Within the Week 1 version of “Sunday Night time Soccer,” soccer followers shall be handled to one of many premier matchups of the season because the Buffalo Payments play host to the Baltimore Ravens. Anticipated to as soon as once more be two of the AFC’s — and NFL’s — greatest groups, the Payments and Ravens final met within the divisional spherical of final 12 months’s playoffs, with Buffalo rising victorious in dramatic style.
The sport pits the final two NFL MVPs towards one another as reigning MVP Josh Allen does battle towards Lamar Jackson, who gained in 2023 and in addition was named first-team All-Professional over Allen final 12 months. There are stars everywhere in the discipline on each side of the ball, from Derrick Henry and James Prepare dinner to Kyle Hamilton and Matt Milano and an entire lot extra.
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It is a recreation that might have large implications not simply in Week 1, however for the race for the highest seed within the AFC. Particularly after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs misplaced their opening recreation of the 12 months, the workforce that will get a step forward early on may have the opposite contenders chasing all of them 12 months lengthy.
Earlier than we break down the matchup, here is a take a look at how one can watch the sport.
The place to look at Ravens vs. Payments reside
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 7 | Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, NY)
- TV: NBC | Stream: Fubo (Strive without cost)
- Observe: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Ravens -1.5; O/U 50.5 (through DraftKings Sportsbook)
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When the Ravens have the ball
The Ravens moved the ball with relative ease towards the Payments in each of their matchups final season.
Within the regular-season battle, Baltimore rushed for a preposterous 271 yards, with Derrick Henry getting issues happening the Ravens’ opening snap of the sport. The Ravens simply leaned on the Payments from there, with Henry (24 carries for 199 yards and the aforementioned landing) and Lamar Jackson (six carries for 54 yards and a landing) knifing by way of the protection all recreation. Jackson additionally went an environment friendly 13 of 18 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Within the playoffs, the Ravens piled up one other 416 yards — almost matching the 427 they’d within the regular-season beatdown. They ran for 176 yards and Jackson went 18 of 25 for 254 yards and two scores. The issue was the Ravens turned it over 3 times, with Jackson seemingly blacking out on an interception and a fumble, and Mark Andrews fumbling as properly. These points, in addition to Andrews’ drop on what ought to have been a game-tying two-point conversion late within the recreation, mixed to undermine an in any other case wonderful offensive effort.
The Payments added some items on protection this offseason, probably the most notable of whom is Joey Bosa. When at his greatest, Bosa is a wonderful two-way edge defender who can rush the passer and contribute at a excessive stage within the run recreation. Between him and Greg Rousseau, the Payments must superb bookend edges. Buffalo additionally added Michael Hoecht up entrance, however he is suspended, as is Larry Ogunjobi. The opposite reinforcements on the line of defense are rookies in Landon Jackson, T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker, who will fill in behind Bosa, Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones. They will have to do a significantly better job towards the run than the group up entrance did final 12 months.
On the second stage, the Payments would possibly nonetheless have some points. They’ve a obvious gap on the No. 2 cornerback spot, the place first-round choose Maxwell Hairston is on injured reserve and returning free-agent Tre’Davious White is listed as uncertain. Christian Benford could also be requested to shadow Zay Flowers at any time when Flowers strains up on the skin, in order that he doesn’t get a matchup towards a a lot weaker second cornerback. (Flowers missed the playoff recreation final 12 months with an harm.) If Benford does comply with Flowers in all places however the slot (the place the Payments belief Taron Johnson), then Rashod Bateman could possibly be arrange for a breakthrough efficiency.
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With Isaiah Seemingly out as a result of harm he suffered throughout coaching camp, we will anticipate to see Andrews resume a much bigger function within the passing recreation. He had 5 catches for 61 yards in that playoff loss to the Payments, discovering himself open within the intermediate space of the sphere a number of occasions. Buffalo is hoping that 2024 second-rounder Cole Bishop might help take the protection unit to a distinct stage than it was final 12 months, when it was principally Damar Hamlin enjoying subsequent to Taylor Rapp. Both approach, Andrews ought to have possibilities to eat as soon as once more.
