The Buffalo Bills' 31st-ranked pass defense has an opportunity to have a get-right game against a Baltimore Ravens offensive line decimated by injuries in Week 8. Even with uncertainty about whether quarterback Lamar Jackson is starting, Tyler Huntley is no joke, and the Bills must focus on letting him use his arm more than his legs.
In Baltimore's Week 7 game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens surrendered 35 unanswered points to Joe Burrow and that prolific offense to lose 35-13 after leading 13-0 at halftime. On the offensive side, it made matters worse, as the Ravens' offensive line couldn't help Huntley or Derrick Henry find holes in the defense they'd been hitting in the first half.
The Bills look to exploit a weak Baltimore offensive line by applying pressure with their front seven while dialing up blitz packages on third-and-long to get the Bills' pass rush off the field.
Evaluating Bills' pass rush against depleated Ravens' offensive line
1.) Injuries to Ravens' offensive line
The offensive line of the Ravens has been up and down all year, and their injuries have piled up. They have shuffled through 16 different starting five-man combinations, making it more difficult to find stable protection in their 4-3 start to the season.
As for injuries, they've lost tight end Durham Smythe for all of 2026 and are currently without rookie first-round draft pick Vega Loane after a knee injury in Week 7. Veteran center acquisition Cam Jurgens and right tackle Roger Rosengarten haven't had smooth sailing; the unit as a whole can't seem to protect the running and passing game.
2.) Ravens' struggling offense
Their inconsistent play and performance from a talented but underachieving unit have affected Baltimore's offense in a negative way, especially for a unit that boasts Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers. Henry currently has 579 yards on 147 carries, only averaging 3.9 yards per carry for the longtime NFL running back.
The Ravens have also struggled in only scoring 40 points once this season which was in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts.
3.) Bills' pass rush strengths
The Bills' front seven on defense has a perfect chance to pounce on the Ravens' deficiencies, as Deone Walker, Bradley Chubb, and Michael Hoecht on paper should be able to help the Bills pressure the starting quarterback and make him throw the ball instead of running with it.
4.) Game day possibilities
If Jackson returns to the starting lineup, the Bills will look to disrupt his timing and force him into hurried passes. The Bills' improved run-defense will allow them to be able to load the box and stop him from running, making the Ravens one-dimensional and forcing Jackson to throw the ball more than usual.
The Bills' front will look to continue to be aggressive by throwing in blitzes and loaded boxes to generate more turnovers while forcing Jackson to rely more on his arm than his legs.
Despite the Ravens' shortcomings, look for the Bills' defensive line to hold Henry to under 100 rushing yards, making him the 7th running back this season.
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