Lamar Jackson’s status is shaping up to be the biggest swing factor for Sunday’s AFC showdown between the Ravens and Bills, and the latest betting line points toward him being back under center.
Jackson missed his third straight game in Week 7, but he did get back on the practice field in a limited role before Baltimore’s loss to Cincinnati. The Ravens are now 4-3 and sitting in last place in the AFC North after Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincy all won on Sunday, which only sharpens the focus on Week 8 against Buffalo.
At DraftKings, Baltimore opened as a 3.5-point underdog on the road against Josh Allen and the 5-1 Bills. That number suggests the market expects Jackson to play; if he were out and Tyler Huntley were starting again, Buffalo would likely be laying around a touchdown or more.
Huntley has held his own in Jackson’s absence, but the results haven’t been there. The Ravens are 1-2 in Huntley’s three starts this season, and history hasn’t exactly been kind when Jackson is sidelined either. Baltimore has won only seven of the 20 games Jackson has missed in his career, and the losses to Cleveland and Cincinnati could loom large in the division race.
Jackson has been dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and there was already some optimism before Week 7. He reportedly handled most of the reps in practice before the Cincinnati game, but ultimately decided he couldn’t go. He was listed as questionable, then ruled out Saturday.
According to CBS’ Tracy Wolfson, Jackson is "confident" that he'll be back in action in Week 8, which would be a major lift for Baltimore.
"Def came as a shock to the Ravens that Lamar couldn’t go, but Minter told me while he took majority of reps in practice, they went back and looked he was limited in what he could do. Lamar said if he can’t run, plant or have burst then it’s selfish to be out there. I was told…"
In four games this season, Jackson has completed 70.8 percent of his passes for 967 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He has also run 19 times for 144 yards and a score. His ankle injury first surfaced in Week 4 against Tennessee, when he exited at halftime and hasn’t played since.
Buffalo is coming off a bye and has a clear edge in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. If Jackson is able to get on the practice field Wednesday, the spread should stay around 3.5 points. If he misses that session, Huntley starting again becomes a real possibility, and the line would almost certainly move further toward the Bills.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Ravens Maxx Crosby Pursuit Still Hangs On One Major Sticking Point
Trade chatter around Maxx Crosby has cooled as the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline approaches, and the biggest reason appears to be the same one that has shadowed talks for weeks: price. The Las Vegas Raiders are still believed to be asking a steep return for their star pass-rusher, and the market has not moved enough to meet it, even with plenty of interest expected from teams looking for edge help.
For Baltimore, the situation has a familiar feel after a previous deal for Crosby never got across the finish line. The sides had been aligned once before, but the hesitation around his health helped stop it then, and the present standoff is keeping him in Las Vegas for now. At this point, the expectation around the league is that the Raiders will hold onto Crosby through the season unless the asking price changes in a major way. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Tough Deadline Call On An Underperforming Veteran
Baltimores 4-3 start has the Ravens sitting in a familiar but uncomfortable spot in the AFC North, good enough to stay in the hunt but not so steady that the trade deadline can be ignored. With the deadline closing in, the front office is weighing whether to stand pat or reshuffle pieces around a roster that has not quite found the right blend of production and fit, especially among a few veterans whose roles have become harder to justify.
Mark Andrews is among the names being kicked around, and the conversation around him speaks to how seriously Baltimore is taking this stretch run. Justice Hill is in the mix too, with his recent impact not matching the teams needs, while the depth chart at receiver and in the backfield leaves the Ravens with some room to consider changes. The next move will say plenty about how aggressively Baltimore plans to chase answers before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Lamar Jacksons Ankle Suddenly Changes Everything For Ravens Vs Bills
Lamar Jacksons return is suddenly the biggest development hanging over Baltimores Week 8 trip to Buffalo. The Ravens quarterback has been out since Week 4 with an ankle injury, but he has been back on the practice field in limited fashion and now appears on track to suit up against the Bills after missing nearly a month.
The timing matters because Baltimore has spent the week navigating uncertainty at the most important position in football, and the market has noticed. Jackson still has not logged a full practice since the injury, so there is enough lingering caution to keep this from feeling entirely settled, but the direction of the matchup has clearly changed with his status trending the right way. [Read more 🡒]