The Baltimore Ravens will travel to Buffalo on Sunday as they get set to take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens come into Sunday on a two game skid as they fell to AFC north division rivals the Cincinnatti Bengals last Sunday by a final of 35-13. The lose pushed the Ravens to 4-3 on the year and 0-2 within the AFC north. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started his third straight game as starter Lamar Jackson continued to deal with a sprained ankle. As for the Bills they come into Sunday sitting at 5-1 and coming off a bye last week. With Lamar Jackson set to return, the short week with the Jaguars waiting on Thursday night, and the Ravens season starting to slip, Sunday’s game has quickly begun to feel like a must win for the Ravens.
As previously mentioned Lamar Jackson is set to get the start for the first time in three weeks as he comes back from his ankle sprain. The question remains however, how healthy is Jackson? And how effective can he be coming off such a painful injury? But while the Ravens have Jackson back, they will be without first round pick, guard, Olaivavega Ioane (knee). Ioane left last Sundays game with the injury and practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday, but despite that Ioane will miss his first career game with an injury both the Ravens and fans alike hope is not too long term. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins (knee) has also been ruled out and will miss his second straight game. Cornerback T.J. Tampa (knee) and rookie running back Adam Randall (neck) are both listed as questionable with both players practicing in full on Friday as they both work back from being placed on injured reserve.
As for the Bills as they come off their bye week cornerback Dee Alford (ankle), offensive tackle Spencer Brown (back), linebacker TJ Parker (knee), and defensive tackle Greg Gaines (calf) are all listed as questionable for Sunday. The biggest injury news for the Bills however is with tight end Dalton Kincaid (chest) and wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder). Both were limited in practice on Friday, and both are listed as questionable.
Players to Watch:
Roquan Smith
The man that roams the middle of the Ravens defense, inside linebacker Roquan Smith, has been quite so far this season, much like he was for the majority of the 2025 season. It is hard to pinpoint why Smith has struggled the last two seasons despite leading the team in tackles through six weeks with 55. There just has not been a ton of splash plays from Smith this year that we became used to when he arrived in a trade with the Bears in 2022.
But despite the slow start we have still seen flashes at times of the player that, at the time, was rightfully awarded a 5-year $100 million dollar extension in 2023. The Ravens defense continues to struggle in key moments, and Smith who is one of the leaders of this defense, needs to be a key player in putting a stop to these struggles, and finding a way to come up with the key stops, and turnovers that the Ravens desperately need at times. All eyes will be on the Ravens and Bills on Sunday afternoon, and what better way to put some of the critiques of both Smith, and this Ravens defense to bed than slowing down Josh Allen and the Bills offense.
Keon Coleman
It hasn’t been the start for 2024 second round pick, Keon Coleman, many Bills fans would have hoped for. As the 6’3″ 213 Ibs Coleman has stuggled Bto find his way in a Bills offense led by quarterback Josh Allen. In two season with the Bills Coleman total 67 receptions for 960 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. But so far in 2026 Coleman is on pace to crush his season highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
Through the first six games Coleman racked up 19 total receptions for 283 yards, and three touchdowns. With Coleman now in the mix in a loaded Bills offense that also features tight end Dalton Kincaid, running back James Cook III, and fellow wide receiver Khalil Shakir, the Ravens secondary will be asked to once again slow down a high powered passing attack, something they struggled with in the second half against Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and the Bengals.
Prediction
With Lamar Jackson set to return for the Ravens it gives a much needed boost to an offensive that has scored just 23 points in two weeks, with zero of those points coming in the second half. Huntley’s inability to efficiently push the ball downfield has limited the Ravens ability to not only make big plays in the pass game, but it has also effected their ability to run on a consistent basis, having found themselves behind the sticks on most drives.
Jackson’s return should help along with taking on a defense that ranks 31st in total defense. But while Sunday should be no concern for the offense in their ability to move the ball and score points. It will be the Ravens defense that will be tasked with stopping 2024 NFL MVP, Bills quarterback, Josh Allen. Allen has been very impressive to start the season not only with his arm, but with his legs as has rushed for 240 yards so far, and is tied for the league lead with eight rushing touchdowns.
While the Bills defense will have trouble stopping the Ravens offense, I think it will be equally as hard for the Ravens defense to stop the Bills offense. It will likely come down to which defense gets a key turnover that will lead to points. But while the Bills have turned the ball over nine times in six games, the Ravens have just six takeaways in seven games, which ranks in the bottom half of the NFL. I think it will be the Ravens that ultimately won’t be able to hang out to out score the Bills, as the Ravens fall for the third week in a row by a final of 37-31.
Line: Buffalo -3
Over/Under: 54.5
All-Time Record: Baltimore leads series 7-5
