The Buffalo Bills are back in action this weekend, ready for a fresh start after a relatively early bye week away from football. Since 2018, the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen are 8-0 in games after the bye. It’s a record that’s also neatly tied to former head coach Sean McDermott.
Now, new head coach Joe Brady gets his first crack at establishing his own post-bye legacy in tandem with Allen. Standing in the way are the Baltimore Ravens, a team that should be plenty motivated to reset the narrative
after a crushing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
If the Ravens struggled to stop quarterback Joe Burrow and company last weekend, what’s in store for them against the league’s top-scoring offense on Sunday? A track meet, of sorts, may be necessary in Week 8 — with Buffalo and Baltimore potentially lighting up the scoreboard on offense.
Given the recent history between these two teams, there’s very little to plant one’s flag in the ground while staking a bold claim. What’s bold in most arenas trends typical when quarterback Lamar Jackson and Allen renew their friendship.
No one would be shocked to see Allen and/or Jackson put up five touchdowns, or even surprised to learn that running backs James Cook III and Derrick Henry took more than one football more than 50 yards to paydirt en route to a 150-plus effort on the ground.
Instead, what would reverberate across the NFL is if Bills-Ravens ended with a 9-6 score, or that Buffalo’s defense clamped down and provided the only score en route to victory. Or perhaps that Baltimore found a way to win a shootout without touchdowns from either Jackson or Henry.
It’s going to take incredible performances by unsung heroes for anyone to be surprised by Sunday’s outcome. Here are a few potentially bold options to consider…
TE Jackson Hawes scores his first TD of 2026 NFL season
For those who celebrate, National Tight Ends Day was October 25, 2026. Unfortunately, the Bills weren’t able to take part in the festivities thanks to their bye. A week later, Buffalo’s quadruple alliance at tight end returns to the field ready to party. Well, for the most part: We don’t know if Dalton Kincaid will play due to his questionable status based off a current chest injury, but it’s not a great sign to see him limited in each practice session this week following a week off.
The Bills love to run 13 personnel, and that offers plenty of chances for tight ends Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes to see action. If Kincaid can’t go, it’s easy to land on Knox as the biggest beneficiary in terms of snaps and targets. Instead, I believe it’s Hawes who leaps into a featured role, thanks to his otherworldly blocking ability and a set of very capable hands.
Interestingly, Hawes has been a few steps below an afterthought as a receiver this season. Hawes has zero offensive stats on one target through the first six games. This comes after a rookie season in 2025 that saw Hawes make 16 catches (19 targets) for 187 yards and three touchdowns. It’s fair to say that Brady and Allen have a one-track mind regarding Hawes this season, which is status as a blocker.
That may change in Week 8. But understand this is a pretty deep dig into “bold” territory. The oddsmakers at Fanduel Sportsbook list only eight options for Jackson Hawes in Week 8, and most of them carry long, yet potentially rewarding odds.
The next touchdown pass that Josh Allen throws will vault him above Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and to the top of the Bills’ record books as the new all-time leader in touchdown passes. Is Hawes on the receiving end of that historic moment?
Well, let’s just say there’s a possibility, albeit slight. Current options find Hawes with +5000 odds to be the game’s first touchdown scorer. There are of course a few more semi-realistic options that find Hawes as an anytime touchdown scorer (+850), anytime first-half touchdown scorer (+1600), or anytime second-half touchdown scorer (+1300).
Better yet, well if you’re looking for a really crazy option that involves Hawes. How’s +25000 odds for Hawes to be first touchdown scorer among all 1 p.m. EST games?
In all honesty, Kincaid is viewed as the tight end more likely to accomplish any one of those feats mentioned above. His questionable status does however do just enough to open the door a bit wider for a player Buffalo should do more to get involved. So you’re wondering how Hawes did against Baltimore last season, his first regular-season game? Hawes caught his lone target for 29 yards on 16 offensive snaps (hat tip to Pro Football Reference). He has plenty more to offer than that for Round 2!
RB Ty Johnson leads Bills in receiving yards
What brand of sorcery is this?! Allen’s favorite third-down specialist, Ty Johnson has roared to life since his return from a hamstring injury at the end of training camp this past August. Though perhaps still viewed as an unfortunate and unfair slight to Cook, it’s now clear that Johnson takes priority on most third downs simply because of his talent as a receiver.
Johnson is a legit threat to take any screen pass or otherwise the distance. He’s a deceptive speed demon who wastes no time getting from A to B, and then, C, D, and often Z. Still, predicting Johnson to lead the Bills in receiving yards is about as bold as it comes in Week 8.
Yes, Kincaid is questionable, as is wide receiver DJ Moore. Johnson would still have to compete with wide receivers Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman, and on a smaller share of snaps. Johnson is similar to Shakir in ways, a pinball wizard with a more direct sort of attack. Give Johnson a football, and he’s off to the races, running around, through, and past anyone unfamiliar with his game.
What might it look like if Johnson were to lead the Bills in receiving against the Ravens? He’ll probably need north of 60 yards, which carries +1280 odds at Fanduel. Think he can do it? The last time Johnson faced the Ravens, he was held without a catch on two targets. In four games this season, Johnson has gone over 50 yards twice.
S Damar Hamlin’s play rallies D
Damar Hamlin will start at safety alongside Cole Bishop on Sunday, stepping in for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (suspended Week 8). Despite the concerns fans have with Gardner-Johnson’s play, and the performance of the defensive backs in total, many worry what starting Hamlin means for a 31st-ranked defensive unit.
It’s worth wondering how many of Hamlin’s plays the constant naysayers have watched over the years. Hamlin is a sound tackler who has often served as the last line of defense in scoring moments. He’s not an elite athlete by most standards, but he is an intelligent player who’s more than capable and wholly comfortable calling coverages and offensive looks from the back seven. He’s also a fantastic special teams player.
To this point, Hamlin’s football story has been dominated by an against-all-odds full recovery following a play few will ever forget, but one that he fails to remember following his body’s response to trauma. But there’s far more to Hamlin’s game than most people understand. In McDermott’s scheme, Hamlin was put in position to succeed, and did well as someone with a knack for interceptions.
I see good things happening for Hamlin against the Ravens on Sunday. Watch for him to pick off one of Jackson’s passes in a huge moment, or perhaps force a fumble of Henry or someone else. Strong play by Hamlin could be a huge part of the defense’s ability to rally toward victory in Week 8.
You might recall the last time that Hamlin started against the Ravens, a game in which he made a touchdown-saving solo tackle on Henry, and forced a fumble of Jackson.
Think you’ve got what it takes to make a play with the Buffalo Bills in 2026? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook now and put your luck to the test!
Bills Mafia! Download the SB Nation app today!
Bring the energy of game day wherever you go and share every reaction with fellow members of the Bills Mafia.
- New live chat feature during the games
- Fewer ads
- Seamlessly jump between communities and conversations
- Faster commenting and posting experience!
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
