Ravens vs Bills NFL Pick: Super Bowl Contenders Collide in Buffalo (Sep 7)

• Our Ravens vs Bills NFL pick looks at Super Bowl contenders colliding in Week 1 in Buffalo
• Josh Allen is the defending NFL MVP; his counterpart, Lamar Jackson, is a 2X MVP
• The teams met in a classic in the 2024 Divisional Playoff, which ended on a dropped 2-point conversion
• Both teams need to take the next step to get past the AFC-dominant Chiefs

The Ravens and Lamar Jackson Start Another Climb

Since Lamar Jackson emerged as a starter in 2019, the Ravens have been a Super Bowl favorite in five of those six seasons, but lost in the playoffs in each of those five years.

The Ravens’ heartbreaking loss in the 2024 Divisional Round in Buffalo, a loss that was sealed when All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews dropped a 2-point conversion pass with 1:33 remaining, still stings.

However, Baltimore took the initiative in the offseason, addressing its primary needs in an effort to beat the Bills and Chiefs. They rebuilt their secondary with Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander, who signed as free agents. They drafted Malaki Starks from Georgia.

Their offense remains intact with Derrick Henry serving as the primary back behind Jackson. Veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins signed as a free agent.

Baltimore has a rookie kicker, Tyler Loop, drafted out of Arizona. Veteran Justin Tucker was let go after a tumultuous offseason.

In the Jackson vs Allen era, the Bills have won three of the five matchups, with two coming in the playoffs.

In the Ravens’ Week 4, 35-10 blowout over the Bills, Henry ran wild, accruing 199 yards, including an 87-yard TD run. But Buffalo’s defense corralled him and Jackson in the Bills’ 27-25 Divisional Round win.

The Bills Are Also Reaching That Critical Point

The Bills have continually run into the Chiefs and had their playoff hopes dashed. In 2025, they join the Ravens in trying to climb that KC mountain.

QB Josh Allen won his first MVP in 2024, and in the mediocre AFC East, he and the Bills are all but guaranteed the division title, barring anything unforeseen.

Buffalo dipped into the free agent market to sign veteran pass rusher Joey Bosa and, in the NFL Draft, went heavy on the defensive line, taking T.J. Sanders from South Carolina, Landon Jackson out of Arkansas, and Deone Walker out of Kentucky in the second, third, and fourth rounds. They also boosted their secondary, clearly moves made with the Ravens and Chiefs in mind.

Receiver Khalil Shakir has been dealing with an ankle problem, but was a full participant in practice.

Ravens vs Bills Week 1 Pick

Both teams have realistic Super Bowl aspirations, but they will need to establish dominance over the other and will want to do so in Week 1. Oddsmakers have the game a pick ’em or Buffalo as a 1-point underdog at home.

The Bills will again key in on the Ravens’ rushing attack. If the game is close, the Ravens’ rookie kicker Loop should be watched. Replacing a star kicker for a championship contender is not easy. Doing it in hostile territory in Buffalo is even harder.

The Bills will take their home opener, firing the first salvo against a team they might see again in the playoffs.