(Photo: Bleacher Report)
Intriguing Game- NFL, Week Eight
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
Ravens (4-3):
I’m over trying to break them down or defend them because all they do is disappoint me. I truly felt their last two games were winnable. In Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, their offense faltered when it mattered most, and a few self-inflicted wounds ultimately hurt them. Then, this past Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, they just imploded, plain and simple. At halftime, they were up 13–0, but they were shut out completely in the second half as the Bengals took over and never looked back. You’re beginning to see just how much Lamar Jackson’s presence is missed, and I can guarantee you they win both of those games if he’s on the field. The Ravens’ offense went silent once again and couldn’t get much of anything going. First and foremost, I’ll say that Tyler Huntley had a solid first half, but the Bengals adjusted and stifled him. One of my other takeaways was how soft the defense looked, and it pains me to say that considering they’ve always been known for having a top-five defense in the league. This group allowed five consecutive touchdowns on Sunday, and I noticed the secondary struggling in coverage. The biggest issue of them all, though, was their inability to establish Derrick Henry. If they had done so, life would have been much easier for them. The same problems that occurred under John Harbaugh are also happening under Jesse Minter. This football team changed coaches, but the underlying problems haven’t changed, which leads me to ask: Was John really the issue? He appears to be doing well in East Rutherford, but I think somebody had to be the scapegoat, and unfortunately, it was him. On Sunday, the Ravens will face a team they’re all too familiar with.
Bills (5-1):
I’d say they’re in really good shape right now, but they could always be doing better. After an overtime thriller on a Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, they battled the Las Vegas Raiders and escaped with a three-point victory before entering their bye week. In the offseason, I picked this team to return to the top of the AFC East and win the division because of one person: Josh Allen. Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but they’re still relying on him to do a little too much, and the Rams game is a perfect example. The Bills won that game by dominating on the ground, primarily through James Cook and Josh Allen, but here’s my thing: I’m perfectly fine with James having over 100 rushing yards and at least 20 carries. My quarterback, on the other hand? Not so much. If Josh doesn’t cut back on the running, he’s going to get hurt. That said, I can’t blame him for attacking defenses on the ground when they fail to account for him as a runner. At 5–1, the Bills are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs atop the AFC, and I have a feeling we’ll see these two meet up once again in January, as we have four other times in the past. The only thing that worries me is their defense. They’ve allowed 30 or more points in four of their first six games. If I had to give you a complete assessment of this Bills team, I’d say the offense is still one of the best in the league, Josh is still a game-changer, James Cook is one of the best running backs in the league, and Keon Coleman is finally looking like the player he was expected to be coming out of Florida State. If their defense can become more consistent, this could be the most complete team in the AFC. They return to the field on Sunday after their bye week.
Ravens X-Factor: Zay Flowers
Zay Flowers continues to climb the ladder year after year, and he’s earned every penny of the contract extension he signed this summer. For one, he gives Lamar an easy answer against pressure. If the Bills send extra rushers, Lamar can get the ball to Zay in space, and he’ll do the rest. Quick passes can beat the rush before it gets home. Zay can also flip the field in a single play because he has the speed and agility to turn a short pass into a big gain. On top of that, he can punish the Bills for focusing too much on Derrick Henry by attacking the space outside and underneath. He’s someone the Bills absolutely cannot afford to forget about on Sunday.
Bills X-Factor: Christian Benford
When it comes to this Bills defense, you hear about Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver when he’s healthy, and Terrel Bernard, who I believe is the most important piece of this unit. However, Christian Benford is just as important as the guys I mentioned, as he’s established himself as the Bills’ No. 1 cornerback. Christian has the ability to disrupt passes without necessarily recording an interception. I also think he can challenge the Ravens’ receivers, specifically Zay Flowers, whom I’m sure he’ll be following throughout Sunday’s game. If he wins that battle, it forces Lamar to look elsewhere or hold the ball longer. If Christian can limit explosive plays and make Baltimore work for every yard, he’s done his job.
Final Thoughts:
These two teams have given us some great memories over the years. I remember their meeting on Sunday Night Football in 2024, when the Ravens’ first play of the game was a handoff to Derrick Henry, who took it 87 yards to the end zone. After that, Baltimore continued to run the football until the Bills adjusted to stop it, but they couldn’t, and the Ravens won the game. Months later, in January, these two met in the AFC Divisional Round, and the Bills got their revenge as Mark Andrews dropped what would have been a two-point conversion to tie the game. Then, just last September, they battled in Week 1, when the Ravens blew an 18-point lead and the Bills came back to win by one. This has become one of my favorite matchups to break down! Lamar Jackson is expected to return for this one after missing the last three games with an ankle injury. In a way, these two teams are similar. Both have a tendency to get away from what works for them, and each has an elite running back whom they sometimes choose not to hand the ball to enough. The Ravens must establish Derrick Henry and control the line of scrimmage. If he gets going, that forces the Bills to defend the entire field. Next, I’d pressure Josh Allen up the middle and keep him from escaping the pocket, which I believe is one of the biggest keys to this game. Finally, Baltimore needs to finish strong in the second half, something that’s been a challenge for them. As for the Bills, they need to let James Cook eat! Allow him to control the game, and that will keep the Ravens’ pass rush honest. They also need to finish drives with touchdowns, not field goals. Buffalo needs to create separation on the scoreboard, and I’d attack Baltimore’s vulnerable pass defense as often as possible. This is going to be a showdown on Sunday afternoon!
