The Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens will visit Highmark Stadium on Sunday 19th January to battle Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in a highly anticipated AFC divisional round showdown. The Ravens (13-5) knocked off the Pittsburgh Steelers to extend their winning streak to five games, while the Bills (14-4) pounded the Denver Broncos to move past the wild card round for the fifth straight season.
Buffalo opened as a 1-point home favorite over Baltimore in an exciting matchup with a berth in the AFC Championship game at stake, according to BetMGM. Based on moneyline odds, the Bills at -115 (1.9) odds are the more likely winners and have an implied win probability of 53.5%, while the Ravens at -105 (2.0) odds have a 51.2% chance to win this game.
Baltimore crushed Buffalo, 35-10, at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 4 behind 209 total yards and two scores from Derrick Henry. The Bills have lost three consecutive division-round encounters since topping the Ravens, 17-3, at home on Jan. 16, 2021. You can find more in-depth odds for this game and place bets at the top NFL sportsbooks.
The Ravens boast the league's top rushing attack with 188 yards per outing. Henry posted 1,921 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and now has 11,423 career yards with 106 scores. Jackson tallied 915 rushing yards and surpassed Michael Vick with the most career rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history with 6,173 yards. Former fourth-rounder Justice Hill has compiled 228 yards and one touchdown on 47 carries.
Former Boston College standout Zay Flowers leads the team with 74 receptions for 1,059 yards and four touchdowns, and 2019 top draft pick Rashod Bateman has caught 45 balls for 756 yards and nine scores. Veteran tight end Mark Andrews has reeled in 55 receptions for 673 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns, while Hill (42-383-3) and Isaiah Likely (42-477-6) have combined for 84 catches, 860 yards, and nine touchdowns.
The Bills have the league's 11th-ranked scoring defense, with 21.6 points allowed each week. Buffalo surrenders 115 rushing yards per game but has struggled against the pass, with opposing teams racking up 226 passing yards against the NFL's 24th-ranked pass defense. However, the Bills have seven players with two interceptions and rank fifth with 16 picks. Second-year linebacker Dorian Williams leads the team with 114 tackles, while defensive end Greg Rousseau has a team-leading six sacks.
Josh Allen continues to showcase his dual-threat skills with 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns through the air and 531 yards and 12 scores on the ground. Third-year running back James Cook eclipsed 1,000 yards for the second year in a row for the league's ninth-ranked rushing attack and added a team-high 16 rushing touchdowns. Rookie Ray Davis notched 442 yards and three scores on 113 carries.
Former fifth-rounder Khalil Shakir led the Bills ninth-ranked passing offense with 76 receptions for 821 yards and four scores. Tight end Dalton Kincaid caught 44 balls for 448 yards and two touchdowns, while rookie Keon Coleman hauled in 29 passes for 556 yards and four scores. Other pass-catchers include Mack Hollins (31-378-5), Dalton Knox (22-311-1), and Amari Cooper (20-297-2).
The Ravens rank ninth in points allowed each week with 21.2 points per game. Linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton are the leading tacklers with 154 and 107 total tackles, respectively. Kyle Van Noy has collected a team-best 12.5 sacks, while Odafe Oweh has recorded 10 quarterback takedowns for a unit ranked second with 53 sacks. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey has intercepted a team-high six passes.
The Ravens top wideout, Zay Flowers, did not play in Sunday's game against the Steelers with a knee injury and could miss Baltimore's next playoff game against the Bills, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on NFL GameDay.
All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey came off the field late in the third quarter against the Steelers in pain and holding his left arm/shoulder. The 28-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries over the past few years but bounced back with six interceptions this season, tied for the third-most in the league.
• WR Zay Flowers (Knee) - Questionable
• WR Deonte Harty (Knee) - Questionable
• DB Beau Brade (Shoulder) - Questionable
• LB Adisa Isaac (Hamstring) - Questionable
• OL Nick Samac (Chest) - Questionable
• DB Marcus Williams (Groin) - Questionable
Linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano did not play in Week 4 when "King Henry" ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns in a lopsided victory. Milano served as a spy in the wild card game against Denver and Bo Nix, who still managed to rush for 43 yards on four carries.
Davis, the Bills' backup running back, suffered a concussion on Sunday and will have to clear the NFL's concussion protocol before returning for next week's showdown against the Ravens.
• WR Lawrence Keys III (Leg) - Questionable
• DB Terrell Burgess (Hamstring) - Questionable
• DB Brandon Codrington (Hamstring) - Questionable
• WR Chase Claypool (Knee) - Questionable
The Ravens lead the all-time series, 7-5, but have lost two of the previous three meetings:
• 2024: Ravens won 35-10 in Baltimore
• 2022: Bills won 23-20 in Baltimore
• 2021: Bills won 17-3 in Buffalo
• 2019: Ravens won 24-17 in Buffalo
• 2018: Ravens won 47-3 in Baltimore
• Date & Time: Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, 06:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York
• Where to watch the game: CBS & Paramount Plus
Prediction: Baltimore 30, Buffalo 27
This Ravens-Bills clash is set to be a high-stakes thriller, with both teams boasting elite talent on offense and defense. Baltimore’s powerful ground game, led by Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, could take advantage of Buffalo’s inconsistent rush defense, while Josh Allen and the Bills’ balanced attack aim to outpace the Ravens.
With a close game expected, every play will count. Add to the excitement by betting on this matchup at New York’s top sportsbooks including BetMGM, DraftKings, or FanDuel.
