Ravens vs. Bills prediction, props: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson to shine in Week 8 marquee clash
Lamar Jackson is back after a three-week absence and he’s just in time for the game football fans yearn for. The two-time NFL MVP and his rival Josh Allen will face one another for the eighth time in their generational careers.Allen leads the all-time series, 4-3, with two of those wins having eliminated Jackson from the playoffs. The Ravens have struggled without Jackson as of late, dropping their last two games and falling to last in the ever-competitive AFC North at 4-3.Buffalo returns from its bye week in first place in the AFC East at 5-1. Oddsmakers are expecting the two superstars to make for another vintage shootout, setting the point total in the clouds at 54.5.When they last met in September 2025, they made for a 41-40 laser show.Jackson makes his return under auspicious circumstances.The Bills rank 31st in passing fantasy points allowed per game (21.3) and 27th in passing points allowed per attempt, while their overall defense sits 31st in EPA per play.Buffalo has also allowed multiple passing scores to every opposing quarterback except a helpless Justin Herbert this season.Before his hiatus, Jackson was exceptionally efficient, completing 70.8 percent of his passes, second-best in the NFL, while averaging 10.1 yards per attempt and posting a 6.3 percent touchdown rate.His production hasn’t depended entirely on his mobility, either.
Jackson leads the league with 11.5 yards per attempt from a clean pocket and completes 78.8 percent of those throws.Allen, on the other hand, is a threat to cross the end zone against anyone at any time.The 2024 MVP has already rushed for eight touchdowns in six games, leading the NFL after scoring 14 times on the ground last season.He scored twice on the ground in last season’s opener and added another pair of rushing touchdowns in their Divisional Round meeting two seasons ago.Besides, Baltimore has also surrendered rushing production to less mobile quarterbacks this season, including a touchdown by Tyler Shough an...