The Buffalo Bills will continue their 2026 NFL regular season on Sunday with their next game en route against the Baltimore Ravens. Kickoff back at home confides of Highmark Stadium will take place at 1 p.m.
The Ravens head to western New York in dire need of a win. Despite a 4-3 record, Baltimore sits in the basement of the AFC North having lost back-to-back games.
Meanwhile, the Bills are fresh and reset after taking in their bye a week ago.
Between two such teams, what should you keep in mind during the contest?
With that, here are Bills Wire's five things to watch for in Week 8:
Blitz-happy Vikings
The Vikings are a defense unlike any the Bills have faced this season. Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores is known as an aggressive play caller regardless of
opposition and Buffalo will need to react to that because... it has worked.
The Vikings defense leads the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (13.3), sack percentage (10.96%) and QB pressure rate (45.8%) and second in yards (271.6).
Worth noting: Last week against the Detroit Lions, Minnesota blitzed on 90% of the Lions' passing plays. It is the highest single game blitz rate by any team since 2018.
Another good matchup for Bills defense?
Because of the way things unfolded against the Baltimore Ravens last week, it was an ideal matchup for Buffalo's defense. The Bills likely won't see the Vikings lose their top-two quarterbacks in this one, but their offense has been stuck in the mud the entire year. Does that make this a good matchup for the Bills on defense?
The Vikings offense ranks fourth-worst in the NFL in yards per game (279.4) and sixth-worst in points per game (20.0).
Which QB starts?
Speaking of Minnesota's offense and quarterbacks, who starts for them under center?
Starter Kyler Murray has not had the best season and now he is dealing with a hamstring injury. If Murray can't go, it will be backup Carson Wentz. If the Vikings keep their cards close to their chest, that is a curve ball for the Bills. Which QB does Buffalo prepare for?
DJ Moore health/ trickle down
DJ Moore returned from a shoulder injury against the Ravens and was seen limping at one point during last week's game but he did not miss playing time.
In his own right, Moore finished with a strong stat line against Baltimore, catching four of seven targets for 82 yards with a touchdown. What stood out even more was the trickle down. It's probably not a coincidence both Dalton Kincaid (4-86-1 TD) and Khalil Shakir (5-64) has good games as well.
Health depending, watch for Moore's multiple impacts on this game against a good Vikings defense.
Bills secondary changes
The Bills' secondary has had some changes in recent days.
Safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was released. Defensive back Jordan Hancock, who had a strong summer, has returned from injured reserve.
With another good matchup on paper ahead of the Bills, could this be a shockingly strong game for Buffalo's secondary against Minnesota?
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills at Vikings: 5 things to watch for during Week 9's game
