. It’s been great that the community, the village as we refer to it, have been able to gain the experience and kind of follow as well. “I just think that it’s good that he can still remain a part of the community, so that’s important for us. He still does a lot of community activities. One foundation he supports did a back to school with Beau right before the school year started. We hope that he’ll be able to continue that in the New York-New Jersey area but also still in the Baltimore region as well.” The move to the Giants also means moving out of his parents’ house, where Brade stayed last season with its proximity to the Ravens’ training facility. “It’s very cool. It’s probably the best thing any parent, any mom could ask for,” Angela Brade said. “He’s a very good son and always has been. He loves the sport. So, he stays connected, and he also talks to the community, a lot of our friends, old coaches. He’s a good kid and we’re just delighted.” After going undrafted and now on his second NFL team, the characteristics that helped him reach this point, namely his relentless work ethic, determination and “lunch-pail mentality,” are not lost on Brade nor his parents. Those attributes were instilled from a young age as Ron and Beau watched Virginia Tech football games where Ron played. Expected to be drafted on Day 3 and then having to fight for a roster spot as a UDFA, Brade knows nothing is guaranteed. Only with the Giants for 10 days, he’s immersing himself in the playbook and getting assistance from teammates and another new defensive back coach in the process. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bills live updates: 2025 season begins with playoff rematch Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell surprise scratch for season opener vs. Bills Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ defense can’t afford another September slip | COMMENTARY Ravens will be thin at key position in season opener against Bills Ravens vs. Bills staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s opener at Buffalo? “When I was in college and younger, in my mind it kind of sucked seeing so much turnaround and switching,” Brade said of the constant change. “Being more mature, seeing the benefit that I’ve gotten from hearing all these different types of coaches, seeing how they coach, what they like, what they don’t like, what you should and shouldn’t see as the safety, where your eyes should be. Getting all the insight from those professionals and people who are really great at their job is amazing and it’s making me a better player.” While Brade doesn’t know exactly when his number will be called, he’s confident and remains ready for the opportunity. As Angela said, it’s all about, “applying what you know and doing what you do.” When that moment does come, Brade and the entire village supporting him will be more than ready. “My favorite play is going to be the play he makes for the Giants,” Angela Brade said. “Whenever that is, that’s going to be the best play of all.” Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Steinberg at jsteinberg@baltsun.com, 443-442-9445 and x.com/jacobstein23. View the full article

The Ravens won’t tiptoe into the 2025 season. The calendar might say Week 1. But the looming challenge sure looks like January. Baltimore is scheduled to open a season overflowing with expectations under the lights Sunday evening in Buffalo. The Ravens’ trip to upstate New York marks the first step in a six-week gantlet that will either confirm this defense’s muscle or expose its backside all over again. We’ll soon learn whether Baltimore fixed what cracked last season, or if the same flaws are still hiding underneath the surface. The Bills, Browns (meh), Lions, Chiefs, Texans and Rams line up before the bye in Week 7. Five of Baltimore’s first six opponents were playoff contenders in 2024. With the exception of Cleveland, each offense is loaded enough to punish a defense that buckles. And if we’re looking at recent history, the Ravens have been quick to stumble. For all of coach John Harbaugh’s success, September has too often been his team’s soft spot. Last year, it was back-to-back losses to Kansas City and Las Vegas, two early stumbles that set the tone before Baltimore regathered itself. But Baltimore can’t afford a repeat of last September. This gantlet doesn’t leave room for patience and the defense has to deliver from the first snap. On paper, there’s All-Pro talent across all three levels. Linebacker Roquan Smith sets the tone in the middle. Safety Kyle Hamilton, fresh off his $100 million contract, has grown into one of the NFL’s most versatile weapons. Cornerback Jaire Alexander, if healthy, adds necessary swagger to the secondary. However, swagger alone won’t slow Josh Allen’s 40-yard missiles, Patrick Mahomes’ seemingly inevitable dose of magic, or Amon-Ra St. Brown’s deep contested catches. Of course, last season’s bitter ending still stings. Related Articles Ravens will be