Bills at Ravens: What to look for in Week 4

As the Buffalo Bills (3-0) prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens (1-2) in Week 4's primetime clash on Sunday Night Football, both teams are trending in opposite directions. Buffalo is coming off a 47-10 demolition of the Jacksonville Jaguars , establishing themselves as the NFL's top offense, averaging a league-best 37 points per game.

On the other side, the Ravens have experienced a rocky start, narrowly avoiding a meltdown in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys to secure their first win of the season. Here's what to look for in an early season showdown of AFC favorites.

Weather Conditions The game, is set for 8:20 p.m. EDT at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD, and it could feature tricky weather conditions. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a chance of showers late in the evening. Temperatures will hover around 65° Fahrenheit, with winds around 10-15 mph.

While the rain may hold off until the later stages of the game, wet field conditions might benefit Baltimore's run-heavy offense while challenging Buffalo's aerial attack led by quarterback Josh Allen. Expect a game plan that emphasizes ball security in case the conditions worsen as the game progresses.

However, if the rain stays light throughout the game I don't see it presenting much of a problem for either side.

Ravens' Rushing Attack vs. Bills LB Depth Baltimore's ground game, anchored by quarterback Lamar Jackson and recently signed running back Derrick Henry, has been their saving grace. The Ravens rank second in the NFL, averaging 203.3 rushing yards per game. Lamar's ability to break off explosive runs (7.3 yards per carry) and Henry's bruising running style (5.0 yards per carry) form a dangerous one-two punch.

Derrick Henry, coming off another great game in Week 3, has become a focal point of Baltimore's offense — which is creating opportunities for Jackson to exploit defenses both through the air and on the ground. Against a Bills defense that has been stout so far, holding Jacksonville to just 10 points last week, Baltimore will need their rushing attack to set the tone.

The Bills are still without their two starting linebackers, Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano, both of whom were expected to anchor the defense this season. Additionally, they'll be missing reliable nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, known for his sure tackling in the secondary.

So far, their replacements, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, and Cam Lewis, have stepped up big time. However, the games they've played in have been blowouts, leading opposing teams to abandon the run in favor of a heavier passing attack.

This week, watch for how these three defenders perform against the run early in the game. With the Ravens' rushing attack being a significant part of their offense, this matchup will provide a strong indication of whether Buffalo's defensive depth can hold up when tested on the ground.

Buffalo's Passing Offense vs. Baltimore's Struggling Secondary On the flip side, Buffalo's passing offense has been lights out. Josh Allen leads the league with a 92.5 QBR and a passer rating of 133.7. The Bills' "everybody eats" approach in the passing game has distributed the ball to numerous receivers every game, making it nearly impossible for defenses to key on one player.

After dealing with turf toe for the first two weeks of the season, wide receiver Curtis Samuel saw more action in Week 3. We have yet to see him fully incorporated into the Bills' offense, but I'm excited to see what he can do when healthy.

Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady has put on a play-calling clinic. Buffalo's offense has had a nice flow to it this season and receivers are routinely schemed open, especially on important downs like third and fourth.

Baltimore, however, has serious concerns in the secondary. They rank dead last in the NFL, allowing 291.7 passing yards per game, and have struggled especially over the middle — an area where the Bills love to operate with their tight ends and slot receivers.

The Ravens' inability to limit passing yards makes them vulnerable to another big night from Allen, and they'll need to tighten up if they hope to contain Buffalo's passing offense. If the Bills can find success in the passing game and get out to an early lead, the game script might flip on the Ravens and they will have to throw the ball more than they would like to.

Injury Report The Ravens started the week with three key offensive linemen on the injury report. Starting tackle Patrick Mekari doesn't carry an injury designation heading into the game, which is a positive for Baltimore.

However, starting center Tyler Linderbaum is listed as questionable but is expected to play, while starting guard Andrew Vorhees is doubtful, putting a dent in their offensive line. Reserve cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis has officially been ruled out, and rotational defensive tackle Michael Pierce, initially expected to play, has been downgraded to doubtful.

Though the Ravens avoided a major blow with Mekari and Linderbaum available, missing a starting guard like Vorhees could impact their running game.

On Buffalo's side, there aren't many surprises on the injury report. Both Taron Johnson and Terrel Bernard have been ruled out for the game. However, Bernard's limited participation in practice on Thursday and Friday signals a possible return for Week 5, which is encouraging for Buffalo's defense.

Meanwhile, Josh Allen remains on the injury report due to his left hand injury but was a full participant in practice all week. Since sustaining the injury, Allen has played comfortably in the pocket and hasn't had to make any crazy plays. However, he has been seen avoiding handoffs with his left hand during games.

While each week of healing is a positive, it's worth wondering: if the game comes down to a critical "must-have" first down, could the injury impact Allen's decision-making when scrambling or running the ball?

Bills Pass Rush vs. Lamar Jackson One of the key challenges for the Bills tonight be containing Lamar Jackson — a dynamic player known for his scrambling ability, and averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He remains one of the NFL's most dangerous runners from the quarterback position. The Bills' pass rush, led by edge rushers Greg Rousseau and Von Miller, has been highly effective to start the season, each tallying three sacks thus far.

Buffalo's defense has registered 11 sacks through three games, ranking in the top five in the league. However, Jackson's ability to evade pressure makes him one of the most-difficult quarterbacks to bring down.

The Bills will need a disciplined approach to prevent Jackson from breaking outside the pocket and turning broken plays into big gains. Buffalo's defense had plenty of practice containing a mobile quarterback in Week 1 when they faced Kyler Murray, look for a similar approach this week.

Containing Jackson will also depend on interior pressure from Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones, as collapsing the pocket from the inside could force Jackson into uncomfortable throws. The key for Buffalo will be to strike a balance between aggressive pressure and disciplined containment.