How often will the Bills run a base defense against the Ravens?

The Bills almost exclusively run a nickel defensive scheme, but against the league's most daunting rushing attack — which features a 247-pound Hall of Fame running back — is adding a third linebacker on early downs a good idea?

Taron Johnson, the Bills primary nickel cornerback and a 2023 All-Pro, played at least 92% of the team's defensive snaps in eight of the 12 games he started this season. In the four outliers, Johnson was either pulled from the game early due to injury or to prevent one.

A forearm injury prevented him from seeing the field in Week 4, when the Ravens ground game torched Buffalo's defense for 271 rushing yards en route to a 35-10 victory.

In that game, the Bills lacked the personnel to effectively run their nickel defense, but that didn’t stop them from trying — and even when they used three-linebacker sets, they were still dominated. The absence of linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano, along with Johnson, proved to be a disaster waiting to happen.

With all three players expected to start on Sunday, the Bills will likely continue running their nickel defense, which should be more effective than it was in Week 4. However, some fans are questioning whether linebacker Dorian Williams, the lone bright spot in the previous game, might be more effective than Johnson against the Ravens powerful front.

My answer to that question is: sort of.