The Bills and Ravens meet Sunday at Highmark Stadium with an early-season AFC win hanging in the balance, and this one feels built around the little battles that happen long before the final whistle. Buffalo comes in at 5-1 under Joe Brady, while Baltimore arrives at 4-3 with Jesse Minter’s group looking to make a statement of its own.
For Buffalo, the biggest edge may come from the trenches. Deone Walker has been a difference-maker in the middle of the Bills’ defensive line, and Andrew Vorhees has had a tough time staying healthy because of foot injuries. The gap shows up in the numbers, too: Walker owns an 80.4 Pro Football Focus grade, which ranks fifth among NFL defensive tackles, while Vorhees sits at 47.2.
Another clash worth watching is Terrel Bernard against Derrick Henry. Yes, plenty of attention will naturally land on Lamar Jackson, who is set to start, but Henry has repeatedly been a problem for Buffalo.
In two regular-season games against the Bills, he has piled up 368 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Buffalo’s defense hasn’t exactly given opponents much reason for concern this season, either.
Out wide, Keon Coleman and Nate Wiggins could shape a key part of the night. The expected return of DJ Moore from a shoulder issue means Wiggins will likely shadow Coleman, while Marlon Humphrey handles Moore.
Coleman has flashed in spurts before the Bills’ bye week, and the pressure is on him to answer a tough individual matchup. Wiggins has a 59.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade so far this season, which ranks him 59th among receivers in football.
In Other News...
James Cook Faces A Huge Bills Test Against Baltimore
Buffalos ground game has been one of the biggest reasons the offense has stayed on schedule, with James Cook carrying the load and giving the Bills a steady threat between the tackles and on the edges. He has piled up 627 rushing yards and six touchdowns, production that has helped make the run game a real part of Buffalos identity rather than just a changeup.
The next test is a serious one, though, because Baltimore brings a top-10 run defense into the matchup and will force the Bills to prove their rushing attack can travel against a sturdier front. For Buffalo, that puts extra weight on Cooks role, especially with offensive coordinator Joe Brady already zeroing in on ball security as a point of emphasis. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Could Be Headed For A Maxx Crosby Deadline Debate
The trade deadline chatter around Maxx Crosby is starting to feel like the kind of conversation that could follow the Bills right up to Nov. 10. Buffalo has been mentioned alongside the Lions and Cowboys as a possible landing spot for the Raiders edge rusher, a reminder that teams looking to sharpen their defenses are keeping a close eye on the market for difference-makers, especially with the price of star defenders climbing into the multiple first-round-pick range.
For the Bills, the appeal is obvious even without the full mechanics of a deal coming into view. Crosby would fit the profile of a player who can change the tone of a defense in a hurry, and Buffalo is the sort of contender that has to at least weigh whether a swing of that size is worth it. The bigger question is whether the market gets even more complicated from here, because once a player of Crosbys stature starts drawing this much attention, the deadline can turn into a bidding war fast. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Head Into Ravens Game With Key Roles Still In Doubt
The Bills are heading into their matchup with the Ravens with a handful of important roles still unsettled after the final practice of the week. Joe Brady confirmed six players are listed as questionable, including DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid, while the team has not officially ruled anyone out as it prepares for one of its biggest tests of the early season.
Greg Gaines was added to the injury report late after tweaking his lower body during Friday practice, adding another layer of uncertainty to Buffalos depth chart. On the back end, Damar Hamlin is set to start at safety with C.J. Gardner-Johnson serving a suspension, giving the Bills at least one clear answer as they sort through the rest of the roster before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]