ESPN Hands Ravens Frustrating Outlook for This Week's Bills Matchup

Entering Week 8 NFL action, the Baltimore Ravens hold a 4-3 record. After starting the season at 4-1, the last two weeks have been a major disappointment.

Two weeks ago, the Ravens were defeated by the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns by a final score of 13-10. Last week, Baltimore came up short against another AFC North rival, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals by a final score of 35-13.

Lamar Jackson has continued missing time due to an ankle injury. His absence has resulted in the team falling apart after such a promising start to the year.

This week, things don't get easier for the Ravens. They will face off against Josh Allen and the 5-1 Buffalo Bills. It's too early to call it a "must-win" game, but it's extremely important to end the losing streak before it gets longer.

With that being said, ESPN's outlook does not look favorable for Baltimore. They are not giving the Ravens a great chance to defeat the Bills this week.

According to ESPN's matchup predictor, the Bills are being given a 61.4 percent chance of coming out on top in Sunday's showdown. That leaves the Ravens with a 38.3 percent chance of victory.

At the end of the day, it's hard to argue with that assessment. Whether or not Jackson plays this week, Buffalo is one of the most talented teams in the NFL. Beating Allen is never an easy task.

That being said, Baltimore is talented as well. The talent level has dropped off a bit due to Jackson's absence, but the Ravens have the players to win football games.

In Jackson's absence, Tyler Huntley has stepped into the starting quarterback job. He has played in four games this season, completing 69.8 percent of his pass attempts for 727 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception, while also running for 76 yards and another score.

Hopefully, some good news will come out about Jackson as the week progresses. Should he be forced to miss yet another game, Baltimore will lean heavily on Huntley and star running back Derrick Henry to carry the offensive load.

Defensively, the Ravens will need to find a way to put pressure on Allen. The secondary will need to capitalize on any mistake the superstar quarterback makes.

Kickoff between Baltimore and Buffalo is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon. Fans will be able to watch the game on CBS.