Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The wait is finally over, as the Buffalo Bills will kick off the 2025 season this Sunday night when they host the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
This contest to open the year will be a rematch of the 2024 AFC Divisional Round when the Bills managed to squeak out a 27-25 win over Baltimore to advance to the AFC Championship Game. It was the second time in the last four years where the two teams have met in the playoffs, with Buffalo earning a victory both times.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson have both been the focus of the NFL in their own ways over the last few years. Both quarterbacks have been the main reason why their offenses have been great, which has resulted in MVP seasons from both signal callers over the last two years.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott knows that Jackson can make the Ravens' offense a tough bunch to handle.
"The uniqueness of what they can do and how many different styles of offense they have is unique, but that's also the challenge I think you look forward to. We're not ones to back down from a challenge," said McDermott on Friday in his first appearance of the season during the "Extra Point Show" on WGR. "You've got to figure out a way to crack the code, and then you got to go execute it. So a lot of layers to it, but our guys have worked hard this offseason and through training camp."
Throughout training camp and the preseason, the Bills have, once again, had injury troubles in their secondary. Early in camp, first-round cornerback Max Hairston injured his knee and will miss the first four weeks of the season. Along with that, veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White has been dealing with an injury to his groin.
That could lead to the Bills having to lean on sixth-round rookie corner Dorian Strong and former undrafted player Ja'Marcus Ingram across from Christian Benford.
"What you want from all young players is they grow, they develop. There's going to be some growing pains through that process of getting the experience that they need, but Dorian [Strong], in this case, has approached that challenge head on," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio.
"Prior to last year, [Ingram] was on the practice squad, and then he was activated at times. Last year, he was on the activecroster and made a big contribution to our team early third of the season there. It's good to have him back. He's certainly more experienced than he was last year, and another guy that really embraces trying to become the best that he can become."
This season for the Bills marks the farewell season for the current Highmark Stadium, which has been the home of the Bills since 1973. This game on Sunday will be the final home opener for the team at the stadium in Orchard Park.
"You've got to have a lot of pride in where you're from and what you stand for in life. That's no different now in football, and how we treat this stadium, how we treat our community. We take a lot of pride in ourselves and where we're from, and who we play for and how we play," McDermott said. "In particular, playing at home, we've created a culture and a standard, and it's important for us when we take the field anywhere, but in particular at home."
The Bills and Ravens will kick things off on "Sunday Night Football" at 8:20 p.m. Hear all the action on WGR with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call.
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