ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium, matching up two AFC heavyweights heading in contrasting directions entering Week 8 of the NFL season.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the contest broadcasting regionally on CBS featuring announcers Ian Eagle and Ross Tucker, according to The Sporting News. Fans can also view the game through streaming options including Paramount+, DIRECTV, and fubo.
Lamar Jackson returns to spark struggling Ravens
The matchup features the anticipated return of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who missed Baltimore’s previous three contests because of a high ankle sprain. Baltimore went through a two-game losing skid in divisional play during Jackson’s absence, dropping its record to 4-3 on the year, The Big Lead reported.
Jackson practiced in full three times leading up to the game and expressed optimism about taking the field again. “I’m excited. I’m always excited when I’m able to be back on the field with my guys. Put us in the win column, help us get another dub,” Jackson said Friday, according to Sports Illustrated. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter indicated confidence in the quarterback’s mobility, saying, “I think he’ll look like Lamar Jackson,” though Jackson noted he continues to experience some discomfort when planting his foot, The Big Lead reported.
Baltimore also relies heavily on veteran running back Derrick Henry, who has accumulated 368 rushing yards across 42 carries in his last two regular-season meetings against the Bills, Sports Illustrated reported.
Bills ride high-powered offense after bye
Buffalo enters Sunday atop the AFC East with a 5-1 record following its Week 7 bye. The Bills pace the NFL in scoring offense with an average of 32.8 points per contest, according to The Big Lead. Quarterback Josh Allen has positioned himself as an early front-runner for league Most Valuable Player honors, tallying eight rushing touchdowns while running back James Cook averages 5.4 yards per attempt.
The Bills are also chasing history coming off their scheduled rest. Buffalo has won 11 consecutive games immediately following a bye week, putting the franchise within two victories of the NFL record of 13 straight set by the Philadelphia Eagles between 1999 and 2011, Sports Illustrated reported.
Bills head coach Joe Brady voiced respect for the visiting offense, emphasizing that his team must prepare for “the best version of Lamar Jackson.” Speaking about the dual threat of Jackson and Henry, Brady said, “They’re two dimensional in everything that can do. It’s gonna be a huge task for our defense, but it’s a great opportunity for us as well,” according to Sports Illustrated.
Roster health and what to watch next
Both teams carry key injury considerations into Sunday’s game. For Buffalo, defensive tackle Ed Oliver is expected to return to action after missing time since Week 4, Sports Illustrated reported. However, the secondary will be depleted: safety CJ Gardner-Johnson is serving a suspension, and slot cornerback Dee Alford is not expected to play due to an ankle injury. On offense, tight end Dalton Kincaid is questionable with a rib issue, while wide receiver DJ Moore and right tackle Spencer Brown are also listed as questionable, according to reporting from Sports Illustrated and The Big Lead.
All eight members of Sports Illustrated’s expert prediction panel picked Buffalo to win outright, while sportsbooks listed the Bills as three-point home favorites. Whether Jackson can immediately overcome lingering foot pain to exploit Buffalo’s depleted defensive backfield, or if Buffalo’s league-leading offense maintains its momentum off the bye, will be decided when the teams kick off in Orchard Park.
