How to watch, stream, and listen
The NFL didn’t wait long to run back the drama. Baltimore and Buffalo open the 2025 season in primetime after last January’s 27-25 playoff cliffhanger, with kickoff set for Sunday, September 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET at Highmark Stadium. Expect the usual Western New York noise, a national audience, and two quarterbacks who play with the volume knob stuck on high.
TV: The game airs live on NBC. If you’re in the Baltimore market, that’s typically WBAL-TV 11. In Buffalo, it’s WGRZ (Channel 2). NBC’s pregame show starts around 7 p.m. ET with full stadium shots and warmups before the broadcast shifts to Mike Tirico’s crew for kickoff.
Streaming: NBC’s Sunday Night Football streams on Peacock for subscribers. Most smart TVs and streaming devices support it, and sign-in is quick if you’ve used the service before. If you use a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming package that carries NBC, you can also stream through that provider’s app after logging in.
Cutting the cord? NBC is available on several live TV streaming services in many markets, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and Sling TV (Blue). Market availability matters—check your ZIP code inside the app before kickoff so you’re not troubleshooting when the ball’s on the tee.
Over-the-air option: NBC is broadcast over the air in HD. If you’re close to the transmitter, a basic indoor antenna usually does the trick. Scan for channels before Sunday night so you’re set.
Spanish-language: Select Sunday night games have Spanish audio options on NBC group networks and on Peacock. Availability can change week to week. Check your on-screen audio settings for SAP if you prefer Spanish commentary.
Mobile-only streaming note: NFL+ offers live local and primetime regular-season games on phones and tablets for U.S. subscribers. If you’re traveling or away from the TV, that can be a handy backup. NFL+ also includes live radio feeds for every game, which is useful if you’re outside team radio markets.
International viewers: Outside the U.S., NFL Game Pass on DAZN (International) carries live regular-season and playoff games in many countries. Regional rights vary, so confirm availability in your location ahead of time. In Canada, SNF is typically carried on Bell Media platforms (TSN/CTV); check local listings and connected apps.
Radio – Ravens: In Baltimore, Ravens games air on WBAL NewsRadio (1090 AM/101.5 FM) and 98 Rock (WIYY 97.9 FM). You can also listen on the WBAL and 98 Rock mobile apps and station websites, but there’s a catch—per NFL rules, digital radio streams are geofenced and generally limited to a roughly 100-mile radius of Baltimore City. If you’re outside that window, the stream may be blacked out.
Temporary programming change in Baltimore: At 6:30 p.m. ET, WBAL will cut away to carry network coverage of Orioles–Astros. WBAL rejoins the Ravens broadcast as soon as the baseball game ends. During that overlap, listeners can stay with 97.9 FM (98 Rock), the 98 Rock mobile app, or the station’s website for uninterrupted pregame and kickoff.
Radio – Bills: In Western New York, the Bills broadcast is on WGR 550 AM and affiliates across the Bills Radio Network. As with the Ravens, digital access can be location-restricted, so have a backup plan if you’re out of market.
National radio: Westwood One has the national radio call for Sunday Night Football. Many local stations carry it, and it’s available via partner apps and platforms. It’s a good option if you’re driving across state lines.
Quick checklist if you plan to stream:
- Confirm your Peacock or live TV streaming login on the device you’ll actually use on Sunday.
- Update your app and TV firmware to avoid last-minute crashes.
- Test your antenna reception if you’re going over the air.
- If you rely on radio, know the geofence rules and the WBAL/98 Rock programming split.
If you only remember one thing, it’s this: you can catch the Ravens vs Bills live stream on Peacock, with NBC on TV and radio coverage anchored by WBAL/98 Rock in Baltimore and WGR in Buffalo.
Why this rematch matters — and who can swing it
There’s real bite to this opener. The Ravens and Bills split last year’s meetings in wild fashion—Baltimore rolled in a 35-10 regular-season win, then Buffalo edged the playoff rematch by two points. No one needed extra motivation, but opening night brings it by default. The AFC hierarchy still runs through a handful of quarterbacks. Two of them are here.