thin at key position in season opener against Bills Ravens vs. Bills staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s opener at Buffalo? Ravens vs. Bills scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Ravens 2025 betting preview: Odds and expert picks for Super Bowl hopeful Ravens kicker Tyler Loop ready for debut: Milkshakes, ‘Hoosiers’ and process The defense infamously forced zero turnovers in the AFC divisional round loss to Buffalo and finished minus-three in takeaways in the biggest game of the season. That wasn’t an outlier, either. It was the continuation of a season-long slide. After leading the NFL in takeaways (31) in 2023, Baltimore nearly cut the number in half with just 17 in 2024. Explosive plays only piled on. During their consecutive defeats to Kansas City and Las Vegas, the Ravens allowed 12 explosive plays (25 or more yards), according to TruMedia. The game-changing plays that once defined the Ravens defense dried up like a well. Now, after a long wait following the team’s brutal playoff exit, it’s Allen again who awaits Sunday night. The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player creates enough problems on his own. If Baltimore hands Allen free possessions, Buffalo is more than capable of making the Ravens pay. The Bills led the league in turnover ratio (plus-24) last season, proof of how quickly they cash in. Sunday evening is not just about going 1-0, but about proving the Ravens absorbed last year’s difficult lessons. Can they stay disciplined against a quarterback who thrives outside the pocket? Can they erase the chunk gains that crushed them? In an expected raucous road environment, can they topple a fellow AFC heavyweight that finished the 2024 season with a perfect 8-0 record at Highmark Stadium? Harbaugh sat in on a defensive meeting Wednesday morning at The Castle and praised Zach Orr for his attention to detail as the Ravens begin their first official game week, a nod to both the stakes of the onslaught of opponents ahead and the trust in a 33-year-old coordinator still early in his tenure. Harbaugh noted Orr’s consistency and high level of confidence heading into Year 2 with his defense supported by new additions, including Alexander and top rookies Malaki Starks and Mike Green. Ravens outside linebacker Mike Green participates in a tackling drill during practice. Green is expected to contribute immediately as a rookie. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) Orr’s second season as the franchise’s top defensive coach won’t be defined by one game, but the schedule leaves little room for excuses. By mid-October, Baltimore will have faced Allen, Jared Goff, Mahomes, C.J. Stroud and Matthew Stafford. Shoot, even old friend and Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco, 40, returns in Week 2. That stretch will give a clear read on where this defense actually stands. The Ravens either buck their recent trend and start fast or risk falling behind. For Lamar Jackson and Co., there should be no waiting until October. Buffalo won’t wait. Neither will Detroit nor Kansas City. Will the Ravens dictate terms from the opening kickoff, or slip back into their familiar early season funk? The gantlet is here, and Buffalo is first in line. For a Ravens team chasing Super Bowl aspirations, there’s no room for another September slip. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

The Ravens will enter their season opener against the Bills on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, largely healthy, with one notable exception. Fullback/tight end Patrick Ricard has been ruled out for the game. The 31-year-old veteran has been sidelined with a calf injury and hasn’t practiced since Aug. 14. That will leave Baltimore thin at tight end, with only Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar healthy. Tight end Isaiah Likely, who had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot Aug. 1 and hasn’t practiced since, worked out on a side field Friday but was not in uniform and has also been ruled out. It also means that the Ravens will likely use one of their two practice squad elevations on either second-year tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden or undrafted rookie fullback Lucas Scott. Ricard’s injury could potentially limit what Baltimore does offensively as well, particularly in 12 personnel (one running back, tight ends, two wide receivers) or the rarely used 13 personnel (three tight ends) when they go with a heavy set. Baltimore will, however, have cornerback Jaire Alexander after the former Green Bay Packers star was a full participant in practice for a second straight day. After being limited with a knee injury earlier in the week, he does not have an injury designation for the game. “It feels good,” Alexander, 28, said Friday of his knee. It will also be his first game since Week 7 of last season with Green Bay. “No nerves, just excitement and extreme gratitude,” the 28-year-old former All-Pro