The Payments have to discover a solution to get stress to Jackson and drive him into errors, however that is simpler mentioned than finished. Baltimore’s offensive line gelled properly after a gradual begin to final season, and returns 4 of the 5 starters from final 12 months. Jackson additionally confirmed virtually no vulnerability to blitzes and/or pressures final season, simply sidestepping rushers and increasing the play to each throw and run with regularity. Even towards a hopefully-improved Buffalo protection, the Ravens have an excellent likelihood to persistently transfer the ball and put up factors.
NFL Week 1 Energy Rankings: Eagles get high spot to begin, however Payments will end No. 1 with long-awaited title
Pete Prisco
When the Payments have the ball
Buffalo really solely totaled 273 yards within the playoff win towards the Ravens, however it managed to carry the ball for greater than half the sport by routinely changing short-yardage alternatives, avoiding adverse performs, going a mixed 6 of 12 on third and fourth downs, minimizing penalties (only one for 10 yards) and naturally, coming away with these three Ravens turnovers.
Josh Allen’s Superman routine was one of many greatest components in that effort, after all. He ran the ball 10 occasions and scored twice on the bottom, and he made probably the most of his mere 22 go makes an attempt by finishing 16 of them. He threw for less than 127 yards, however he did not appear to make a single mistake and he took only one sack for a lack of just one yard. He, James Prepare dinner, Ray Davis and Ty Johnson mixed for 36 rush makes an attempt, which the Payments used to manage the clock and transfer the chains. They picked up 147 yards and accounted for all three Buffalo touchdowns.
Khalil Shakir was the most-targeted participant within the passing recreation for the Payments in that playoff matchup, consuming on swing screens and the like and totaling 67 yards on his seven targets. Shakir handled a excessive ankle sprain by way of just about all of coaching camp, however he practiced in full by this week and is not on the harm report. He’ll must cope with loads of Marlon Humphrey and/or Kyle Hamilton within the slot, which may show troublesome, particularly if he cannot transfer the best way he often does as a result of ankle challenge.
The Payments did add to their receiver corps this offseason by inking Josh Palmer to a three-year deal, and it must be loads of he and second-year man Keon Coleman on the skin towards Ravens cornerbacks Nate Wiggins and both Jaire Alexander or Chidobe Awuzie, relying on how wholesome Alexander is after getting in a pair of full practices to finish the week.
Baltimore’s secondary coalesced into an elite unit by the tip of final season, however is coping with a bunch of modifications right here. Alexander and Awuzie are each new faces. Ar’Darius Washington, whose transfer to the again finish helped solidify issues final 12 months, is probably going out for the season after tearing his Achilles through the offseason program. And first-round rookie Malaki Starks shall be counted on to play an enormous function subsequent to Hamilton immediately. How issues look on the again finish of the protection will play an enormous issue right here.
The identical is true of the Ravens’ skill to generate stress and really hurry Allen’s decision-making course of, which they weren’t actually in a position to do within the playoff matchup however did fairly properly through the common season. Buffalo’s offensive line is sort of good and the Ravens are as soon as once more prone to attempt to generate stress with unique seems and blitz packages relatively than pure expertise up entrance. If the Payments’ entrance can maintain up in entrance of Allen, he ought to have time to select aside a secondary that hasn’t performed collectively but, and that’ll open issues up much more for Buffalo’s robust run recreation.
Prediction
The Ravens, to me, have the very best roster within the NFL this season. They’re deep and versatile on each side of the ball, and I believe they’ve sufficient matchup benefits right here to beat Buffalo’s residence discipline. It seems like one other shut recreation, however this time one the place Baltimore — which has its WR1 again within the combine for the sport — comes out on high.
Choose: Ravens 27, Payments 24
