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BUFFALO (2-1) at BALTIMORE (2-1)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS

OPENING LINE: Buffalo by 4,

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bills 2-1; Raven 2-1

SERIES RECORD: Ravens lead 6-4

FINAL MEETING: Bills defeated Ravens 17-3 on January 16, 2021 in Orchard Park, NY

LAST WEEK: Bills lost in Miami 21-19, Ravens won in New England 37-26.

BILLS VIOLATION: GENERAL (2), RUSH (15), PASS (1), SCORING (3)

BILLS DEFENSE: GENERAL (1), RUSH (2), PASS (2), SCORING (T-4)

RAVENS RAID: GENERAL (4), RUSH (8), PASS (13), SCORING (1)

RAVENS DEFENSE: GENERAL (32), RUSH (13), PASS (32), SCORING (T-24)

REVENUE DIFFERENCE: Bills plus-2; Raven plus-5.

BILLS PLAYER TO WATCH: Possibly two in starting LB’s Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds. Both are double threats because they are adept at beating passes, particularly against the NFL’s elite such as Baltimore’s Mark Andrews, as well as being able to play a “spy” role in keeping under control. mobile quarterbacks, such as Lamar Jackson.

RAVENS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Devin Duvernay. The Ravens haven’t missed WR Marquise Brown much after trading him this offseason. Rashod Bateman is a big reason why, but he was expected to perform. Duvernay’s performance (three TD receptions, plus another touchdown on a kick return) was a more surprising boost.

IMPORTANT MATCH: Jackson vs. Buffalo QB Josh Allen. It’s no use thinking about this. These are two of the game’s biggest stars, both are off to a great start and after being drafted in the same year (2018) they will probably always be linked to some degree. The difference this week is that Jackson faces the league’s top-ranked defense and Allen takes on the number 32-ranked group. Still, it should be a treat for neutral fans watching this game regardless of which team has the ball.

KEY Injuries: Bill’s rookie CB Christian Benford (broken hand) has been ruled out by coach Sean McDermott. … DT Jordan Phillips (hamstring) is expected to miss a second game in a row. … DT Ed Oliver (single) expects to play after missing one game. … S Jordan Poyer’s status is uncertain after missing a game with a foot injury. …RG Ryan Bates was on the NFL’s concussion protocol. … CB Dane Jackson’s status is uncertain after missing a game with a neck injury. … WR Gabe Davis (ankle) returned to injury report after missing Buffalo’s game two weeks ago. … WR Jake Kumerow (high ankle sprain) not expected to play. … C Mitch Morse’s status is uncertain after missing a game with an elbow injury. … For the Ravens, T has not played Ronnie Stanley (ankle) since last season’s opener, but he seemed to take a step forward this week as he fully participated in Wednesday’s practice. …NT Michael Pierce (biceps) could miss the rest of the season if he decides to have surgery now. … Baltimore was fourth pick at LT during last week’s game due to injuries to Stanley, Ja’Wuan James (Achilles tendon) and Patrick Mekari (ankle).

SERIES Game Notes
The most recent meeting between the teams was also their only game after the season. Jackson left that game with a concussion. … The Bills won their first road meeting with the Ravens, in 1999, but lost the next five in Baltimore.

STATS AND THINGS: Allen and Jackson are the only two players in the NFL with at least 80 passing TDs and 20 rushing TDs since 2018. The two have combined rushing 6,354 yards, which is the second most in a meeting of two opposing QBs. Russell Wilson, then with Seattle, and Kyler Murray of Arizona had a combined speed of 6,435 yards when they met to finish out last season. … The bills are 0-7 in regular season games decided by seven points or less after their loss to Miami. By comparison, Buffalo’s past 20 wins have been decided by 10 points or more. … Allen made his career debut in Baltimore, replacing Nathan Peterman in the second half of Buffalo’s season opening 47-3 loss in 2018. … With 400 yards pass against Miami, Allen enjoyed his third career game with 400 yards or more to break Drew Bledsoe’s franchise record. …Allen is 2-1 with 400 or more yards passing, and 13-3 at over 300. …Allen also set team records with 63 tries and 42 completions against Miami. … WR Stefon Diggs’ 27 catches are the most in the team’s history during the first three games of the season, exceeding the goal set by Thurman Thomas (1991) and Eric Molds and Peerless Price (2002). … Diggs leads the NFL with 344 yards receiving and four TD catches. … New Bills pass rusher Von Miller had 2 1/2 sacks in two encounters against the Ravens last year. He credited half a sack of Jackson while playing with Denver in the Broncos’ 23-7 loss to Baltimore on October 3. Miller was then traded to the Rams, and he sacked Tyler Huntley twice in LA’s 20-19 win on Jan 2. …The bills have yet to allow an opponent to gain 250 yards or 80 yards this season. …Jackson has at least 100 yards rush and at least three TD passes in back-to-back games, the first player in NFL history to do so. … Baltimore scored touchdowns on all five red zone trips last weekend. … Mark Andrews of the Ravens has 12 consecutive games with at least 50 yards receiving, the NFL’s longest active streak. He is one less than Rob Gronkowski’s record for a TE since the merger. …Baltimore K Justin Tucker has made 59 consecutive FG attempts in the fourth quarter and overtime, the longest streak in NFL history. … Bateman has only eight catches on the season, but is averaging 28.3 yards per reception.

FANTASY TIP: Baltimore’s secondary had all sorts of issues with Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle two weeks ago, so it could be a particularly good week to own Diggs.

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