The Baltimore Ravens showcased an impressive performance in their season opener against the Buffalo Bills, racking up a total of 169 yards on 18 carries, including two touchdowns from the standout running back Derrick Henry. Additionally, wide receiver Zay Flowers made significant contributions with seven catches for 143 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for 210 yards, completed two touchdown passes, and added 70 rushing yards with another touchdown.
At one point in the game, the Ravens were ahead 40-25 with 11:42 remaining, having scored their fourth touchdown on a drive that spanned at least 65 yards and took just four plays. The Ravens averaged an impressive 8.6 yards per play, culminating in a total of 432 yards for the game. However, despite their dominant performance, it wasn't enough to secure the win.
In a thrilling turnaround, Josh Allen, the reigning MVP quarterback for the Bills, led a remarkable comeback. The game reached a dramatic conclusion when veteran kicker Matt Prater nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired, sealing a stunning 41-40 victory for Buffalo at the current Highmark Stadium.
Throughout the night, the Bills struggled to contain the Ravens' offensive onslaught. However, a turning point came after the Bills had to punt with 9:18 left in the fourth quarter. The Buffalo defense forced a three-and-out, allowing them to regain possession on their own 20-yard line with 7:16 remaining. The Ravens made several critical mistakes, including a costly error on a punt that nearly landed at the 1-yard line but was inadvertently downed in the end zone.
With the ball on fourth-and-2 from the Baltimore 10, Allen executed a remarkable play, rolling to his right and throwing a pass that was tipped before finding the hands of second-year receiver Keon Coleman for a crucial touchdown. Instead of attempting a two-point conversion, the Bills opted to cut the lead to eight points, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
While Derrick Henry continued to shine, disaster struck for the Ravens shortly thereafter. Jackson had just rushed for 13 yards when Henry was stripped by defensive tackle Ed Oliver, with linebacker Terrell Bernard recovering the fumble at the Baltimore 30-yard line. The Bills capitalized swiftly, scoring on a 1-yard leap from Allen. Despite failing another two-point conversion, the Bills still had three timeouts, keeping their hopes alive.
As the Ravens attempted to regain control, they faced a series of setbacks. After Henry was held to a 1-yard gain and Flowers was stopped for no gain, Jackson's pass to DeAndre Hopkins fell short of the first down marker. With just 1:26 left on the clock, Allen, starting from his own 20, executed a series of plays that showcased his skill; he connected on a 32-yard deep pass to Joshua Palmer, positioning Buffalo for a potential game-winning field goal.
Following this, Allen found Coleman again, who was tackled at the 9-yard line. Baltimore burned its last two timeouts but could do little else as Prater stepped onto the field. The veteran kicker, who had just joined the Bills earlier in the week due to Tyler Bass being placed on injured reserve, delivered a clutch 32-yard field goal, sealing the game and delivering a dramatic walk-off victory for Buffalo.
Notably, Allen's performance in the fourth quarter was historic, as he threw for 251 yards—the most he has ever recorded in a single quarter. He finished the game with an impressive stat line of 33 completions on 46 attempts for 394 yards, two touchdowns, and rushed for two more scores on 14 carries for 30 yards. Coleman also had a standout game, finishing with eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown.
With this incredible victory, the Bills start their season 1-0 and will be heading on the road to challenge the New York Jets in Week 2. Conversely, the Ravens, now 0-1, will look to bounce back in their home opener against division-rival Cleveland.
