Buffalo eyes the AFC’s top seed as they host the 4-3 Ravens at New Highmark Stadium on Sunday. With Lamar Jackson expected back, Baltimore’s defense—ranked 29th in completion percentage allowed and 26th in yards per attempt—has struggled to limit big plays, giving up the third‑highest rate of throws with three‑yard separation. Josh Allen is the Bills’ key weapon, thriving against zone defenses and boasting league‑leading EPA and multiple fourth‑quarter comebacks. Meanwhile, cornerback Christian Benford shines against tight end Brock Bowers, while safety C.J. Gardner‑Johnson’s disciplinary issues and poor grades raise concerns. The preview highlights Bills players trending up or down ahead of the pivotal matchup.
Joe Burrow has opened the 2026 NFL season with a career-best 91.2 PFF grade through seven weeks, ranking second among qualifying quarterbacks. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback leads the NFL with 1.54 Wins Above Replacement and delivered a 95.0 passing grade in the second half of Cincinnati's comeback win over Baltimore. With a history of elite late-season performances and the league's easiest remaining schedule, Burrow and the Bengals have a path toward AFC contention.
The Bengals enter the 2026 season 4-2 after a 35-13 win over the Ravens, but still need depth at corner, safety, linebacker, running back and tight end due to injuries to Erick All Jr. and Tanner Hudson. Trade‑deadline chatter has linked the team to names like Zach Baun and Johnathan Taylor, though nothing concrete has emerged. In a press conference, quarterback Joe Burrow expressed confidence in the current roster and noted that while general managers inevitably explore options, few deals materialize. He also highlighted the rarity of acquiring a player like Dexter Lawrence and praised the trade that brought him to Cincinnati, saying the team is happy with the outcome.
The Bengals head into Week 8 against the 1‑6 Tennessee Titans with star receiver Ja’Marr Chase listed as a DNP due to ankle rest, prompting injury‑watch concerns. While the team rode a 35‑point surge to beat the Ravens, Chase’s limited practice could affect the high‑powered duo. The article also touches on Joe Burrow’s strong performance, the Bengals climbing into the NFL Top 5, and a brief look at coaching and referee issues.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter says the team added former Steelers safety Rayshawn Jenkins to their practice squad with the intention of elevating him for Sunday games. Minter highlights Jenkins’ versatility and potential to fill multiple roles on defense, explaining why Baltimore moved quickly after his release from Pittsburgh.
After a bye, the Buffalo Bills aim for a third straight win on Oct. 29 against the Baltimore Ravens at New Highmark Stadium, improving to 6‑1. While quarterback Josh Allen will take on Lamar Jackson, offensive coordinator Joe Brady admits the team isn’t satisfied despite an NFL‑best 32.8 points per game. He points to defensive woes—allowing 28.5 points and 386.8 yards per game, the league’s third‑most and second‑most respectively—and nine turnovers. The Bills’ recent 33‑30 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders highlighted Allen’s 23‑of‑33, 2 TD effort and James Cook’s 95 rushing yards, but key players like Dalton Kincaid, DJ Moore and Ed Oliver remain questionable.
Lamar Jackson returns to full practice on Oct. 29 after missing three games with a high‑ankle sprain, putting the Ravens’ offense back on track ahead of their Week 8 road clash with the Buffalo Bills. While Jackson is listed as a full participant, defensive linchpins safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Roquan Smith skipped Wednesday’s session, alongside guard Olaivavega Ioane (knee) and veteran Calais Campbell (rest). Baltimore went 1‑2 without Jackson, including a loss to the Bengals, and he had logged 967 yards, six TDs and one INT before the injury. Jackson’s game status will be confirmed later in the week.
Bills right tackle Spencer Brown opened up about the back injury he suffered in Week 5 against the Rams and the aggressive pain‑management protocol that kept him on the field for the Las Vegas Raiders game. He joked he took “enough drugs to sedate a small elephant,” a treatment cleared by the NFL, and said coach Joe Brady trusts him to be ready whenever. Brown missed Wednesday’s practice, remains questionable for the upcoming Ravens matchup, and the Bills could turn to Tylan Grable if the issue lingers. The team aims to protect its 5‑1 record heading into the AFC North clash at Highmark Stadium.