Lamar Jackson starts his two-time MVP defense after another offseason of questions about how Baltimore can squeeze even more out of his legs and arm. Josh Allen arrives with the same mandate he’s carried for years: be the hammer, create explosives, and protect the ball enough to make January align with the Bills’ ambitions. This duel usually tilts on situational football—third-and-medium, red zone calls, and which QB hits a deep shot when the defense dares him.
What’s different on Baltimore’s side? The run game now has a true sledgehammer in Derrick Henry. Baltimore can mash light boxes, punish late safeties, and set up play-action crossers. If the Bills load up against Henry, Jackson’s keeper game and RPOs become a stress test for linebackers. When the Ravens spread it out, Lamar’s trusted options return: Mark Andrews up the seam, Zay Flowers in space, and a veteran target like DeAndre Hopkins on isolation routes. The chemistry between Jackson and his wideouts dictates how aggressive Buffalo can be with its safeties.
Buffalo will counter with disguised zone looks, late rotations, and selective pressure. The Bills’ defense under Sean McDermott thrives on making quarterbacks hold the ball a beat longer. That’s where Baltimore’s protection plan matters. If Lamar has time, he can live in the intermediate areas where Flowers’ stop-start quickness hurts. If not, the Ravens will lean harder on Henry and designed movement to change launch points.
On the other side, Allen’s off-script brilliance is the swing factor. Baltimore’s front—Odafe Oweh off the edge and Justin Madubuike collapsing the pocket inside—has to keep Allen in the well. If he breaks contain, chunk plays happen. Roquan Smith is the Ravens’ traffic cop in the middle, and Kyle Hamilton is the chess piece who can blitz, reroute, or rob crossing routes. Rookie corner Nate Wiggins brings speed, while veterans Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Van Noy provide stability and savvy. If Baltimore wins on early downs, Mike Macdonald’s successor can get exotic on third-and-long.
Special teams often decide games like this. Baltimore’s field position game is usually a hidden edge, and in a loud road environment, clean operation on kicks and punts matters. Look for the first team to flip the field with a return or pin one inside the 10 to grab tempo.
Health and inactives will shape red-zone packages and sub groups. Teams release inactive lists 90 minutes before kickoff, and that’s when we’ll learn how deep each side can go at corner, receiver, and along the defensive line. If you’re watching matchups, track how often Baltimore deploys heavy personnel with Henry versus three-wide looks to spread and run. On Buffalo’s side, note whether the Bills attack Baltimore’s corners outside the numbers early to test leverage and tackling.
Recent history between these franchises has been lopsided in the short term, but in opposite directions depending on the month: Baltimore dominated their 2024 regular-season meeting; Buffalo answered in the playoffs by stealing possessions and making the fourth quarter their stage. That’s the DNA of this rivalry now—fine margins, quarterback heroics, and one or two defensive calls you remember on Monday morning.
Intangibles? Weather always sits in the background at Orchard Park, even in early September. Wind can change the passing script and kick depth quickly. Check the pregame forecast about an hour out; coaches adjust fourth-down math and field goal range on the fly if gusts kick up.
Three quick swing matchups to track:
- Ravens power run vs. Bills box count: If Henry is getting 5+ a pop without extra defenders, Buffalo will have to cheat and open seams behind them.
- Allen’s deep shots vs. Baltimore’s post safety: If Hamilton is forced to play in the box, single-high windows open downfield.
- Third-and-5 to -7: That’s where Andrews earns first downs and where Allen’s legs break hearts. Whoever wins this band of downs usually wins time of possession.
The stakes are obvious. In a loaded AFC, tiebreakers start now. The winner gets an early head-to-head chip in playoff seeding, a statement on national TV, and a few days of calm. The loser gets a long week of fixes. Either way, it sets the tone for how both teams plan to chase January.