Sportsnaut
Week 1 of the NFL season isn’t over, but we’ve already seen several memorable matchups, including the Buffalo Bills‘ 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry were at their best, and we even saw a controversial moment involving a Bills fan. Yet, Josh Allen and the Bills were even better, saving their very best for last.
After it all, who were the biggest winners and losers from the Bills’ big win in the 2024 AFC Divisional Round Playoff rematch? Unlike the game, where there is only one winner, this game featured several other victors and, well, losers.
Related: 20 Biggest NFL Week 1 Winners and Losers, Including Aaron Rodgers and the Dolphins
The Ravens only invested a one-year, $5 million contract into a 33-year-old DeAndre Hopkins this offseason. Still, through two quarters, that gamble looked like a waste. Sometimes, all you need is one play to make a lasting impression, and Hopkins’ moment came in the third quarter.
Jackson tossed a perfectly placed ball just ahead of the former All-Pro receiver, allowing Hopkins to snatch it just in time using only his right hand. The coverage was good, but the 29-yard touchdown catch was even better, and there was no defense for Hopkins’ hand. Hopkins later hauled in a seven-yard reception on third-and-long with just 90 seconds remaining. But it wasn’t enough to convert a first down, giving the ball back to Buffalo for a game-winning drive.
Related: NFL Power Rankings 2025: Evaluations of All 32 Teams After Week 1
Why would you ever think you can make contact with an athlete in the middle of a game? One upset Bills fan apparently felt like it would be okay, hitting Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in the head (though he was wearing a helmet).
Related: Lamar Jackson Shoves Buffalo Bills Fan Back Into Seat After Head Strike
Naturally, Jackson didn’t take to the head contact in a friendly way. He wasted no time in pushing the fan back into the seat he sprang up from. In the highest-scoring NFL game of Week 1, the Bills fan incident still stuck out. Our guess is he won’t be allowed back into Highmark Stadium again.
The Ravens may have some aging players, but Derrick Henry isn’t slowing down any time soon. Just like his rushing style, it’s almost like Henry continues to build momentum as his career goes on. That theme continued against the Bills on Sunday night, rushing for 166 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 attempts.
Yet, Henry’s night wasn’t perfect. He also had a ball poked out by Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver with just 186 seconds remaining. It gave the Bills one final chance, one they’d turn into six points, but no one can act like Henry wasn’t a huge reason for Baltimore’s early success.
Winner: Keon Coleman’s...