said. Meanwhile, the Bills will be without their regular kicker Tyler Bass (left hip/groin) after placing him on injured reserve Friday. That means 41-year-old Matt Prater, whom Buffalo signed to its practice squad Thursday, will get the nod. Prater is also coming off his own injury, a torn meniscus that he suffered before Week 5 of 2024 that wiped out the rest of his season with the Cardinals. Related Articles Ravens vs. Bills staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s opener at Buffalo? Ravens vs. Bills scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Ravens 2025 betting preview: Odds and expert picks for Super Bowl hopeful Ravens kicker Tyler Loop ready for debut: Milkshakes, ‘Hoosiers’ and process Ravens injury report: 2 key players expected to miss season opener Elsewhere, cornerback Tre’Davious White (groin) is listed as doubtful after not practicing for a third straight day. Cornerback Christian Benford and wide receiver Keon Coleman, both of whom were listed with groin injuries this week, have no injury designation and are expected to play. Bills receiver Khalil Shakir, who was previously listed with an ankle injury, also does not have an injury designation after being a full participant in practice for a third day in a row. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 1 game between the Ravens and Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York: Brian Wacker, reporter Ravens 24, Bills 23: Upstate New York in September is a much different place than upstate New York in January. The Bills’ secondary is also banged up and the Ravens, simply put, have a more talented roster on both sides of the ball. Zooming in a little closer, there’s been a particular level of seething bubbling under the surface within Baltimore’s defense, which not only didn’t force any turnovers the last time these two met but barely breathed on quarterback Josh Allen. The Ravens’ offense, meanwhile, has been intentional about not being turnover-prone and likely won’t be in the rematch. Still, this one will have its share of theatrics and likely come down to the end. Sam Cohn, reporter Ravens 24, Bills 17: Buffalo’s secondary is on life support, with several front-end cornerbacks missing because of injuries. Perhaps after a quarter or so of shedding rust, Lamar Jackson should take full advantage in upstate New York. The real test for Baltimore’s defense will be stopping the run, a regular-season strength that was an overshadowed hitch in the playoffs. Seven months later, running back James Cook’s name has come up as an MVP dark horse playing behind the reigning MVP Josh Allen. But a healthy Ravens front should temper the Bills’ ground game, even if it doesn’t completely shut it down. The Ravens’ secondary was concocted to win games like this, boasting movable parts to keep Allen guessing. Baltimore likely splits road games at Buffalo and at Kansas City in Week 4. This Sunday, with all its haunting bulletin board material, should be the one it gets. Mike Preston, columnist Ravens 28, Bills 23: The key for the Ravens, as it will be all season, is to run the football. Buffalo stacked the line of scrimmage in the Ravens’ 27-25 loss in the AFC divisional round playoff game last season, but that game was played in the cold and windy conditions in Buffalo. It’s early September, so the decent weather will help Baltimore. Also, I’m still not sold on the Bills’ defensive line of ends Greg Rousseau and Joey Bosa and tackles Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. Defensively, if the Ravens can shut down running back James Cook, they might win by at least 10 points. Josh Allen is a great quarterback, but receivers Joshua Palmer, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman won’t put fear in the Ravens’ secondary. The Bills, though, do have a very good and athletic offensive line. Josh Tolentino, columnist Ravens 31, Bills 24: Baltimore heads back to Buffalo with January’s playoff collapse burned into its memory, and that hunger should show from the opening drive. The Ravens and their leadership group believe they’re built to finish the job this time, armed with one of the league’s deepest rosters and a defense eager to rewrite the script. Lamar Jackson should find opportunities against a depleted, banged-up secondary, while a retooled front seven is better equipped to disrupt Josh Allen. On the back end, rookie Malaki Starks has matched the first-round pedigree attached to his name throughout the summer, while veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, who was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice after dealing with a knee injury in training camp, should be a welcome addition to Zach Orr’s defense. Buffalo went undefeated at home last season, so it won’t come easy in front of an expected rowdy Bills crowd, but the Ravens’ talent and urgency should prove decisive late Sunday night. C.J. Doon, editor Bills 23, Ravens 20: Buffalo is projected to score the most points