Honestly, if you turned off the TV with four minutes left in the Ravens vs Bills last game, nobody would’ve blamed you. It looked like a wrap. The Baltimore Ravens were sitting on a 40-25 lead in Orchard Park, and Derrick Henry was looking every bit like the "King" with two massive touchdown runs that had basically silenced Highmark Stadium.
But then, Josh Allen happened.
What we saw on September 7, 2025, wasn’t just a regular-season opener. It was a chaotic, 41-40 Buffalo victory that defied every statistical probability. The Ravens had dominated nearly every phase of the game for 56 minutes, yet they left Western New York 0-1. It was a heartbreaker for Baltimore and a statement for a Bills team that people thought might be taking a step back.
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Why the Ravens vs Bills Last Game Was Pure Insanity
The stat sheet for this game looks like a glitch in a video game. Derrick Henry, at 31 years old, put up 169 rushing yards on just 18 carries. He had scoring runs of 30 and 46 yards. On that 30-yarder, he absolutely cleared safety Cole Bishop out of the way with a stiff arm that’s already living in the Hall of Fame of "disrespectful" football highlights.
Baltimore was cruising. Lamar Jackson was efficient, throwing touchdowns to Zay Flowers and even the newly acquired DeAndre Hopkins. When Henry broke free for that 46-yard score to make it 40-25 with 11:42 left, it felt like the Ravens were finally getting revenge for their playoff exit the previous January.
Then the wheels came off for Baltimore.
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The Collapse by the Numbers
- 3:56 remaining: Keon Coleman catches a 10-yard TD from Allen. (40-32)
- 1:58 remaining: Josh Allen dives over the pile for a 1-yard TD. The two-point conversion fails. (40-38)
- The Fumble: Derrick Henry, the guy who had been the hero all night, coughs it up on the ensuing possession.
- 0:00 remaining: Matt Prater nails a 32-yard field goal to win it.
The Josh Allen vs Lamar Jackson Factor
Whenever these two meet, the "who is better" debate reaches a fever pitch. In the Ravens vs Bills last game, Lamar was actually the more consistent quarterback for most of the night. He finished with two passing touchdowns and a rushing score, looking every bit like a three-time MVP.
But Allen has this "chaos mode" that is impossible to account for. He wasn't particularly efficient early on, but he finished the game with two rushing touchdowns and two passing scores. He willed the Bills down the field in those final minutes. It’s the kind of performance that drives defensive coordinators crazy because you can play "perfect" defense for three quarters and it just doesn't matter when #17 decides to go Superman.
Buffalo’s offense is different now. They don't have the big-name veteran receivers of the past, but the chemistry between Allen and Dalton Kincaid (who opened the scoring with a 15-yard TD) and Keon Coleman is clearly real.
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What the Ravens Got Wrong
Baltimore fans are going to be thinking about that fourth quarter for a long time. John Harbaugh’s crew played a nearly perfect road game until the final four minutes. Honestly, the defense just looked gassed. They couldn't get a stop when it mattered most, and the missed extra point after Henry's second touchdown—which would have made it a 16-point game—ended up being a massive point of failure.
There’s also the Derrick Henry fumble. It’s rare. It’s painful. Henry took the blame after the game, but the reality is the Ravens shouldn't have been in a position where one mistake could cost them the game after leading by 15 so late.
Real-World Impact for Your Fantasy Team and Bets
If you're looking at what this means moving forward, there are a few clear takeaways from this specific matchup:
- Derrick Henry isn't slowing down. Despite the fumble, the efficiency (9.4 yards per carry) proves the Ravens' offensive line is opening massive lanes for him.
- The Bills' secondary is vulnerable. Lamar Jackson had a relatively easy time finding open windows until the very end.
- Matt Prater was a sneaky great pickup. Replacing Tyler Bass with a veteran like Prater paid immediate dividends for Buffalo.
If you’re tracking the rivalry, this was the third straight win for the Bills over the Ravens, including the 27-25 Divisional Round win in January 2025. Buffalo has found a way to become Baltimore's kryptonite in close games.
Key Insights for the Next Matchup
- Watch the Red Zone: Baltimore settled for too many field goals early, which kept the door cracked open.
- Dime Packages: Buffalo struggled to stop the run out of light personnel; expect them to beef up the box next time they see Henry.
- The "Keon Coleman" Leap: He’s becoming the primary target in high-leverage situations.
To really get ahead of the curve for the next meeting, keep a close eye on the Ravens' defensive snap counts. They wore down in the heat during the Ravens vs Bills last game, and depth at edge rusher will be the deciding factor in their next primetime showdown. Check the injury reports specifically for Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh leading up to the rematch; if they aren't 100%, the Ravens' pass rush tends to disappear in the fourth quarter.