Ravens face Bills in Week 8 showdown in Orchard Park

The Baltimore Ravens will play the Buffalo Bills at 1 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Baltimore enters the game with a 4-3 record, while Buffalo sits at 5-1. As of Thursday night, DraftKings listed the Bills as three-point favorites.

Four of the six predictors for The Baltimore Banner selected Buffalo to win. Kyle Goon, a columnist with a 4-3 record, projected a 28-21 Bills victory. He cited the difficulty of playing in Buffalo and noted that Josh Allen is the most mobile passer the Ravens have faced this season. Goon said he could not overcome the team's lackluster play earlier in the year to vote for Baltimore.

Giana Han, a reporter with a 3-4 record, also picked the Bills to win 28-24. Han argued that while Lamar Jackson can exploit the Bills' weak secondary, Allen can do the same to Baltimore's defense. She noted that the Ravens have struggled in Buffalo for many years, though the new stadium may not carry the same historical weight as the old venue.

Jonas Shaffer, a reporter with a 5-2 record, favored the Bills by a 27-24 margin. He identified Buffalo's offense as the most reliable unit on the field, pointing to three receivers on pace for 800-plus-yard seasons and the presence of running back James Cook. Shaffer questioned whether the Ravens' battered offensive line could hold up against a strong pass rush.

Childs Walker, a contributor with a 3-4 record, predicted a 31-27 Bills win. Walker highlighted the Ravens' defensive struggles in the second half of their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He noted that safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith are nursing knee injuries. Walker said Buffalo's defense allows 7.4 yards per attempt, which could lead to an entertaining game, but he bet against Baltimore making the winning play in New York.

Two predictors saw Baltimore as the winner. Brandon Weigel, an editor with a 3-4 record, projected a 33-30 Ravens victory. Weigel pointed to the Bills' pass defense, which has allowed 285.8 passing yards per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. He noted that Matthew Stafford and Kirk Cousins each threw for over 300 yards in Buffalo's last two games before the bye. Weigel said the return of Jackson from an ankle injury gives Baltimore the arm talent needed to win a shootout.

Lance Lysowski, a guest picker from The Buffalo News, selected the Ravens to win 31-24. He cited communication issues among the Bills' inside linebackers, safeties, and cornerbacks as the reason Buffalo has allowed at least 29 points in all but one game before the bye. Lysowski noted that the Bills have allowed 8.1 yards per pass attempt and eight passing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He predicted the Bills' seven-game winning streak when allowing 30 or more points would end.