The Buffalo Bills come out of their bye week tied for first in the AFC, and they get a Baltimore Ravens team that may have Lamar Jackson back after a three-game absence. That makes this Week 8 matchup feel like the kind of heavyweight AFC game that rarely needs much selling.
The Bills also have a pretty strong recent habit working in their favor. They haven’t lost a game coming off the bye week since 2014, and in those 11 games they’ve outscored opponents 309-179. Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott was 8-0 off the bye, and his influence is still all over this roster.
That matters here because Buffalo is set up to control the back half of the game. Baltimore’s split numbers are hard to ignore: the Ravens are +65 in first halves this season, but they’re -70 in second halves, the biggest swing in the NFL.
They’re also one of two teams averaging less than a touchdown in the second half in 2026. If this one stays tight early, the numbers point toward Buffalo taking over late.
Derrick Henry is another major piece of the matchup, but this doesn’t project as one of those old-school Henry games where he just keeps bludgeoning a defense into submission. He’s still 6th in rushing yards this season, but his efficiency has dipped to 3.9 yards per carry, which ranks 26th in rushing yards per attempt. That’s the least efficient season of his career by far.
Henry can still punish tacklers, and he’ll still pop a run here and there. But the explosive stuff has been harder to find.
He has only 3 runs of 20-plus yards in 2026, tied with three quarterbacks, and Buffalo’s run defense has been much better this year. If Henry doesn’t get loose, Baltimore’s path gets a lot narrower.
The Ravens also have to account for Lamar Jackson’s return, and even that comes with some uncertainty after he missed the last three games with an ankle injury. Baltimore still has dangerous playmakers and a defense that can cause problems, but the matchup leans Buffalo.
Prediction: Bills win 27-20.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Have A Real Dalton Kincaid Concern Entering Week 8
Dalton Kincaids Week 8 status is the kind of tight end update Bills fans have learned to watch closely, especially after he was listed as questionable with a chest injury. He managed three limited practices and, even with the designation hanging over him, there is at least some optimism around his availability as Buffalo heads into the weekend.
The concern is more about how the week unfolded than the final label itself. Kincaid came out of the bye in a non-contact jersey, a detail that naturally raised eyebrows, and the Bills are still waiting to see how his body responds as game day approaches. Around the league, other tight ends are dealing with their own late-week injury uncertainty, but for Buffalo the focus remains on whether Kincaid can be ready to go when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Olivers Return Could Change Everything For Buffalos Defense
Ed Olivers season has already become one of those quiet but meaningful storylines that can shape a defense far beyond the box score. The Bills have missed him for multiple games because of injuries, and he has been on the field for only three games so far, but the difference in how Buffalo plays with him out there has been hard to ignore. When Oliver is active, the front looks more disruptive, the run fits are cleaner and the whole unit seems to settle into a better rhythm.
His absence has also been felt around him, with Greg Rousseau and Deone Walker both seeing their own production dip during the stretch he has missed. For a defense built on pressure and interior disruption, getting Oliver back would not just be about adding one player to the lineup, it could help restore the edge and energy that have been missing. The bigger question now is whether Buffalo can get that version of the defense back in time to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Enter Ravens Showdown With One Edge Fans Might Be Overlooking
As Buffalo prepares for a marquee matchup with Baltimore, one of its quietest advantages has become impossible to ignore. The Bills special teams unit has surged to the top of Pro Football Focus NFL rankings, a reflection of the steady work being done by kicker Tyler Bass and rookie punter Tommy Doman, who has quickly settled into a meaningful role flipping field position. Head coach Joe Brady has been quick to point out how much that phase of the game matters to Buffalos broader success.
It is the kind of edge that can get lost in the buildup to a heavyweight showdown, but it could matter just as much as the more obvious matchup points on Sunday. Buffalos special teams have been consistently sharp, and with Baltimore on deck, the Bills will be leaning on every hidden yard they can find while fans also sort through the broadcast and streaming details for the game. [Read more 🡒]