The Ravens' 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 was impressive, but it's also ancient history.
That Sept. 29 game is relatively irrelevant heading into Sunday's much-anticipated Ravens-Bills rematch in the divisional round. For starters, the Bills will be at home, where they are unbeaten (9-0 including the playoffs) and have won by an average margin of 17.4 points.
In September, both teams were trying to figure out the best version of themselves. Four months later, Baltimore and Buffalo clearly look capable of winning the Super Bowl, but only one will advance to the AFC Championship.
When Head Coach John Harbaugh looks at the Bills, he sees a formidable challenge.
"So many things stand out – they're such a good team," Harbaugh said. "All three phases are playing at a very high level. I think the biggest thing that stands out is how well-coached they are, how well-tied together they are – they play complementary football. All three phases play off of each other – they have a defined personality in every phase. And as a team, they're very physical; they play very hard; they're cohesive; they're on the same page.
"The quarterback obviously is playing at a high level. Josh Allen is a great player. They're well built around him – they did a good job of building the offense around him, and they have a lot of complementary pieces."
Here are some ways in which the Ravens and Bills have changed since they met in Week 4:
The Ravens' rushing attack has become even more devastating.
Buffalo had major problems with Derrick Henry in Week 4 when he rushed for a season-high 199 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown gallop on Baltimore's opening play. It was the longest run from scrimmage in franchise history and set the tone for Baltimore's victory.
However, the Ravens' rushing attack is even more diverse now. Lamar Jackson is running more than earlier in the season, and his 81 yards rushing against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wild Card Weekend were his most since Week 1. Henry is on a heater, averaging 158.3 yards over his last four game.
The Henry-Jackson rushing combo can stay red hot, even in frigid upstate New York. Baltimore's offensive line has gelled, and first-year starters Daniel Faalele and Roger Rosengarten are working more cohesively on the right side than they were in September. Meanwhile, Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken keeps adding run game wrinkles that will challenge Buffalo's defense both outside and between the tackles.
Matt Milano and Taron Johnson are back for the Bills.
Outside linebacker Milano and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson didn't play Week 4 against Baltimore and the Bills missed them. Milano was a first-team All-Pro in 2022, and Johnson was second-team All-Pro in 2023. They are talented and smart, and with them in the lineup, the Bills will use their versatility to try and keep Baltimore's offense in check.
"They are experienced players, and Taron Johnson, he's a DB, but he plays like a linebacker in there," Harbaugh said. "He gets in the box, and he plays the SAM or the WILL nickel backer, based on your formations, just like a linebacker would. Boom, he's in the B-gap before you blink an eye when playing the run. He does a great job, and those are great players."
Baltimore's defense has become more consistent.
Baltimore kept Josh Allen in check in Week 4 as he had 180 yards passing, 21 yards rushing, and was sacked three times, including a pivotal strip-sack. However, the Ravens gave up at least 31 points in four of the next six games and had to make significant changes to fix their pass defense.
Since safety Ar'Darius Washington joined the starting lineup and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton moved primarily to deep safety, Baltimore's pass defense has been far better.
When comparing the two defenses, the Ravens are the one trending up.
However, Allen is master at extending plays and has one of the NFL's most powerful arms. You can bet Allen will take a close look at the two touchdown passes the Steelers had on Saturday – a 30-yarder from Russell Wilson to Van Jefferson, and a 36-yarder from Wilson to George Pickens. Those are the kind of quick strikes Baltimore wants to avoid giving up.
Amari Cooper is now with the Bills.
The Bills had not yet traded for Amari Cooper in Week 4, and he has 22 catches for 297 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with Buffalo and gives them another veteran target. Allen spreads the wealth among his receivers, with Khalil Shakir (76 catches, 821 yards, four touchdowns) leading the way among five targets that have more than 300 yards.
Allen finished just 14th in the NFL in passing yards (3,731), but Buffalo had its most total yards on Wild Card Weekend against the Broncos (471), and Allen is always a threat to make an explosive play. Harbaugh expects a tough battle between two NFL heavyweights with a spot in the AFC Championship on the line.
"I don't think either team has taken a step back in any way – both teams are better across the board," Harbaugh said. "Both teams have kind of defined their personalities a little bit more over the course of the season. It's kind of what you'd expect at this point."
