Bills vs Ravens Week 4: Can the Bills’ Banged Up Defense Stop Ravens QB Jackson?

• Bills suffered in the FL heat last week, dropping to 2-1 after losing to the Dolphins
• Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson leads the NFL with 10 TD passes
• Watch Bills vs Ravens live on Sunday, October, 2 2022, at 1:00 PM ET on CBS

Bills vs Ravens Pick

Tough to be the Ravens in Week 4 what with the Bills no doubt furious they lost the week prior, though Buffalo’s injuries could keep this possible playoff preview close.

Bills -3.0 (-110)

What a thrilling Week 4 AFC cross-divisional matchup this should be with the Buffalo Bills traveling south to take on the Baltimore Ravens, two QBs at the top of their game in what could be a playoff preview, though injuries on both teams could affect the outcome of this game.

The Buffalo Bills suffered in the Florida heat last week, dropping to 2-1 after losing to the underdog Miami Dolphins and QB Josh Allen and his OC Ken Dorsey are no doubt done being angry about it but with WR Stefon Diggs (lower body) questionable other targets must step up.

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson leads the NFL with 10 TD passes as well as with his 119.0 passer rating, a man hellbent on having a big-contract-worthy year, but his 4th ranked offense that averages 375 yards and 28 points a game needs help from the last place defense.

If you’re looking for more Week 4 predictions, make sure you check out our NFL weekly picks!

Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens Predictions

Can the Bills’ Banged Up Defense Stop Ravens QB Jackson?

To beat the Ravens, the Buffalo Bills will have to figure out how to neutralize QB Lamar Jackson who is as dangerous on the run as he is in the pocket, right now leading the league with 10 TD passes while also posting back-to-back 100+ rushing yard games, a dangerous dual threat.

Trouble is, much of the Bills secondary is either listed as questionable – CB Dane Jackson (neck), S Jordan Poyer (foot) – or out of the lineup – CB Christian Benford (hand), S Micah Hyde (neck), CB Tre’Davious White (knee-ACL) – so DC Leslie Frasier must count on depth.

Regardless of injury, Buffalo has the best defense in the league right now holding opponents to just 156 passing yards, 58 rushing yards, and 12.7 points per game, a group that must set the edge against Jackson and not let him get outside where he makes a living eluding tackles.

Can the Ravens Work Their Rush Attack Back into the Mix?

In the final 2021 preseason game against Washington, Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins suffered a torn ACL and was placed on injured reserve shortly thereafter, missing the entire season and the first two games in 2022 including an unexpected Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

A healthy Dobbins rejoined the Ravens offensive lineup in Week 3 against the New England Patriots and saw limited action as he carried the ball just 7 times for 23 yards and caught both passes he was targeted with for 17 yards, a mere warmup for this proven backfield dual threat.

Expect Ravens OC Greg Roman to work Dobbins back into the game plan gradually as his knee gets back to game shape and proves to be reliable, and that’s good news since he balled out his rookie season (152 touches, 925 total yards, 9 TDs) and the Ravens could use him now.

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Bills Key Player: (QB) Josh Allen

Bills QB Josh Allen’s frustration was obvious as he banged his helmet on the ground at the end of his team’s Week 3 loss to the Dolphins, a loss made more difficult given the injuries to his offensive line that allowed him to get sacked four times in that game, 7 sacks all season.

Right now Allen leads the league in pass completions (94) and passing yards (1,014) and he has gained more passing yards per game (338.0) than any other QB, the 26-year-old Pro Bowl playmaker at the height of his career with 112 total TD passes along with 32 rushing TDs.

Last week, Allen attempted 63 passes and completed 42 of them for 400 yards and two TDs with no picks, so expect him to give his arm a break and let RBs Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, and rookie James Cook carry the ball in this one against a Ravens’ 13th ranked rush defense.

Ravens Key Player: (TE) Mark Andrews

Keep your eyes on Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s favorite target, TE Mark Andrews, a fifth-year player who is emerging as one of the top pass-catching tight ends in the league, right now with 22 catches off 31 targets for 245 yards and 3 TDS in the first three games of the season.

Andrews has enough size – 6’ 5” and 247 lbs. – to be an effective blocker on the offensive line when needed but it is his keen ability to release, get open, and catch the ball that has HC John Harbaugh’s attention as he becomes one of the critical elements of the offensive game plan.

On Sunday, the banged-up Bills secondary will have trouble matching up with Andrews, most likely giving that job to SS Damar Hamlin since both CBs are only rookies, Andrews’ production a likely key factor in this exciting AFC showdown that happens in front of his hometown crowd.

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