in the league this season, just ahead of Baltimore, so it will be a fascinating first test for a Ravens defense that wants to be feared again. There are still some players who need to prove they can hold up their end of the bargain, though, namely linebacker Trenton Simpson and rookie safety Malaki Starks. We’ve yet to see rookie Tyler Loop make a pressure kick in an NFL game yet, either. But like his 2018 draftmate and fellow NFL MVP Award winner in Baltimore, Josh Allen is too good to keep under wraps for an entire game, no matter how well Zach Orr’s unit plays. With the home crowd behind them, the Bills once again do just enough to pull out a late victory over their AFC rivals. Related Articles Ravens will be thin at key position in season opener against Bills Ravens vs. Bills scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Ravens 2025 betting preview: Odds and expert picks for Super Bowl hopeful Ravens kicker Tyler Loop ready for debut: Milkshakes, ‘Hoosiers’ and process Ravens injury report: 2 key players expected to miss season opener Bennett Conlin, editor Ravens 31, Bills 20: The Ravens played the Bills twice last season, outscoring them, 60-37. Of course, nobody cares about the 35-10 win in Week 4 because of the heartbreaking 27-25 defeat in the postseason. Even in that game, though, Baltimore put up 416 yards of total offense compared with Buffalo’s 273. The Ravens were the better team in both games — outside of a dreadful turnover margin of minus-3 in the playoff failure. The Ravens are still the better team, and without the pressure of the playoffs, they should avoid the sloppy mistakes that let Buffalo off the hook in January. Tim Schwartz, editor Ravens 28, Bills 24: What an exciting Week 1 matchup. Baltimore enters the game with high expectations and few holes, but we have seen several early-season lapses from this team in the past few years, so it’s hard to know what we’ll get. If the Ravens can rely on Derrick Henry to churn out yards and keep the offense on schedule and they can get timely first downs in the passing game, I don’t think the Bills will be able to slow them down. Josh Allen is the MVP for a reason, but I predict the Ravens’ secondary will be up to the task. Patrice Sanders, FOX45 Morning News anchor Ravens 27, Bills 20: This will be a close game. The Bills left a sour taste in the Ravens’ mouth all offseason, so there’s no better way to start the season then with a win against the team that ended their season last year. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

The Ravens have waited more than seven months for this. Sunday night, they’ll open their season at the site of their crushing loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional round. It won’t make or break their season, but it shoulders enough emotional baggage to magnify a tone-setting rematch. Who will have the advantage in season opener? Ravens passing game vs. Bills pass defense Lamar Jackson is coming off the best passing season of his career, which happens to be one of the best passing seasons ever. No other quarterback has thrown more than 40 touchdown passes with fewer than five interceptions. Jackson topped 4,000 passing yards and finished with the fourth-highest single-season passer rating in league history. He’ll be without ascendent tight end Isaiah Likely (foot) in Buffalo but will have his first chance to throw meaningful passes to Hall of Fame-bound wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Don’t be surprised if Baltimore’s previously elite passing attack fires out of the gates against a scratched up Buffalo secondary. Tre’Davious White, a former Raven and the Bills’ No. 2 cornerback, is rehabbing from injury. First-round pick Maxwell Hairston is on injured reserve to start the year. And Christian Benford was limited in practice this week, which raises the question whether Buffalo believes that fielding him is worth the risk. Most teams are tight-lipped on that stuff as long as they’re able. There’s a chance Jackson is served some combination of a second-year role player, a sixth-round draft pick and a practice squad veteran on a silver platter. EDGE: Ravens Bills passing game vs. Ravens pass defense What Josh Allen does against Baltimore’s secondary is perhaps the most intriguing layer heading into Sunday night. Both groups bulked up this offseason. Baltimore used its first-round pick on safety Malaki Starks, signed cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie and expects a breakout year from sophomore cornerback Nate Wiggins — all complementary pieces to All-Pros Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey. Senior secondary coach Chuck Pagano called them the best secondary he’s seen in two decades coaching in the NFL, which speaks volumes compared with how that group struggled the first 10 weeks of last season. As for the Bills, Khalil Shakir figures to be the top-shelf guy after logging more than 800 yards and four scores in 2024. Both Keon Coleman and