The Falcons are suddenly the ones wearing the bull’s-eye.
After an 0-2 start that had Atlanta looking finished with Cooper Rush at quarterback, the mood has flipped fast. Two straight blowout-type wins over the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints on national television have pushed the Falcons from afterthought to the center of the conversation, and now they get another stage to prove it.
Baltimore comes to town for Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. EST, and the matchup has turned into a rare spot where Atlanta is expected to handle business.
The Ravens are dealing with a long injury list, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and newly acquired Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens. Jackson had been doubtful much of the week, but the Ravens officially ruled him out Friday afternoon.
That leaves Tyler Huntley in charge and puts even more pressure on Derrick Henry, who figures to be the focal point of Baltimore’s offense. Henry even said earlier this week that Bijan Robinson was the best in the game right now, though Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich knows exactly what kind of force he’s facing.
Ulbrich’s defense has been stingy against the run through the first month of the season, sitting No. 1 in the NFL in that category. That makes this a very real strength-on-strength test, even if the circumstances around the game are tilted toward Atlanta.
"This is a great challenge," Ulbrich said this week. "We've had some success.
Not saying it's been perfect by any means, but we've had some success versus the run so far this season. You want to be the best.
You want to play the best. Derrick Henry is one of the best maybe ever in that way.
Just the physicality, the toughness, and then the speed that you're not ready for as he runs by you and the stiff arm, etcetera.
"But like the commitment by the offense, the organization, the offensive line to run the ball and play that that style of football. I'm excited about that.”
The prediction markets and national analysts have leaned hard toward Atlanta. NFL Network’s five analysts all picked the Falcons, with Brooke Cersosimo pointing to the prime-time spotlight Robinson keeps getting. ESPN’s Seth Walder, long skeptical of Atlanta, is the lone holdout among his colleagues, while Pamela Maldonado and Eric Moody also backed the Falcons.
For a team that has already dealt with plenty of doubt, the setting is unusual: Atlanta is at home, under the lights, and carrying the favorite’s label. The Falcons have been burned before when the spotlight gets brighter, but right now they’re coming off a surge on both sides of the ball and heading back to Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a chance to show this version of the team is for real.
In Other News...
Falcons Fans Should Track These Weekend Matchups For A Reason
This weekends college slate carries extra weight for Falcons fans who like to think a few years ahead, because the scouting board is already starting to take shape for the next wave of draft prospects. The games on tap offer a chance to monitor talent from several of the programs Atlanta and the rest of the NFL always circle, with a mix of younger names who could eventually become part of the 2027 and 2028 conversations.
For a front office trying to stay ahead of the curve, these matchups are less about September drama and more about the long view. The weekend guide points to a handful of games that could help separate early hype from real NFL projection, and the Falcons interest only grows when the rosters include quarterbacks, defensive backs and blue-chip recruits who are already drawing notice before their draft stock fully forms. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Defensive Depth Test Before Ravens Showdown
The Falcons defense took another hit this week as the team worked to keep enough bodies available for Sunday Night Football against the Ravens. Atlanta signed safety Jammie Robinson to the 53-man roster and elevated defensive ends Bralen Trice and Drake Jackson from the practice squad, a set of moves that underscores how quickly the depth chart has thinned heading into a difficult prime-time matchup.
Those adjustments became necessary after linebacker Yasir Abdullah landed on injured reserve with a hamstring issue, while ZaDarius Smith was ruled out for the Baltimore game. For a defense already trying to manage its rotation and match up with a high-powered opponent, the timing leaves Atlanta piecing together answers on the fly, with the next wave of available pass rush help and back-end flexibility now carrying more weight than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Winning Streak Just Raised A Big Trade Deadline Question
Atlantas two-game bounce-back has changed the feel around the building after an 0-2 start, and it has also nudged the front office conversation in a different direction as the trade deadline draws closer. A Bleacher Report piece by Kristopher Knox put veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in the mix as the kind of pass-rush help a team on the rise might consider, and his early-season production in Houston has kept his name on the radar.
The appeal is obvious for a Falcons team trying to build on its recent surge without losing sight of the bigger picture. Clowney has been active in two games this season, and with the deadline approaching, Atlanta is the sort of team that has to weigh whether a push for immediate help is worth the cost. Houston would be the club to move him, and the market could get interesting quickly if the Falcons decide they want to make a stronger play. [Read more 🡒]