NFL 2024/25: Bills – Ravens
I’ll say it like it is! If you can’t come up with good reasons on Monday why you have to stay away from this absolute top cracker of the NFL playoffs so far, you can’t really love football!
This is by far the best divisional round match, in which both teams would have earned a place in the Super Bowl.
In my Bills Ravens betting tip, I’ll give you information about the betting scenarios that could be most rewarding when combined with the Merkur Bets bonus.
In this Divisional Round – the quarter-finals, if you will – two of the best teams in the NFL face off against each other. I hope we can all agree on that!
Buffalo hosts Baltimore in a matchup between two MVP contenders, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The corresponding Bills Ravens odds from the bookmakers, however, are so close that hardly a sheet of paper seems to fit between them.
Because Denver scored the first touchdown of the game and thus briefly stirred things up, but was then literally buried by the “Electric Company” with six points (31:7).
The Bills started the week as slight favorites in the markets, but the bookmakers quickly brought the odds back into almost perfect equilibrium in the past few days.
In Week 4, meanwhile, we already saw an impressive display of Baltimore running roughshod over Buffalo with a clear 35:10 victory.
At that time, their own rushing game dominated across the board, and the many running plays led by Derrick Henry were simply unstoppable for the Bills. “King Henry” even ran for almost 200 yards on this occasion.
It is important that Lamar Jackson continues to skillfully support his running back on his advances. The quarterback’s flexibility to run unexpectedly himself, or just his ability to confuse opponents, could be the deciding factor in the game this time as well.
The Bills have a quarterback in Josh Allen who can get things moving both through the air and with his feet. However, it won’t be easy for him in this Divisional Round.
The Ravens, with their much-improved pass defense compared to the first half of the season, present a hurdle that BUF would not have faced just a few weeks ago.
But as I said: When it comes to pass defense, “Purple Pain” has made a real quantum leap within a month!
And if the Bills defense focuses too much on the pass on the other side, Henry could turn up again. The Bills have to keep an eye on both Jackson’s throwing arm and the explosive running back.
A challenge that could cause a lot of problems for both sides and at the same time put a lot of points on the scoreboard. But even if the “Electric Company” masters this balancing act, it will be a tough job to win this game in the end.
I’m really looking forward to the game, and the odds for the “over” have by no means been set too low – but more on that later!
Both teams are capable of putting a staggering number of points on the scoreboard by using their top quarterbacks and running backs.
Jackson and Allen could also gain important yards on third-down attempts, and go all out in the opposing red zone!
Neither Baltimore nor Buffalo likes to rely on field goals, which should lead to a higher score. A high-scoring game with a disproportionate number of touchdowns is therefore to be expected again this time.
The clash from Week 4, which I mentioned at the beginning, provides some further interesting clues that you could use to orient your very own Bills Ravens tip for the Divisional Round match.
Derrick Henry, for example, already scored a touchdown against the Steelers last week and was even decisive in the game against the upcoming opponent.
On September 30, 2024, “King Henry” outwitted the Bills twice: he caught a touchdown pass and then marched into the end zone himself – impressive!
Accordingly, I would at least put the selection “Henry with TD” on my watch list in the Merkur Bets app, even at odds of currently 1.40.
I also recommend an “Under 2.5 Field Goals” tip, because – as previously discussed – both teams are often stuck in the opposing red zone and tend to play out the 4th attempt.
For this selection, however, I think getting an average of 2.50 offered by almost all sports betting providers is a very decent deal.
Conclusion: This is a game between two teams whose offense is clearly stronger than their respective defense.
Therefore, I expect a real fireworks display of points, which could consist almost entirely of touchdowns.
As for the outcome of the game, however, I see the guests from Baltimore in a slightly better position to find the necessary answers to win, especially since their defensive performance has improved significantly in recent weeks.
My Bills Ravens tip: Win BAL & Over 49.5 points.