Dawson Knox missed time last season because of injuries but are the next-in-line go-to targets for Allen. Joining the mix is Joshua Palmer, a former Charger who Allen deemed “one of the best I’ve been around,” and veteran Elijah Moore. It’s a deep room with new faces. A fully healthy Ravens secondary can still make life difficult for that by-committee group, which has one combined Pro Bowl appearance. EDGE: Ravens Ravens running game vs. Bills run defense It feels like a distant memory severed by the gutting disappoint of a playoff curtain call, but the last time these teams matched up in the regular season offered the most electrifying play of Derrick Henry’s 2024 campaign. Henry took the first offensive snap 87 yards for a touchdown. And yet, that was against a Buffalo front at less than full strength. Buffalo’s run defense hushed Henry in January, then added five-time Pro Bowl selection Joey Bosa, a game wrecker when healthy. There’s reason to believe in Baltimore’s offensive line, but any significant Ravens offense is more likely to happen through the air. EDGE: Bills Bills running game vs. Ravens run defense Last month, Ravens defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr. spoke candidly about how much “it sucked” to have Buffalo’s running backs thrash them in the playoffs. Baltimore had the top run defense in the league. It crumbled in the playoffs. “I think everybody took that pretty tough,” he said. The Ravens lost big man Michael Pierce to retirement but still have a healthy and high-ceiling trio of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones and Washington. Like it is for Jackson and Andrews individually, Week 1 is a chance for the defensive front to avenge their demons. That might not be enough to sway the discourse. James Cook got paid like a top running back this offseason and he’ll be out to prove why. He’s flanked by Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, who combined for 60 yards against Baltimore in January. They’re all running behind one of the best offensive lines in the league, a proven commodity returning all parts unlike a Pierce-less defense. EDGE: Bills Ravens special teams vs. Bills special teams Both sides have an interesting storyline worth following at kicker. Baltimore will debut its rookie, Tyler Loop, who’s making his first appearance in a regular season game — the first time the Ravens will start a kicker not named Justin Tucker since 2012. Loop had an impressive preseason in which he made 9 of 11 field goal attempts capped by a 61-yarder in Washington. Ravens coach John Harbaugh thought that he passed the August test “with flying colors.” Ravens kicker Tyler Loop, right, works out in June. Loop will make his NFL debut Sunday against the Bills. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Buffalo might not even have its kicker. Tyler Bass, one of the league’s most efficient legs, missed a chunk of training camp for pelvic soreness. He returned by the preseason finale, but the Bills signing three veteran kickers to try out is enough of a sign that they are taking Plan B seriously in the event that Bass’ soreness lingers into the weekend. He was limited in practice on Wednesday and did not participate on Thursday, leaving a veil of mystery. Assuming Bass’ health, he’s got the edge, but the pendulum tips the other direction if it’s one of the new guys. EDGE: Bills Ravens intangibles vs. Bills intangibles It’s not hyperbole to say that Baltimore’s playoff loss influenced a reassessment on its offseason approach. Most obviously was Harbaugh’s more transparent grading system. Ravens staffers track all sorts of detailed stats from games. This offseason, on the heels of an unexpected playoff unraveling, he upped the ante to include every practice and gamified it on flat screens in every meeting room. Players are suffocated by evaluation. They love it. And it’s said to have yielded better practices. “I just think that they understand when you go through the things that we’ve gone through,” Harbaugh said, “in terms of different games and things like that, they can see when we do those things well, most of the time the game’s not even close.” Buffalo’s training camp transparency has come in the form of HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” Transparency might be a reach — those five episodes didn’t reveal much, a far cry from the old “Hard Knocks.” Cameras didn’t give much credence to injuries effecting White or Bass, nor internal talent evaluation. One of the few highlights was an interview with NFL Network host Kyle Brandt in which Allen poetically described what a Super Bowl parade in Buffalo might look like: “Five degrees, brisk, rolling down, hearing the bus roll over all the salt and the ice …” It sounded similar to Kyle Hamilton’s “we want to get greedy” for a Super Bowl line from last week. All told, Baltimore has the better roster. EDGE: Ravens Prediction This game will live up to its billing. Both teams have a sour taste in their mouths, having spent all offseason eager to avenge. Both sides have MVP quarterbacks, voted on by their peers as top-three players in the NFL heading into this season. Both offenses return 10 of 11 players. And both defenses invested in upgrades by way of top draft picks and Pro Bowl players. It will play out closer to how their last regular-season meeting did than the playoffs. Baltimore thrashed a Buffalo team that was without several defensive starters. Expect the Ravens to capitalize in similar fashion in this meeting, even if the scoreboard margin isn’t so wide. Ravens 24, Bills 17. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn. View the full article

