How to watch, start time, and legal free options
Two MVP-caliber quarterbacks, under the lights, to kick off Week 1 in Buffalo. The Ravens vs Bills game airs nationwide on NBC as Sunday Night Football from Highmark Stadium on September 8, 2025. Kickoff is 8:20 p.m. ET, with pregame coverage rolling from early evening.
TV: If you have broadcast access, tune in to your local NBC station. This is the simplest way to watch in HD and, with a digital over-the-air antenna, it can be free if you’re in range of your local NBC affiliate.
Streaming: Peacock will carry the full NBC broadcast live. You’ll need an active Peacock subscription to stream the game on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and browsers. Some live TV streaming services that include NBC (like major vMVPDs) may run introductory offers from time to time, but deals change by market and date—check your plan before kickoff.
Free ways to follow legally: If you can’t get the video feed, there are legitimate alternatives. Many local radio affiliates in the Ravens and Bills networks carry live game audio over the air, and national radio partners typically broadcast Sunday night games on terrestrial stations. On YouTube and other platforms, reputable creators host live watch-alongs with play-by-play, analysis, and real-time scoreboards. They don’t show the game footage, but they’re useful if you’re tracking drives and key moments in real time.
What not to do: Be wary of sites promising “free HD streams” of the broadcast. Those are usually unauthorized and risky. Stick to NBC, Peacock, radio, or verified creator watch-alongs.
Weather: Forecasts call for cool, clean football weather in Orchard Park—around 57°F at kickoff with light winds. That’s a green light for downfield passing and a fast-paced ground game.
What this matchup means—and what to watch
This opener is a tone-setter for both contenders. Baltimore rolls in with Lamar Jackson orchestrating Todd Monken’s offense, now featuring power back Derrick Henry to anchor the run game. The pairing changes the math for defenses: sell out to keep Jackson in the pocket, and Henry punishes light boxes; stack the line, and Jackson gets clean play-action windows to tight end Mark Andrews and a receiver trio that includes Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and veteran DeAndre Hopkins.
Buffalo answers with Josh Allen—still one of the sport’s toughest covers. The Bills finished last season second in points scored, and Allen’s dual-threat stress forces defenses into uncomfortable choices. Quarterback run looks, deep shots off scramble drills, and quick game rhythm throws can all show up on the same drive. If Allen avoids negative plays early, the Bills’ tempo at home can snowball.
Key chess match: Baltimore’s defensive disguise against Allen’s aggressiveness. Coordinator pressures from the Ravens often start with simulated blitz looks and late safety rotations. Edge rusher Odafe Oweh’s speed and interior disruption from Madubuike can force hurried decisions. Behind them, Roquan Smith cleans up in the middle, while a deep secondary—Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, rookie corner Nate Wiggins, and rookie safety Malaki Starks—gives Baltimore the flexibility to bracket or bait.
On the flip side, Buffalo’s front has to tackle impeccably. Derrick Henry’s yards-after-contact swings possessions, and missed tackles turn four-yard plunges into 20-yard sledgehammers. Linebacker Terrel Bernard’s range and Ed Oliver’s burst through the A-gaps are central to keeping Baltimore behind the chains. Expect Buffalo to crash edges and set hard contain to funnel Jackson inside, then rally.
Situational football may decide it. Third-and-medium is where Monken’s play-action and option looks shine—watch for Andrews on crossers and option keepers with Henry as the decoy. For Buffalo, Allen’s legs on third down are the backbreaker; QB draws and scrambles keep drives alive and sap a defense’s gas tank.
Special teams and field position matter more than usual in an opener. Early-season timing can be choppy, so hidden yards—punt coverage, return decisions, and short fields off kickoffs—often swing a one-score game. With cool air and little wind, both kickers should have their full range.
Storylines to track:
- Ray Lewis as Baltimore’s honorary captain adds a bit of juice on the visitors’ sideline. Don’t be surprised if the Ravens defense opens with extra edge.
- How quickly Henry and the line mesh on wide zone and duo concepts. If the run game hits early, Baltimore’s RPO menu expands fast.
- Allen’s early rhythm with his receivers against Baltimore’s press looks. If the Bills win on first down, the shot plays off max protect will follow.
- Buffalo’s home-field boost. Communication is cleaner on defense, and Allen tends to play freer at Highmark.
Coaching corner: John Harbaugh vs. Sean McDermott is a heavyweight pairing. Expect both to spend the first quarter probing—motioning to identify coverage, testing run fits, and hunting for protection tells. The first real adjustment (a new front, a boundary pressure, an unexpected pace change) could produce the game’s first big swing.
Bottom line: It’s a blue-chip quarterback duel with playoff seeding vibes, in weather that favors clean execution. If you’ve got NBC or Peacock, you’re set. If not, grab an antenna, fire up a verified radio broadcast, or follow a trusted watch-along and scoreboard. However you track it, expect a fast start, a heavy dose of Henry, and at least one Allen scramble that lights up the stadium.