The Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8 for what has quickly become a perennial showdown. It seems like Lamar Jackson will be ready to go after missing the last three games, but it won't be an easy comeback for him. The Bills are coming off a favorable bye week tied for first in the AFC, and they're motivated to keep that spot.
But what happens between these AFC rivals when push comes to shove? There's some breakdown to be done, and predictions to be made. Look no further.
Prediction #1 - Buffalo dominates the second half
Call it instinct, call it a premonition or, more accurately, call it the obvious result of any sort of statistical breakdown. The Baltimore Ravens are not a second-half team.
Though admittedly owning a +65 point differential in first halves this season, the Ravens are -70 in second halves. That swing is the biggest in the NFL. They're one of two NFL teams to average less than a touchdown scored in the second half in 2026.
Fans may fondly remember the 2025 season opener, where the Bills stole a win from the Ravens in a thrilling second-half comeback. If the Bills do indeed fall back early, history and statistics are both on their side.
Prediction #2 - Derrick Henry has a slow night
It used to be wishful thinking to believe that Derrick Henry could be stopped. Defenses needed to simply hope that their own offense scored enough to force Henry's offense to pass. Those days are gone.
Let's not pretend to disrespect King Henry- He's still 6th in rushing yards this season and on track to remain a problem for the foreseeable future. The weakness is his efficiency. At only 3.9 yards per carry, he's 26th in rushing yards per attempt this season. That's by far the least efficient running of Henry's entire career.
Derrick Henry used to run with an inevitable power. As games progressed, he wore down defenses, and his team was elevated by consistent late-game power running. His early-game power was key to that, and it led to breakaway plays. That power is now somewhat tempered.
Henry will still find plays. The back will still make the defenders hurt when they attempt to bring him down. It just isn't as often as it used to be. His breakaway plays of 20+ yards used to be common, but in 2026 he has only 3 such plays, which is tied with three quarterbacks.
In concert with a substantially improved Bills run-defense this season, Henry could see a quiet night. If so, beating the Buffalo Bills gets much harder for the Ravens.
Prediction #3 - Final Score
The Buffalo Bills haven't lost a game coming off the bye week since 2014. In those 11 games, the Bills have outscored their opposition 309-179. Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott was famously 8-0 off the bye, and his handprints are all over this roster.
The Baltimore Ravens expect the return of Lamar Jackson for the first time since Week 4, as he missed three games with an ankle injury. Even with Lamar, Baltimore's run game has lost some edge this season. There's still plenty of reason to worry about this Ravens defense and their capable offensive playmakers, but the prediction is clear.
Prediction: Bills beat the Ravens 31-20 in second-half rout
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