Bills vs. Ravens Week 4 matchup preview and current betting lines
The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens last met in the 2020 AFC divisional round with the Bills winning 17-3 after a Lamar Jackson pass was intercepted and returned 101 yards for a touchdown.
Now Josh Allen and Jackson are the two leading MVP candidates, and this is a great showdown between two of the main contenders in the AFC this year. Allen is still the odds-on MVP favorite after opening the season that way, but Jackson was just named AFC Offensive Player of the Month after having the best September for any quarterback.
We wait to see if the weather is going to rob us of what could be a fantastic quarterback battle between two of the best dual-threat quarterbacks to ever do it. With what’s left of Hurricane Ian moving up the east coast, this could be a very rainy game which would have an interesting impact on both teams as they rely so heavily on their quarterback to both throw and run with the ball.
The NFL Week 4 odds have the Bills as a 3-point road favorite in this matchup. But does Jackson have the upper hand with Buffalo’s defense banged up?
Players to watch in the Bills vs. Ravens game
Buffalo Bills
Von Miller: After registering a pair of sacks on opening night against the Rams, Miller has been quiet the last two games with three pressures and no sacks. He is someone who can make the big play in the big moment to stop Jackson, who took four sacks in New England with the heat on him. But he still threw four touchdowns. Miller was brought to Buffalo to be special in games like this one.
Baltimore Ravens
Devin Duvernay: An afterthought in Baltimore the last two years, Duvernay has scored a touchdown every week in 2022, including a kick return touchdown to start the Miami game. He has also caught all eight of his targets for 121 yards to rank as the team’s third-leading receiver. He is someone you overlook in a game like this only to see him score another big touchdown.
Our Best NFL Bets for the Bills vs. Ravens game
We have two NFL Week 4 predictions we feel good about for this epic AFC showdown in Baltimore.
Bills vs. Ravens Point Spread Pick: Ravens +3 (-110)
The Bills vs. Ravens spread opened with the Bills as a 1-point road favorite and it has only grown up to Buffalo -3 going into the weekend. But what about the potential weather?
Forecasts are calling for a rainy, wet afternoon with some wind gusts. Both teams have strong-armed quarterbacks who can run, but this still feels like a big advantage to Baltimore, which will not need to throw 40-plus times in a game like this. While Allen is great at running himself, Jackson is just better at it.
If the Bills are going to rely on a lot of short, quick passes, that could be hard to sustain drives with in the rain where you should expect more fumbles and drops. The Ravens also can take advantage of a Buffalo defense that has been injured right down the middle at defensive tackle and safety, and top corner Tre’Davious White is still out. That can make the defense vulnerable if Jackson attacks them downhill with his legs or uses tight end Mark Andrews down the seams.
There’s also the fact that the Bills can’t seem to beat anyone unless they are winning by double digits, which is what they’ve done in their last 20 regular-season wins, which ties an NFL record set by the 1941-42 Bears. Buffalo has lost 12 games in a row when trailing in the fourth quarter. Baltimore played in more close games than anyone last year, and they had their share of success before Jackson’s injury late in the season.
Jackson is playing at an unreal level right now, and after the Dolphins showed some flaws in the Bills, Baltimore looks like the better value pick at home this week.
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bet on NFL with Betrivers >Lamar Jackson Prop: Over 55.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
Is any number under 60 rushing yards fair enough for Lamar Jackson at this point? He has run for over 100 yards in back-to-back games, something he does more than any quarterback in NFL history.
But the Bills have allowed 173 rushing yards in three games as well as holding teams to 2.8 yards per carry. Both are elite ranks, but Jackson is going to be the best athlete on the field. If it is a field that is chewed up from rain, then he is still going to be the best runner in this matchup. He can make up 55 yards on one play sometimes.
Jackson hitting his rushing over is one of the safest NFL bets of the week for Week 4.
bet on NFL with draftkings >Frequently asked questions about the Buffalo vs. Baltimore game in week 4
The game is being played at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lamar Jackson is 20-8 in home starts in his career, and all eight losses were by more than a field goal. He is also 20-8 as a starter on the road.
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