The idea of bulletin board material is a concept as old as sports itself. While preparing for a match, teams will take every slight against them as added motivation to perform even better. Sometimes, those insults can be perceived as such without being directly disrespectful. However, the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills had no shortage of legitimate ammunition.
A 27-25 victory for the Bills put an end to the matter and gave them the all-important last laugh. But both head coaches had to chime in on a comment from a Baltimore media member who took shots at Buffalo with prior comments.
Buffalo Bills Victorious in the ‘City of Losers’
Ravens head John Harbaugh is one of the longest-tenured and best coaches in the NFL. With a Super Bowl to his name, Harbaugh has found success at the absolute highest level imaginable. As a result, his words carry weight and he understands his responsibility as a locker room leader. He wasn’t looking to add fuel to Buffalo’s fire during the week.
Baltimore media figure Jerry Coleman became infamous to the entire Bills fanbase thanks to his comments from a few years ago. The reporter said, “The miserable city of Buffalo, New York. They’re a city of losers. They’ve won nothing. They’re a city of losers,” giving Bills Mafia a reason to hate the Ravens.
Talking to coach Harbaugh in the week leading up to their Divisional Round matchup, Coleman mentioned his earlier comments. However, rather than directly respond, Harbaugh changed the subject. “I think we should move on.”
This answer took a MUCH different turn when asking about #Ravens visiting #Bills #NFL #Ravensflock pic.twitter.com/gjyzMePLk0
— Jerry Coleman (@sportswcoleman) January 13, 2025
When Coleman tried to blame the coach for bringing it up, Harbaugh acquiesced. “I know and I apologize to the world for going down that road.”
However, the comment from the reporter became a war cry for the entire city. Before the Divisional Round contest began, the folks over at Highmark Stadium played the entire comment in full before adding, “City of losers, huh? Are you losers ready to give them a good ole Buffalo welcome?”
City of losers, huh? #Bills #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/weunRZLQ7W
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) January 19, 2025
A Buffalo welcome was exactly what Baltimore got. After a terrific season that saw Lamar Jackson potentially win his third MVP, Derrick Henry run for over 1,800 yards, and the team finish as the second-best offense and eighth-best defense in the league — according to PFN’s Offense+ and Defense+ metrics, respectively — the Ravens were soundly defeated thanks to costly mistakes.
It was clear that the comment had struck a nerve with the city and its rabid fanbase. But, it also permeated the Bills locker room, as evidenced by head coach Sean McDermott’s passionate response.
“Yeah, now it’s a city of winners,” he said. “It really is the city of winners. These people and this town are winners and I’ve been here just eight years but I consider this my hometown. This place is different, the people here are different. They deserve more than whoever said that about ’em.”
Sean McDermott spittin bars after being asked about Buffalo being a “city of losers”
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) January 20, 2025
The “city of winners” is now sending its team to Arrowhead to face their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs. As the latest chapter in their historic rivalry writes itself, Buffalo hopes to make good on its new identity and finally find a Super Bowl victory.