The Buffalo Bills didn’t play a single snap in Week 7, yet they emerged from their bye week sitting atop several NFL power rankings. Meanwhile, their next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, is heading in the opposite direction.
Apparently, the best way to move up in the NFL power rankings is to take the week off and let everyone else lose. At least, that strategy worked pretty well for the Buffalo Bills.
While Buffalo enjoyed its Week 7 bye, two previously undefeated teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and
San Francisco 49ers, suffered their first losses of the season.
The result? The Bills climbed to No. 1 in several national power rankings without ever stepping onto the field. Buffalo enters Week 8 at 5-1, with its offense among the NFL’s best and a defense that continues to raise questions.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, has problems of its own. Baltimore enters the matchup at 4-3 after surrendering 35 unanswered second-half points in an embarrassing 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
So, are the Bills legitimate Super Bowl contenders, or simply the beneficiaries of everyone else’s struggles? And perhaps more importantly, are the Ravens still the dangerous AFC opponent we’ve grown accustomed to seeing? Let’s see what the national experts think.
Buffalo Bills Week 8 Power Rankings
The Bills are moving up across the board, with four of the eight outlets placing Buffalo at No. 1. Three placing the Bills at No. 2, and USA Today continuing the disrespect ranking them at No. 9.
But the rankings come with a warning.
The Bills’ offense has been outstanding, averaging 32.8 points per game while leading the league in yards per play, points per drive, and scoring drive percentage. Josh Allen and James Cook have provided one of the NFL’s most productive offensive combinations.
Unfortunately, the defense hasn’t enjoyed the same success. The Athletic highlighted Buffalo’s struggles defending the pass, noting that the Bills rank among the league’s worst teams in expected points added per opponent dropback. Buffalo has surrendered more than 250 passing yards in five of its first six games. That’s not exactly the defensive résumé you’d expect from the NFL’s top-ranked team.
The bye week gave defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard an opportunity to evaluate what hasn’t been working.Now comes the difficult part: fixing it.
And with Lamar Jackson returning to Baltimore’s lineup, the timing couldn’t be more important.
Baltimore Ravens: From AFC Contender to Question Mark?
Remember when the Ravens were considered one of the AFC’s biggest threats? That feels like a long time ago. Baltimore entered the season with championship expectations, but consecutive losses have exposed problems that extend well beyond the absence of Lamar Jackson.
The Ravens’ Week 7 loss to Cincinnati was particularly concerning. Baltimore carried a 13-0 lead into halftime before being completely dismantled over the final two quarters. The Bengals scored 35 unanswered points, and for the second consecutive game, the Ravens failed to score in the second half.
And suddenly, a team that appeared capable of competing with anyone is struggling to finish games.
The difference between Buffalo and Baltimore is striking. Buffalo’s average ranking is 2.38. Baltimore’s is 15.50. That’s a separation of over 13 positions between two teams that entered the season with significant expectations.
The Ravens haven’t suddenly forgotten how to play football, but their inability to protect leads has become impossible to ignore..
The Lamar Jackson Factor: Can One Player Fix Baltimore?
There’s no denying that Baltimore is a different football team with Lamar Jackson under center. Jackson has missed three consecutive games with a high ankle sprain, and the Ravens have gone 1-2 during his absence.
His potential return against Buffalo would provide an immediate boost to Baltimore’s offense. But would it solve everything?
Jackson wasn’t responsible for Baltimore surrendering 35 second-half points against Cincinnati. He wasn’t responsible for the defense’s inability to stop Joe Burrow and the Bengals. And he certainly can’t be expected to solve every problem on both sides of the football. The Ravens have now blown double-digit leads in all three of their losses this season.
But let’s not be naive here. The Ravens’ No. 15 ranking reflects their recent struggles, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect the team Buffalo will face Sunday. A motivated Baltimore team with Lamar Jackson back under center is a completely different challenge.
Bills vs. Ravens: Trending Up and Trending Down
Buffalo Bills (5-1)
- TRENDING UP: Offensive dominance
Buffalo’s offense continues to rank among the NFL’s best. Allen and Cook have provided the production needed to overcome defensive struggles, and the Bills enter Week 8 rested and sitting atop the national consensus rankings.
- TRENDING DOWN: Defensive consistency
The Bills have allowed at least 30 points in four of their five victories. Jim Leonhard’s defense needs to show improvement, particularly against the pass, if Buffalo expects to remain among the league’s elite.
Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
- TRENDING UP: Lamar Jackson’s return
Getting Jackson back will immediately change the outlook for Baltimore’s offense. His ability to extend plays and create opportunities with his legs could present serious problems for Buffalo’s struggling defense.
- TRENDING DOWN: Second-half collapses
The Ravens have failed to score after halftime in consecutive games. Their inability to maintain leads has become one of the team’s biggest weaknesses, and their defense has struggled to make adjustments when opponents gain momentum.
Looking Ahead: Bills vs. Ravens
Sunday’s matchup presents an interesting one. The Bills have one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses, but a defense that has struggled to consistently stop opponents.
The Ravens have a potentially dangerous offense, depending on Jackson’s performance and health, but a defense that just surrendered 35 unanswered points.
For Buffalo, the biggest question is whether the bye week allowed Joe Brady and Jim Leonhard to address the team’s weaknesses.
For Baltimore, the question is whether Jackson’s return can provide enough of a spark to overcome the team’s growing list of problems.
The Ravens may be ranked 15th, but nobody should mistake them for the NFL’s 15th-best team when Lamar Jackson is healthy and Buffalo might have climbed to No. 1 in most rankings without playing last week, but they are about to face their toughest opponent yet..
Now it’s time to prove the ranking belongs to them.
