The Buffalo Bills are looking to stay in the win column in Week 8 as they host the Baltimore Ravens.
The Bills (5-1) have won their last two and are trying to keep the momentum going coming out of their bye week. How can Buffalo get the upper hand against an AFC foe in the Ravens (4-3)?
With that, here are Bills Wire's three keys to victory in Week 8:
A bounce back from the secondary
Finding ways to tighten up coverage on the back end of the defense had to have been a focal point for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard and the Bills defensive staff during their bye last week. The Bills rank 31st in the NFL in passing defense, allowing 285.8 passing yards per game, and rank dead last in defensive EPA/play.
Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has four games over 80 yards already this
year and is seventh in the NFL in receiving yards with 608. The secondary will have their hands full, no matter if it's Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley at quarterback for the Ravens.
Disruption from the Bills defensive line
The Ravens have already had 16 different starting combinations on their offensive line through seven weeks, and they have some major question marks on their interior heading in the matchup with the Bills. Due to injuries, it's a game of musical chairs at center and right guard for Baltimore, and Bills' interior defenders such as Deone Walker and Greg Gaines could be in for big games. If Ed Oliver is healthy enough to go, he should get opportunities to be disruptive, too.
Short and intermediate passing
The Ravens have a 78.6% zone rate which ranks eighth in the NFL. On a majority of snaps, they'd rather allow underneath throws and rally to the football. In the second half of their matchup in Week 7, the Cincinati Bengals outscored them 35-0 by utilizing the underneath passing game and having it lead to openings downfield. QB Josh Allen may be tested to stay patient and take what the defense is giving up, but he has a group of pass catchers that can make plays after the catch and make the Ravens pay.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 keys to a Bills win vs. the Ravens in Week 8
