The Bills come out of their bye and right back into the kind of game that can tell you plenty about where a season is headed. Buffalo hosts the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at Highmark Stadium, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
Baltimore arrives in western New York at 4-3, but the record only tells part of the story. The Ravens are in last place in the AFC North and have dropped two straight, so they’re walking into Week 8 with some urgency. Buffalo, on the other hand, has had a week to reset before getting back to work.
One of the biggest questions is how the Bills handle life after the bye for the first time with head coach Joe Brady. That’s uncharted territory for this group in 2026, even if the standard under former head coach Sean McDermott was as steady as it gets: 9-0 after the bye. Buffalo will be hoping Brady can keep that kind of momentum going, though that’s easier said than done.
There’s also the Lamar Jackson factor. The Ravens quarterback has been working through an ankle injury, but after a full practice week, it looks like he’s set to play.
Even then, it’s fair to wonder how close to full strength he really is. Baltimore has been cautious with Jackson, and he’s appeared in only four games this season.
Buffalo’s secondary situation also deserves a close look. Damar Hamlin is expected to play and step into the role left open by CJ Gardner-Johnson, who was suspended by the NFL one game before the bye. Hamlin has been in this kind of spotlight before, and he enters the matchup with 18 tackles in 2026.
Of course, Jackson isn’t the only Raven who has given Buffalo trouble. Derrick Henry has been a headache for the Bills over the years, and his numbers against them back that up.
He has 11 touchdowns in seven career games against Buffalo, and since joining Baltimore he’s put up four touchdowns and 368 rushing yards in just two games against the Bills. That’s the kind of profile that can force a defense into a long afternoon.
And if this one turns into another track meet, nobody should be shocked. These teams have produced plenty of big moments over the years, in both the regular season and the playoffs, and the last time they met - Week 1 of last year - turned into a wild 41-40 Bills win.
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 🡒]