ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills face the Baltimore Ravens for a Week 4 matchup on Sunday night football.
The Channel 2 sports team each gives a key to the game before things get underway inside M&T Bank Stadium.
Jon Scott: Kicking game
Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are the headliners of Bills vs. Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
But games between two good teams often times don’t ultimately come down to the best quarterback that night, but whose kicker can make the winning boot at the end.
Enter Tyler Bass and Justin Tucker. Bass has been at the center of many Bills fans concerns since missing a game-tying kick against the Chiefs in last season’s divisional round loss.
From there he had some inconsistencies throughout training camp and the preseason.
While he’s 5 for 6 in the regular season, the one Bass miss was an ugly one on a very makeable attempt at the Dolphins. Then you can add the blocked extra point last game, though who the blame truly falls on for that remains to be seen.
Still, the Bills worked out two free agent kickers a few weeks back, so Brandon Beane’s at least doing due diligence on potential other options.
Tucker’s arguably been the greatest kicker in NFL history and likely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when his career is over. He hasn’t just been automatic from normal range, but so good from 50-plus yards.
That’s not the case this season and even dating back to last: 0 for 2 in 2024 after just 1 of 5 in 2023. Tucker’s also missed one between 40-49 yards this season.
I still wouldn’t count on the 34-year-old to be off the mark, but he’s shown enough cracks to have hope.
As Allen and Jackson lead us on what should be an impressive night, keep an eye on how Bass and Tucker could be the ones who decide the outcome.
Jonathan Acosta: Attack the Ravens' last-place pass defense
There are 32 NFL defenses. The Ravens are ranked 32nd against the pass.
That’s not a good sign for any team through three weeks, but especially when that pass defense now has to welcome in Josh Allen.
The Bills quarterback is coming off of his 13th career AFC Offensive Player of the Week performance (more than any other player since 2018) in Buffalo’s 47-10 Monday night beatdown against Jacksonville.
Allen was in command in control, throwing for over 200 yards and four touchdowns in just the first half as the Bills built a 34-3 halftime lead.
In the Bills' "everybody eats" offense, Allen has been the head chef making sure everyone gets fed, finding the open receiver with ease while avoiding putting the ball in danger. Allen has yet to throw an interception and leads the league in passer rating (133.7).
Now he goes against a defense that historically has been known to be pretty sturdy, but is allowing a league-high 291.7 yards per game. That includes giving up 379 yards through the air last week in Dallas to Dak Prescott, as the Cowboys nearly pulled off a second-half comeback after trailing 28-6.
It’s a Ravens defense that plenty of talent, including star safety Kyle Hamilton, and has been incredible against the run (50 rush yards per game, first in NFL), but has proven to be vulnerable through the air through three weeks.
The only time we’ve seen the Bills on the road this season, they were able to lean on James Cook and the run game to blow past the Dolphins. It was a game in which Allen threw just 19 passes.
Considering the opposing pass defense, and that the other offense might put some points of their own with Lamar Jackson, this game is likely to feature more pass attempts for Allen.
His ability to lead another successful day for the passing game and attack the Ravens’ defensive weakness will play a key part in whether or not Buffalo leaves Baltimore with a 4-0 record.
Lindsey Moppert: Lock down Lamar
Through three weeks of regular season play, the Bills defense has successfully locked down Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, and Trevor Lawrence. The three quarterbacks combined for a completion percentage of 62.8%, three touchdowns and five turnovers in those matchups against the Bills.
This week, however, will be the group’s biggest test yet. Both linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Taron Johnson are ruled out once again for this Sunday night game, leaving yet another opportunity for the Bills’ backups to step up in a big way.
The Ravens have several star weapons on their offense starting with their quarterback and two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
“There’s times when Lamar’s gonna make plays, he's just special,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “So we just got to do our best to regroup and come back the next play. He’s an MVP for a reason.”
Jackson is known in the league as a multi-dimensional threat to most team’s defenses, especially for what he can do in the ground game.
“Love watching him play because every play is never dead with him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “He’s got a crazy ability to keep plays alive and make guys miss and then get the ball downfield, so, he’s a special player.”
Jackson’s dynamic abilities also mixed in with Baltimore running back Derrick Henry’s rushing attack will pose a big challenge for the Buffalo defensive line. Henry is coming off an impressive week three performance over the Cowboys rushing for over 150 yards and two touchdowns.
If the Bills can successfully lock down or limit Jackson and Henry well in the run game, it would certainly go a long way for Buffalo on Sunday night.