Mother Nature might be the most unpredictable player in Sunday night’s showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. As Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson prepare to light up the scoreboard, the forecast threatens to rain on their parade – quite literally.

The latest weather report for M&T Bank Stadium paints a soggy picture. Fans settling into their seats for the 8:20 PM EDT kickoff can expect a 60% chance of rain showers, with temperatures hovering around 69°F. It’s not exactly ideal conditions for a primetime quarterback duel.

This wet weather could throw a wrench into both teams’ game plans. Josh Allen, currently boasting the NFL’s highest quarterback rating at 133.7, has been slinging the pigskin like a man possessed. He’s connected with 10 different targets in Week 3 alone, spreading the love like a generous Santa on Christmas Eve. But will his pinpoint accuracy hold up when the ball becomes as slippery as a greased pig?

On the flip side, Lamar Jackson’s electrifying scrambles might lose some of their spark on a slick field. The Ravens’ signal-caller has a knack for making defenders look silly, but even he might struggle to find his footing in these conditions. Baltimore’s pass defense, already more porous than a dollar store sieve, will face an even tougher challenge containing Allen’s aerial assault in the rain.

As the game progresses, things might get even dicier. By the fourth quarter, temperatures are expected to dip to 66°F, with northeast winds gusting up to 15 mph. Visibility could drop to a mere 5 miles. This weather wildcard adds an extra layer of intrigue to a matchup already crackling with excitement.

The key to victory is ground and pound

Once the skies start looking like they might open up, both sides have to make ready their rubber boots and slog through mud. Fresh from a ground masterclass against Dallas, the Ravens could lean heavily on their new battering ram, Derrick Henry.

Henry will enter the game having rolled up 151 yards rushing and two touchdowns his last week, maybe he is looking down the line at facing a soft Bills defense against rain. Buffalo’s run-stopping unit has been unyielding so far, yielding just 3.4 yards per carry. However, with starters Terrell Bernard and Matt Milano sidelined at linebacker, they might be as fragile as a sandcastle at high tide.

The Bills’ high-flying offense has become known for taking early leads, blunting their opposition’s running game. But if the Ravens can get Henry running early and often, they potentially might run out the clock while Josh Allen kicks his heels on the sideline. This worked beautifully for Henry in his Tennessee days when the Titans went 33-9 once he entered the triple-digit territory.

Baltimore’s success could hinge on solving their fourth-quarter woes. They’ve been outscored 35-7 in the final frame over the last two games, nearly coughing up a 22-point lead against Dallas. In slippery conditions against a team led by the comeback-savvy Allen (13 fourth-quarter comebacks and counting), the Ravens will need to bring their A-game for all 60 minutes.

The success of Baltimore possibly depends on righting their fourth-quarter wrongs. Over the last two games, they’ve been outscored in the final frame by 35-7, almost fumbling away a 22-point lead against Dallas. On a greasy field against a team presided over by Allen one of the comeback-savviest quarterbacks in league history (13 fourth-quarter, as well as four overtime) the Ravens need to bring their A-game for all 60 minutes.