The Ravens enter the season with lofty expectations from fans, themselves and sportsbooks. Baltimore, despite not having won a Super Bowl in over a decade, is the betting favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. That’s what happens when a team has an MVP candidate at quarterback in Lamar Jackson, a defense loaded with All-Pro talent like Kyle Hamilton and a highly regarded staff returning its coach (John Harbaugh), offensive coordinator (Todd Monken) and defensive coordinator (Zach Orr). “It’s 100% deserved,” Covers senior betting analyst Jason Logan told The Baltimore Sun in an interview. “The Ravens are one of the best two-way teams in the league.” FanDuel lists the Ravens and Eagles as co-favorites, with each team holding +700 odds to win the title. The Bills (+750), Chiefs (+850), Lions (+1200) and Packers (+1300) are close behind. “If someone handed me a ticket on Baltimore to win the Super Bowl, I would say, ‘Thank you,’” Logan said. Always the favorite? Baltimore opens the season against the Bills, and the Ravens are 1 1/2-point favorites. Earlier this month, the Ravens were short underdogs but key injuries for Buffalo have played a role in shifting the line. As of Week 1, the Ravens’ look poised to spend every week as the betting favorite. This could change, of course, if Baltimore suffers key injuries or falls short of initial expectations. But to start the season, the Ravens are expected to make a strong push for the best record in the NFL and the Super Bowl. FanDuel offers +8000 odds on the Ravens to go 17-0, and the sportsbook lists the Ravens at -120 to win 12 or more regular-season contests. Fans expect a similar win total. Some of the Ravens’ toughest early season tests — games with the Lions, Texans and Rams — all come in the friendly confines of M&T Bank Stadium. “I think Baltimore gets the benefit of having a lot of those tougher opponents having to come to them,” Logan said. Road tilts with the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals and Packers pose the most obvious threats for losses. Related Articles Ravens will be thin at key position in season opener against Bills Ravens vs. Bills staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s opener at Buffalo? Ravens vs. Bills scouting report for Week 1: Who has the edge? Ravens kicker Tyler Loop ready for debut: Milkshakes, ‘Hoosiers’ and process Ravens injury report: 2 key players expected to miss season opener Best bet For best bets related to Baltimore that don’t include Super Bowl futures, Logan suggests looking at the Ravens to simply win the AFC North. They’re a huge favorite in the division at -155 on FanDuel, but Logan has a hard time seeing anyone else taking the division crown. Cincinnati (+240) has defensive problems. Pittsburgh (+550) has an aging quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. And the Browns (+3000) might be one of the worst teams in the NFL. “It’s not a long-shot bet, but considering what this team can do and the different ways they can win games … for me, it’s a surefire winner,” Logan said. Baltimore’s season begins Sunday night against the Bills. Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

The evening before the Ravens open their season against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, rookie kicker Tyler Loop will do what he always does: Have a cookies and cream milkshake. It’s a habit, Loop told The Baltimore Sun, that started during his freshman year of college at Arizona. The dining hall features an ice cream bar, so during team dinners on the eve of the next day’s game he would mix together ice cream, Oreos and milk. “It just kind of stuck,” he said with a boyish smile. The 24-year-old Texas native is confident that he will do the same in Baltimore, though it won’t be easy. M&T Bank Stadium is one of the windiest and therefore toughest venues to kick in across the NFL, long snapper Nick Moore told The Sun. Loop is also replacing the most accurate kicker in league history, Justin Tucker. The Ravens released Tucker, 35, after 13 seasons on May 5 after he made just 73% of his field goal attempts last season and more notably following accusations of sexual misconduct from more than 15 massage therapists. Just under two months later, the NFL suspended Tucker without pay for the first 10 weeks