For what feels like the first time in the Josh Allen era, the Buffalo Bills have won what people are calling “the game of the year.” When almost all hope was lost, the Bills secured a 41-40 win over the visiting Baltimore Ravens, which, according to ESPN analytics, said Buffalo had a 0.9% chance of winning.

It was a magical night in Orchard Park as the team kicked off the farewell season at Highmark Stadium after a 52-year run. They continued their home dominance, winning their 12th straight regular-season game in the building.

In the battle of the past two NFL Most Valuable Players, Bills quarterback Allen left no doubt he was deserving of the award this past season. Allen began his 2025 campaign with a total of 424 yards and four touchdowns — two each passing and rushing.

His two rushing scores put him ahead of Bills legend and NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas for most rushing touchdowns in franchise history. In the fourth quarter, he threw for 251 yards, which is the fourth-most passing yards in a final frame in NFL history.

While we could spend the whole time discussing Allen and his performance, two other players on the Bills also had performances worth talking about. Staying on the offensive side of the ball, 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman may have arrived. He ended the night with eight receptions for a total of 112 yards, adding a 10-yard score off a tipped ball. It was a career high in receptions and just shy of a career high in yards. He made many key catches, but possibly none bigger than his 25-yard reception to all but ice the game for the Bills.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky had a great breakdown of the play on his show “Get Up,” showcasing the growing connection between Allen and the young wideout. With his quarterback expecting all-out pressure, Coleman was signaled to change his route. He ran his route correctly, resulting in a near touchdown, which was likely the best outcome. Now that it’s unlikely the Bills will be throwing the ball 46 times a game, I expect Coleman to continue to be a focal point in the passing offense.

Pivoting to the defensive side of the ball, it’s hard to say anyone had a great game while looking at the Ravens’ offensive stats; Ed Oliver might be the exception. It’s something Bills fans have been hoping to see since he was drafted in 2019, but Oliver wreaked havoc in week one.

He finished his day with six tackles, including three TFLs and a sack. His biggest play of the night, though, really ignited the Bills' unlikely comeback. On second and 10, down eight points, Oliver did the near impossible, forcing a fumble on Derrick Henry. This led to another Buffalo touchdown, cutting the Baltimore lead down to two.

With three TFLs in game one, Oliver is already approaching his total from this past season, which was five. If he can finally be a consistent game wrecker, it’ll be a bright spot on what could be a subpar defense.

In a game with 136 total offensive plays, a lot of people, myself included, are focused on a play that wasn’t called. On fourth and three from their own 38-yard line, the Ravens elected to punt the ball back to Allen with 1:33 on the clock.

In most circumstances, this is the right choice; however, you must realize who you’re punting the ball to and who you have on your team. Granted, the offense slowed down after the 46-yard Henry rushing touchdown, but he was still averaging 9.4 yards per carry. Lamar Jackson had 70 yards rushing to go along with 209 yards passing, playing an incredibly efficient game.

On the other side, Allen finished with 251 passing yards in the fourth quarter alone, the fourth most in league history. I understand the risk of not getting the first down and essentially giving Buffalo the ball in field goal range, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night without putting the ball in the hands of the two-time MVP.

While it’s only a week one matchup, this dramatic win sets a high bar for the NFL season and signals the Bills’ ability to respond under pressure. The game provided a revealing look at both teams, raising important questions about how each will adapt ahead of a possible rematch in January.

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