Pundits Debate Whether Ravens Being Favored Over Bills Is Justified
The Bills went 8-0 at home this regular season and finished with a better record (13-4) than the Ravens (12-5), but they are the underdogs in Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff game in Buffalo.
Sportsbooks have the Ravens favored by either 1 or 1.5 points. The Bills have hosted 18 playoff games since joining the NFL in 1970, and they were favored in each one, per ESPN.
Analysts on Fox Sports 1’s “Speak” disagreed over whether the Ravens should be favored.
"I'm shocked," Paul Pierce said. "You go on to the road to Buffalo, where Buffalo is undefeated … They have a 133-point differential at home, highest in the NFL, and they're not the favorite. That doesn't make sense to me."
Keyshawn Johnson said he's "not surprised at all" by the line.
"[The Ravens] beat the brakes off of them in Week 4," Johnson said. "They're both different teams, but in Week 4 it was 35-10."
Johnson also noted that the Bills lost in the Divisional round at home the past two seasons – to the Kansas City Chiefs last year and the Cincinnati Bengals the previous year.
Ultimately, who is favored is meaningless. The Ravens are a confident group, but they are keenly aware of the challenge awaiting them in Buffalo.
"These Divisional [Playoff] games are really hard to win because you're playing the best teams," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "[The Bills are] just a super talented, well-coached type of a team. On that stage, in their place – it's going to be cold; it's going to be blustery [and] all that."
Jim Nantz Has Been 'Daydreaming for Six Weeks' About Calling Ravens-Bills Playoff Matchup
Legendary play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz, who will call the Ravens-Bills game for CBS, is as excited as anyone about the highly anticipated showdown.
"On Dec. 8 when Buffalo lost at the Rams and basically ceded the one seed to Kansas City, I knew they were going to be the two seed. I felt all along the Ravens were going to find a way to win [the AFC North] and be the three," Nantz said on “Glenn Clark Radio.” "So for almost six weeks I've been daydreaming about a divisional matchup between these teams and hoping somehow it lands in our lap. And we got the game and I'm thrilled."
Nantz expressed his admiration for Harbaugh and the Ravens and said he wouldn't be surprised if Baltimore won the Super Bowl.
"John Harbaugh is one of my all-time favorites coaches and people I've ever interfaced with in the NFL," Nantz said. "I really think both of these teams are capable of winning it all. We know Buffalo's beaten the two No. 1 seeds. They've knocked off both Kansas City and Detroit; the rest of the league was 2-30 against those teams. But when I watch Baltimore at its best …. Baltimore looks unbeatable to me. They really at times look absolutely unbeatable."
Nantz, who presented the Lombardi Trophy to the Ravens after both of their Super Bowl victories, praised the organization for its winning tradition.
"The success rate that's going on in Charm City is off the charts," Nantz said. "You know how many cities in this league would kill to have what you guys have had for the last 28 years? The success rate is phenomenal, and there's more to come. This could be another one."
Roger Rosengarten Is Bill Belichick's 'Football Guy of the Week'
Bill Belichick agrees with Cleveland Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett that rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten is a somebody.
Every week on The CW's "Inside the NFL," analysts Ryan Clark, Chris Long, and Chad Johnson each nominate a candidate for "Football Guy of the Week," which is a player or coach they feel needs to be highlighted more. Belichick then makes the final call on the winner.
Belichick gave the honor this week to Rosengarten, who was Clark's choice.
"He's done a lot," Belichick said. "As a rookie, come in, step in there, played against some good players, been there all year. Tough. That running game. I'm going with Rosengarten."
Rosengarten is coming off an impressive performance against Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt.
PFF Names Ravens' Secret Superstar and Most Improved Player
The Ravens have some of the league's biggest stars on their roster, but the team wouldn't be in the position it's in without significant contributions from less-heralded players.
Two such players were recognized by Pro Football Focus, which named safety Ar'Darius Washington the Ravens' secret superstar and running back Justice Hill their most improved player.
"A key component to the Ravens fixing their defense mid-season was moving Kyle Hamilton and Washington from the slot to more of a traditional safety role," PFF's Bradley Locker wrote. "Since that transition in Week 10, Baltimore ranks third in EPA per play and first in success rate, and Washington's 80.1 PFF coverage grade places ninth among all defenders. Throughout the broader season, Washington has surrendered more than 50 yards or more than three catches just twice."
Regarding Hill, PFF’s Thomas Valentine wrote: "The Ravens rushing game is dominated by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson's gravitational pull. ... However, the work done by Justice Hill in the backfield has been incredibly underrated in 2024. Hill's rushing production from 2023 to 2024 essentially halved, but he was just as efficient, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 4.19 yards after contact, the most among all running backs with at least 45 carries.
"Hill really shined in the passing game though, historically where Henry has struggled, catching a career-high 42 passes for 383 yards and four touchdowns, and his 77.8 grade was also a career-high. He also showed the ability to pass protect when asked to pick up blitzes despite his size. He's proven to be a valuable asset for the Ravens."
Henry Closing in on 1,000 Rushing Yards in Postseason
Henry is closing in on another milestone. The five-time Pro Bowler could become the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in the postseason.
"Henry's 186-yard game against the Steelers gave him 918 rushing yards in the playoffs in his career, moving him ahead of Larry Csonka for No. 9 in NFL history," Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith wrote. "With 82 yards on Sunday against the Bills, Henry will hit 1,000 rushing yards in the playoffs in his career. That would move him ahead of John Riggins, into seventh place in NFL history.
"The players with 1,000 career postseason rushing yards are Emmitt Smith with 1,586 yards, Franco Harris with 1,556 yards, Thurman Thomas with 1,442 yards, Tony Dorsett with 1,383 yards, Marcus Allen with 1,347 yards and Terrell Davis with 1,140 yards."
