by TYLER HATHAWAY
The Buffalo Bills are returning from their bye week and looking to continue their season with a win against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have dropped their past two games while the Bills are trying to win their third straight. Here’s the breakdown:
BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-3/AFC North)
vs.
BUFFALO BILLS (5-1/AFC East)
Sunday, Highmark Stadium, 1:00 pm
Storyline #1: Can Buffalo carry momentum through the bye week?
The Buffalo Bills come out of their bye week sitting on a 5-1 record, but it hasn’t been a smooth start to the season.
The defense for the most part has been bad. Outside of great defensive line play, the linebackers and secondary have been inconsistent. Turnovers have given the Bills offense issues at points, with a pick costing them the Patriots game and turnovers almost being the culprit against the Chargers and Rams.
But it’s better to have those issues when you’re winning rather then losing. The Bills and head coach Joe Brady know that despite the record there are plenty of areas to get better.
“If we just sit there and say, ‘well, we’re 5-1’ then we’re going to fool ourselves into thinking that all is right in the world,” Brady said to reporters this week.
The Bills have still been stacking wins. Their 33-30 victory over the Raiders in Week 6 was arguably their cleanest game in a month. Hopefully the bye week provided them time to address their core issues, as they don’t get a tune-up game coming out of the break.
The schedule after the bye consists of the Ravens this week, and then a road-tilt against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
Storyline #2: Lamar Jackson’s ankle
After aiding the Ravens to a 3-1 start, superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle injury and missed the past three games. In those games, Baltimore is 1-2, and its only win came in overtime.
His injury status has been a bit of a mystery. Reports initially indicated he would be back last week, but then didn’t practice and missed the game.
The good news for the Ravens is Jackson was listed as a full participant in practice Wednesday and seems to be trending towards suiting up for Sunday.
Storyline #3: Trade deadline looms
The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday, and the Bills can (and probably should) be buyers.
The biggest area to improve is obviously the secondary, The Bills defense has been one of the worst against the pass in 2026, allowing the second most passing yards per game. They also rank third-worst in points allowed.
So while there’s a definite need to upgrade the secondary, it’s whether or not general manager Brandon Beane can make it happen.
The issues? The secondary market has been made thinner after Joey Porter Jr. got moved earlier in the season and Chargers star Derwin James recently suffered an injury, and Beane has been hesitant in the past in making moves for top targets at the deadline.
Key to the game #1: Get off to a good start
The Ravens have been the NFL’s best team in the first half this year. They’ve had a point differential of +65 in the first half, and have led at halftime in six games this year.
But they’ve been the worst team in the second half as well. So if the Ravens get off to a lead, the Bills shouldn’t panic. But it would be for the best if Buffalo opened the game hot, and put a team that doubts themselves in the late moments on their backfoot immediately.
Key to the game #2: Josh Allen continues to play clean
In his last eight quarters of football, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has only turned the ball over once, a deep interception before halftime off the Rams game. He’s been incredibly clean, and since that interception has completed 69% of his passes, tallied 506 total yards, and has scored four touchdowns.
If he keeps that streak going, Buffalo is extremely difficult to beat. The more the Bills finish drives, and don’t give Baltimore the ball in plus territory, the better their odds will be Sunday.
X-Factor: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Without a doubt, the biggest question mark entering Sunday is not just whether or not the two-time MVP Jackson can play, but how much of an impact he can make.
The Ravens offense has been flat without him. In their last two losses they are averaging a measly 12 points per game. They haven’t scored a single point in the second half of either of their past two games.
Obviously having Lamar Jackson will be a big boost for Baltimore Sunday and completely change how the game will go. But on the other end of the coin, how effective will he be? Is he going to be 100%?
With all these questions, there is no player that will have more impact on the game Sunday than Jackson. Whether or not he plays, and how effective he is, will make the biggest difference.
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