of the season following a months-long investigation. If Loop is feeling any pressure filling the shoes of one of the best to ever put foot to leather in the league, he isn’t showing it. At least not at the moment. Asked how he is feeling with his NFL debut looming, he said that he’s “excited.” He added that he also feels like he has already crossed that mental bridge. “It’s kind of the same; first regular-season game but it really felt like the Colts [game] was the same,” he said of the Ravens’ preseason opener last month. In many ways it is. Like the famous scene from the movie “Hoosiers,” Loop pointed out that the dimensions of the Bills’ field — 120 yards long, 53 1/2 wide — and its uprights — 18 feet, 6 inches wide — are the same as every stadium he has kicked in since college. “That’s the same thing it’s gonna be on Sunday,” he said. “Having that mindset of I’ve been kicking a football on a big stage since college and now in the NFL. It’s fun. “It’s the same game and it’s the same operation.” That operation is perhaps why Loop, a sixth-round pick and the first kicker to be drafted in Ravens history, has an added layer of confidence. Ravens kicker Tyler Loop watches the ball clear the uprights during training camp. Loop is the team's starting kicker after a stellar training camp and preseason. He says he's "excited" but not nervous about making his NFL debut against the Bills. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) From Moore to holder and punter Jordan Stout to the mechanics of the ball being snapped, Loop says that he has been able to develop a much more consistent process than he had during his college days. It has shown. During training camp, Loop beat out undrafted free agent John Hoyland and unofficially made 78 of his 84 field goal attempts before being named the starter Aug. 16. Across three preseason games, he made nine of 11 field goal attempts, including a 61-yarder against the Commanders in the preseason finale. The games will count from here forward, but the process doesn’t change. Though Loop said he isn’t much of a golfer, he does see the similarities between the two endeavors, including the need for a repeatable motion and honing in on the apex of his kicks. The Ravens even use Trackman, a popular ball-tracking device originally developed from military missile tracking systems, that uses Doppler radar and cameras to capture ball speed, launch angle and several other metrics. The farthest distance Stout has seen the Trackman record for one of Loop’s kicks, he said, is 78 yards. To unleash such power and accuracy, Loop, Moore and Stout have to be as rhythmic and precise as a three-man orchestra. It also took time — until about early in training camp — to dial into a process that was much different from Tucker’s. Moore told The Sun that the biggest difference between the two is that Tucker got his timing mechanism — the moment he started his kick — from watching the snap, which is unusual for most kickers, Moore said. Loop, he added, is more traditional, watching for when Stout’s back hand comes off the ground to catch the snap. There are other, nuanced differences as well. For example, once Moore, who likes to wait for the last second to grab the ball, gets set, he has to wait for Loop to move all the way over to his final spot. Once Loop is there, Moore knows he has “about five-ish seconds” before he has to snap the ball. “He takes more time at the back end of it,” Moore said. “Whereas Tuck, by the time he got to his last step, he was ready to go. With [Loop], once he’s all the way over and turns his body, then I’ll go.” Related Articles Ravens injury report: 2 key players expected to miss season opener READERS RESPOND: Fans expect Ravens to win 12 or more games in 2025 Staff picks for Week 1 of 2025 NFL season: Cowboys vs. Eagles, Chiefs vs. Chargers and more Mike Preston: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson must grow up as a leader | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Mark Andrews, Lamar Jackson get fresh start vs. Bills: ‘New season’ Stout then gets the nod from Loop, turns his head toward Moore, flashes his right hand at Moore, who then spins the ball to Stout, who puts it down with a slight lean. All of it happening in a few seconds and with marksmanship accuracy. “Overall I’ve been very happy with what we’ve done the last six weeks,” Moore said. “I’m confident going into Sunday.” And when successful, as it often has been so far, signs and chants of “Loop there it is” usually proliferate through the crowd in homage to the 1993 Tag Team hit song. “Oh gosh,” Loop says with a laugh. “It’s hilarious. “Sometimes if I get recognized in public, I’ll hear [it]. It’s fun. It’s something that my family likes to adopt and make jokes about. It’s been really cool to see Baltimore embrace me like that and made me feel very supported here.” Now all that’s left to see is if Loop will become a hit, too. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article