Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The last time we saw the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills were bringing their 2024 season to an end with a 27-25 victory in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
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There is definitely a familiarity factor with these two teams. This will be the seventh meeting between the Bills and Ravens, including playoffs, since the start of the 2018 season when both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson were rookies in the NFL.
Both Allen and Jackson have guided two of the NFL's best offenses over the last five years, and this season should be no different.
Baltimore returns 10-of-11 starters from an offense that led the league last season in total yards, rushing yards and passing average. The Ravens scored the third-most points, and Jackson, from a statistical standpoint, had his best season as a pro, throwing for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Jackson also added 915 yards rushing and four more touchdowns.
Jackson is 3-3 in his career against the Bills: 3-1 in the regular season, but 0-2 in the playoffs.
There was some talk at Ravens training camp that this might be the best group of skill players Jackson has ever had around him.
Veteran running back Derrick Henry is back after an outstanding 2024 campaign that saw him carry the ball 325 times and total 1,921 yards to go with 16 touchdowns.
The wide receiver group includes Zay Flowers, who had over 1,000 yards last season. He is also joined by Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins.
Mark Andrews, who would probably like to forget his playoff performance against the Bills last season, remains one of the top tight ends in the NFL, and a favorite target for Jackson. Andrews, who is a key red zone weapon, led all NFL tight ends in touchdowns last season with 11.
In 2024, the Ravens defense was the best against the run and finished ninth in scoring, but ranked 31st against the pass.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens is not back with the team, but 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins will take over. The Ravens also signed veteran cornerback Jaire Alexander, while Marlon Humphrey led the team with six interceptions last season.
Kyle Hamilton is one of the best safeties in the league, and will be joined by Malaki Starks, Baltimore's first-round selection in this year's draft.
Baltimore should be strong in the linebacking corps once again. Roquan Smith led the team in tackles in 2024, and Kyle Van Noy topped the club with 12.5 sacks.
There was a big change in special teams, as future Hall-of-Famer Justin Tucker was released following an off-field incident. The new kicker is Tyler Loop, who was a sixth-round draft pick this past April.
WGR will have wall-to-wall coverage of the Bills and Ravens this Sunday starting at 1 p.m. Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m., and can be heard with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call of the game.
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