The Bills got the win they wanted, but this one came wrapped in a strange enough package to make it feel like two games at once. Buffalo rolled past Baltimore 36-10 to move to 6-1, yet the night lost its marquee feel almost immediately when Lamar Jackson lasted just one snap before a thumb injury knocked him out. What was supposed to be a Josh Allen-Lamar Jackson showcase turned into something far messier, and the Bills were still staring at a tight game until the middle of the third quarter.
From there, Buffalo took over. The Bills outscored the Ravens 20-3 in the second half and kept doing what they’ve done all season: put up 30-plus points and find a way to finish. Now they get an extra day to get ready for Week 9 on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings.
Josh Allen was central to everything, as usual. He threw for 289 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns, and his first passing score gave him the franchise record for passing touchdowns, moving past Jim Kelly’s 258 touchdowns including the playoffs. Allen is piling up Bills records at a rapid clip, and the next step in that conversation is obvious: the ring still has to come to Western New York.
Baltimore’s quarterback situation spiraled from there. Tyler Huntley replaced Jackson, then left with a toe injury of his own, forcing third-string quarterback Joe Fagnano into the game. That sequence left the Ravens’ offense scrambling all night and helped explain why Buffalo’s defense, which has been atrocious this year, was able to look so sharp.
The numbers tell the story. Baltimore managed only 144 total yards, 10 first downs, and three turnovers. With the Ravens’ offense in constant survival mode, the Bills had every reason to dominate, and they did.
Derrick Henry was held in check too. He found the end zone once, but that was about the extent of his impact.
Henry finished with 11 carries for 53 yards, and his longest run went for just 12 yards. Buffalo’s run defense has been solid this season, and it showed up in a big way against one of the league’s most punishing backs.
There were also a couple of individual performances that stood out on the Buffalo side. DJ Moore returned after missing the last two games and made his presence felt right away, catching four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
His biggest play was a 49-yard grab over Marlon Humphrey that helped set up Buffalo in scoring position to go up 23-10. When Moore is on the field, the offense looks more dangerous, and his connection with Allen was one of the cleaner things the Bills showed all night.
Tyler Bass kept his own strong run going as well. He had not tried a field goal from 50 yards or more coming into the game, then drilled three field goals against Baltimore, including two from 50-plus.
Bass finished with 12 points, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 3-for-3 on PATs. He also set a new record for the most consecutive field goals made, and his streak of six straight field goals from 50-plus yards is tied for the longest in Bills history.
The win also extended Buffalo’s streak to 12 consecutive victories coming out of the bye week. Against an AFC opponent, the Bills picked up a tiebreaker and pushed the Ravens further down in the AFC North.
In Other News...
Bills Reaction To Josh Allen Non-Call Says Plenty About Their Concern
Josh Allen took a dangerous hit from Baltimore linebacker Roquan Smith during the game, and the missed call afterward left Buffalo with more than just a gripe about officiating. The play drew immediate attention because it involved Allen in a vulnerable spot, and Bills head coach Joe Brady made clear after the game that he was surprised the officials did not flag it.
Brady also hinted at a larger ripple effect, saying the way the sequence was handled could have influenced how the Bills approached the rest of the game. The league is expected to fine Smith for the infraction, which would make it a repeat offense and only add to Buffalos frustration over a moment that went unpunished in real time. [Read more 🡒]
TeCory Couch Gave Bills Fans A Reason To Trust This Defense
The Bills back seven had been under a microscope heading into Week 8, and TeCory Couch gave the group a steadier feel against the Ravens. The nickel corner, who had only recently been elevated from the practice squad, fit into the defense with a calm, disciplined approach that showed up in zone coverage and in the way he helped keep the secondary organized against Baltimore.
Couch also brought a physical edge when Buffalo needed it, holding up in man coverage and making the kind of plays that can change how a defense is viewed from one week to the next. For a unit that has been searching for more cohesion, his performance offered a glimpse of what this group can look like when the communication is clean and the coverage is tight. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Left The Ravens With A Quarterback Problem Getting Worse
Baltimore left its game against the Bills with its quarterback depth suddenly stretched thin, and the ripple effects are still being felt as the week moves on. The Ravens were already forced to navigate injuries to Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley during the matchup, turning what had been a difficult afternoon into a much bigger roster problem for the days ahead.
The next layer of uncertainty comes with rookie Joe Fagnano, who had been expected to step into the starting role in the upcoming game but is now dealing with an ankle issue of his own. Even so, he is likely to play, and Baltimore added Austin Reed to the practice squad as another insurance policy while the situation sorts itself out. [Read more 🡒]