The Buffalo Bills are evaluating the health of WR DJ Moore and DT Ed Oliver after they missed the last two games before the Week 7 bye. Both practiced at a limited level Wednesday, with Moore still rehabbing a left shoulder injury sustained in Week 2 and aggravated against New England, and Oliver nursing a knee issue from the same game. The team’s injury report lists six other players with limited participation, but none of the designations guarantee Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Final statuses will be released Friday.
The Game Haus breaks down the fantasy quarterback hierarchy for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season. Josh Allen (vs. Ravens) and Joe Burrow (vs. Titans) remain top‑tier "Must Start" options, with Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson (returning from injury) also high on the list. Mid‑range starters include Jordan Love, Dak Prescott and Matthew Stafford, while low‑end starters feature Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Deep‑league prospects such as Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are highlighted, and several QBs—Brock Purdy, J.J. McCarthy, C.J. Stroud and Tyler Shough—are on bye. The article also notes Jackson’s health update and Mayfield’s return after a thumb injury, helping managers adjust lineups for the upcoming matchups.
The Miami Dolphins claim ex‑Seahawks guard Christian Haynes off waivers, outpacing the Baltimore Ravens despite the latter’s earlier announcement. Haynes, a 2024 third‑round pick from UConn who posted a 5.03‑second 40‑yard dash at the draft combine, was released by Seattle after the team traded for All‑Pro lineman Quenton Nelson, sending a 2027 third‑rounder and a 2028 fifth‑rounder to the Colts. Haynes appeared in 31 games with five starts for the Seahawks and started five times in 2026 before his waiver. The Dolphins secured his services thanks to a higher claim priority.
The Baltimore Ravens sign veteran offensive guard Michael Jordan—no relation to the basketball legend—just days before facing Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Week 8. The Ohio State product, drafted by the Bengals in 2019, has played 78 NFL games with 49 starts for teams including the Panthers and Patriots. His quirky name sparks a flood of social‑media jokes and memes, with fans joking about “the GOAT” and “another ring.” While the signing may not overhaul the line, the buzz adds extra intrigue to the Ravens‑Bills showdown on Oct. 28, 2026.
The Browns lock up defensive tackle Maliek Collins with a two‑year, $30 million extension that guarantees $15 million, an $8 million signing bonus and up to $1.5 million in per‑game roster bonuses through 2028. Meanwhile, the Ravens’ coaching staff and veterans—including HC Jesse Minter, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, RB Derrick Henry and WR Zay Flowers—acknowledge the team’s momentum issues and mental lapses as they await the possible return of quarterback Lamar Jackson this week. Both clubs emphasize consistency and staying even‑keeled to shape their identities moving forward.
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The Buffalo Bills return to practice on Wednesday, but offensive lineman Spencer Brown remains out with a lingering back injury despite a bye-week rest. Several players have limited drills, including CB Dee Alford (ankle), OLB Bradley Chubb (chest/thumb), TE Dalton Kincaid (chest), WR DJ Moore (shoulder), DL Ed Oliver (knee), OLB TJ Parker (knee) and DL T.J. Sanders (shoulder). Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers, cleared from the PUP list after ACL surgery, now has until the week before Thanksgiving to rejoin the roster. G Ar’maj Reed‑Adams practices fully, while CB Christian Benford, ILB Terrel Bernard, WR Keon Coleman, DL Landon Jackson and WR Josh Palmer are off the injury list. The Ravens also report Lamar Jackson’s high‑ankle sprain as he prepares to face Buffalo this weekend.
The Kansas City Chiefs evaluated three kickers before adding veteran Justin Tucker to their practice squad, according to NFL Trade Rumors. Alongside former Rams starter Harrison Mevis and ex‑Giants K Ben Sauls, the 36‑year‑old Tucker—who spent a decade with Baltimore, earning multiple extensions and a franchise tag—was released in 2025 after 16 women accused him of sexual misconduct. In 2024 he appeared in all 17 games, converting 22 of 30 field goals (73.3%) and 60 of 62 PATs (96.8%).
Buffalo’s 5-1 start fuels high expectations, but fans are split on whether the Bills can sustain success under rookie head coach Joe Brady. A narrow 33-30 win over the Raiders highlighted an offense still reliant on Josh Allen while the defense, now led by Jim Leonhard, struggles to pressure the pass. Recent bye‑week losses by the Patriots, Ravens and Chiefs open a path to the AFC’s top seed, yet cap space limits any big‑time trades. The poll asks fans to weigh the coaching staff, injuries and defensive progress before the next stretch.
