Bills Roundtable Podcast Episode 54: Back from the Bye

The Buffalo Bills are back from their bye week, and the pressure is on as they prepare for a big Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. With key players potentially returning to the lineup and the second half of the regular season here (sort of), Buffalo has plenty to prove as it looks to make a run in the AFC.

On the latest episode of the Bills Roundtable Podcast, we look at what the Bills need to accomplish coming out of the break, how the returning players could impact the game, and what to expect when they take on Baltimore.

Getting players like Ed Oliver and DJ Moore back into the lineup could provide a significant boost. Oliver's presence would give Buffalo one of their biggest up-front pieces, while Moore provides the offense with their top weapon on the outside. And, let's be honest, with him out of the lineup, the offense looks drastically different despite still putting up points.

The biggest question heading into the matchup with the Ravens, however, could be the status of Lamar Jackson. If the Baltimore quarterback returns from injury, which signs point to that happening, Buffalo's defense will face a much tougher challenge.

Jackson's presence completely changes the game, and gameplan, for Buffalo. His ability to create plays with both his arm and his legs presents a difficult matchup, raising the question of whether the Bills have the personnel and consistency to contain him, especially in the secondary.

On the other side of the ball, Buffalo will need to find a way to move the football against Baltimore's defense. Can the Bills continue to produce at the level they have offensively? Will they be able to still keep pace if Jackson is back under center and Baltimore's offense is humming, or will the Ravens make life difficult for Josh Allen and company?

We also discuss what happens when C.J. Gardner-Johnson returns from his suspension. Will he immediately reclaim a starting role, or has Buffalo seen enough from its other options to make a different decision in the secondary?

Finally, we look beyond the Ravens matchup and predict the remainder of Buffalo's regular-season schedule, going game by game to determine how the Bills will finish the year. With important games still ahead against Kansas City, New England, Denver, and others, the final stretch won't be easy as Buffalo looks to clinch the AFC's top seed for the first time in Allen's career.