Greg Rousseau has been the steadiest piece of a Buffalo Bills defense that has taken plenty of criticism this season. The edge rusher has six sacks and 39 pressures, second among edge defenders, according to PFF. On Sunday at New Highmark Stadium, he could be chasing Lamar Jackson.
Jackson practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday, his first full sessions since a high ankle sprain knocked him out of the Week 4 win over Tennessee, per the Ravens. Head coach Jesse Minter laid out the standard Monday. “If he’s able to play, healthy enough to play the way we feel like he needs to play, then he will play,” Minter said, per the team’s website.
Buffalo (5-1) comes out of its bye with two straight wins, the latest a 33-30 decision in Las Vegas. Baltimore (4-3) has lost two straight and led Cincinnati 13-0 at halftime last week before giving up 35 unanswered points in a 35-13 loss. The Bills are a 3-point favorite, and here are four bold predictions for Sunday.
Greg Rousseau sacks Lamar Jackson twice
Rousseau’s 85.5 pass-rush grade ranks fifth among 112 edge defenders, and he has 16 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles. He’s carried a group that has 11 sacks as a team, per NFL.com, with Bradley Chubb at 1.5 and T.J. Parker pulling snaps away from Chubb. Chubb and Parker were both limited in practice this week.
Baltimore’s line is banged up. Rookie guard Vega Ioane returned to practice as a limited participant Thursday after a knee sprain that cost the Ravens a key piece of their offensive line, and John Simpson was limited Wednesday with a groin injury. A quarterback coming off a high ankle sprain may not escape the way he usually does. Bold prediction: Rousseau gets Jackson on the ground twice.
Josh Allen runs for two touchdowns
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Josh Allen has 240 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, two more scores on the ground than James Cook. His arm hasn’t been as sharp. Allen’s 70.4 passing grade ranks 18th, and his 11 turnover-worthy plays rank 26th of 35 quarterbacks, according to PFF.
The Ravens know what’s coming. “We know that he’s a bigger body, and we know that he’s fast as well and he can scramble out well to his right,” outside linebacker Mike Green said, per the Ravens’ website. Baltimore’s defense ranks 18th in EPA per play, according to Sumer Sports, and linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton both missed Wednesday’s practice with knee injuries before returning Thursday. Bold prediction: Allen runs for two touchdowns, giving him 10 on the season.
Zay Flowers is held under 60 yards
This is the boldest of the four. Zay Flowers has 40 catches for 608 yards, and his 90.6 grade ranks fourth among receivers, according to PFF. He had eight catches for 137 yards against the Bengals, including a 48-yard touchdown on a screen.
Buffalo’s defense ranks last in EPA per play allowed, per Sumer Sports, and leads the league with 12 defensive holding penalties. “We’re not a very good defense at overcoming adversity in the form of penalties right now,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said, per the Bills’ website. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is suspended for this game, so Damar Hamlin is expected to start at safety next to Cole Bishop.
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston’s 36.4 coverage grade ranked 98th of 102 corners when we looked at the pass defense during the bye, so Flowers will have chances. Davison Igbinosun’s seven passes defensed lead the team. Bold prediction: Leonhard’s group keeps Flowers under 60 yards.
D.J. Moore leads the Bills in receiving
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D.J. Moore missed Weeks 5 and 6 with a shoulder injury and has 12 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown in four games since arriving from Chicago. He was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, but head coach Joe Brady made it clear what the offense lost without him. “It was tough him not playing in those games,” Brady said, per the team’s website.
No Bills pass catcher has more than Dalton Kincaid’s 315 yards, and Kincaid was limited this week with a chest injury. Buffalo’s passing game has a good problem to solve with Moore back alongside Kincaid, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Marlon Humphrey leads Baltimore with six passes defensed. Bold prediction: Moore leads Buffalo in receiving yards and catches his second touchdown with the Bills.
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