Whenever we get a matchup that features Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson, every fan knows that it’s going to be electric. There have been times when Allen has dominated the Ravens, and then there are times when Jackson gets the best of Buffalo’s defense.
In Week 1 last season, Jackson and the Ravens were dominating the Bills for nearly three quarters, but they fell apart greatly and the Bills made a 15-point comeback win to beat the Ravens, 41-40.
The Ravens will surely be looking for revenge against the Bills, especially since they didn’t get the chance to see them in the playoffs. Baltimore and Buffalo had a lot of similarities this offseason, headlined by head coaching changes.
With that, we had the chance to speak with Connor Burke, Site Expert for Ebony Bird (coverage for the Ravens) and Burke was able to provide some pre-training camp insights for Bills fans.
Ravens pre-training camp insights that Bills fans must know about
1.) Months have passed now, but how are Ravens fans feeling about the whole Maxx Crosby/Trey Hendrickson situation and do you believe that the organization made the right decision?
"Fans definitely believe that Eric DeCosta made the right call on the Maxx Crosby trade debacle. He didn't necessarily get the better player, but he made the better move. The Ravens needed an elite pass rusher, and Trey Hendrickson is set to be the kind of fearsome presence off the edge that this team hasn't really had since Terrell Suggs."
"You also have to factor in the picks. Getting to keep those two first-rounders, and using this year's on Vega Ioane, who is expected to be a game-changer at a position of need, is a massive win."
2.) Both the Bills and Ravens went through a head coaching change this offseason. With Jesse Minter coming into Baltimore, what are realistic expectations for him amongst the fanbase?
"Jesse Minter is going to be a breath of fresh air. The Ravens really needed a coaching change, and Minter should have them competing at the highest level again. There may be some bumps in the road, but ultimately, he should bring the team back to the playoffs. Specifically, the defense could go through one of the biggest transformations, going from one of the worst in 2025 to potentially one of the best in 2026."
3.) What areas on the roster are still a major weakness for the Ravens?
"I mean, it's hard to ignore the glaring weakness that is Baltimore's center spot. It could be their fatal flaw. They obviously lost Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and did very little to replace him. Right now, it's Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter competing for the starting gig. That's significantly underwhelming."
"Fans have a ton of trust in new offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, but putting two unproven players in a race to be the guy snapping Lamar Jackson the ball this season isn't exactly reassuring. Especially given the injuries that Jackson endured last season."
4.) Do you believe that Lamar Jackson will (or even should) get a massive contract extension from the Ravens and why?
"I've always been on "Team Give Lamar Jackson a Blank Check." He's the life of this team. I'm sure Buffalo Bills fans feel the same way about Josh Allen. You can't take an era where you have an MVP at quarterback for granted. Sure, the injuries and playoff woes have been issues, but he remains one of the top three QBs in the NFL. There's confidence in Baltimore that a deal will get done, and I fully expect Jackson to sign another mega-deal to keep him around for at least the next four years."
5.) If you had to give a way-too-early score prediction for this matchup, who do you think wins and why?
"I'd go Bills 24, Ravens 21. It'll be the best game of Week 8, but unfortunately, I think Buffalo gets the better of Baltimore. This might be the first real hiccup in Jesse Minter's season debut as a head coach. The Ravens don't play a 2025 playoff team until this Week 8 matchup, so that might present a bit of a challenge for Minter. The Bills also get the home-field advantage, and we know they have one of the best advantages in football when they play in front of that crowd."
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