The Miami Dolphins have successfully claimed offensive guard Christian Haynes off waivers, outranking the Baltimore Ravens after Seattle released him. Haynes, a 26‑year‑old former UConn standout and 2022 second‑team All‑American, was a third‑round pick in the 2024 draft. He is in the third year of a four‑year, $5.8 million rookie deal, carrying a $1.58 million cap hit in 2026, and has appeared in seven games with five starts for the Seahawks this season.
The Seattle Seahawks' 2024 third‑round pick Christian Haynes, the 81st overall guard from UConn, is claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens on October 28, 2026. After two years as a backup and five starts in 2026 while filling in for the injured Anthony Bradford, Haynes was released following Seattle’s trade for veteran guard Quenton Nelson. The Ravens, seeking offensive line depth, add Haynes to their roster, while Seattle reshuffles its line with Grey Zabel, Josh Jones, Beau Stephens, Bradford and Nelson ahead of a Monday night clash with the Chicago Bears.
The Kansas City Chiefs add veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad after incumbent Harrison Butker missed two field goals in a 20-3 loss to Seattle. Tucker, last seen in the NFL in 2024 and released by the Ravens amid sexual‑misconduct allegations and a 10‑game suspension, draws heat as coach Andy Reid defends the signing. When asked about the message to female fans, Reid replied, “He’s done his suspension. Took care of that business there,” prompting backlash and questions about ownership’s role. Reid says the team did thorough vetting and hopes Tucker’s on‑field performance will quiet the controversy.
Awful Announcing releases the full Week 8 NFL broadcast roster. Highlights include the Ravens‑Bills AFC showdown on CBS (Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker) with Lamar Jackson returning, and the Vikings‑Lions NFC North clash on Fox featuring Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. CBS’s marquee game pits the Chiefs against the Broncos with Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt, while ESPN’s Monday Night Football showcases the Bears at Seahawks with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Additional matchups and announcer lineups are detailed for Thursday’s Prime Video game and all Sunday games across CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN.
Former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale erupts on Pat Leonard’s “Talkin’ Ball” podcast, blasting the team’s current defensive leaders for “making business decisions” instead of showing football character. He challenges head coach Jesse Lampson to have honest talks, urges owner Steve Bisciotti to confront GM Eric DeCosta, and warns that a loss to the Bills in Buffalo will spark “trouble brewing” and possible lineup changes. Martindale points to the Ravens being outscored 48‑0 in the second half of their last two games, most recently a collapse against Cincinnati, as proof the locker room needs a reset.
Bills head coach Joe Brady confirms veteran wideout DJ Moore and defensive tackle Ed Oliver are back on the practice field ahead of the Week 8 home game versus the Ravens. Moore missed the last 2½ games due to an aggravated AC‑joint sprain, while Oliver has been limited to just 27% of defensive snaps this season. Both players could provide a major boost: Oliver, built into the defense’s core, posted a respectable 8.8% pressure rate, and Moore maintains 2.47 yards per route run when healthy. Their practice designations this week will signal whether they’ll suit up for Buffalo’s first game after the bye on October 28, 2026.
Sharp Football Analysis’s Week 8 fantasy worksheet pits the Ravens against the Bills in a high‑scoring showdown. The Bills lead the league in points per drive (3.13) and explosive plays, while Buffalo’s defense surrenders the most points per drive (2.76) and allows 30‑plus points in four games. Josh Allen tops fantasy QBs with 26.9 points per game and benefits from D.J. Moore’s return, though his deep‑downfield efficiency has slipped. The Ravens sport a +65 first‑half margin but a –63 second‑half deficit, carry the worst penalty differential and rank 3.5 underdogs with a 25.0 implied total. This data‑rich preview helps fantasy owners gauge risk and upside for both sides.
The Kansas City Chiefs add veteran kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, reports Sam McDowell and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Tucker, a five‑time First‑Team All‑Pro who last played in 2024, was released by the Ravens in May 2025 and served a 10‑game suspension for personal conduct violations. He spent 13 seasons in Baltimore, earning seven Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl ring in his rookie year. The move gives the Chiefs insurance for Harrison Butker, who has missed five of 16 field‑goal attempts this season, including two in a recent loss to Seattle. The signing signals Kansas City’s response to Butler’s struggles.