The Week 5 Sunday night matchup between the Ravens and Falcons has already been reshaped by one major storyline: Lamar Jackson’s injury.
Baltimore heads to Atlanta trying to stack a third straight win after beating the Cowboys 34-31 in Brazil and then surviving the Titans 24-18 last week. That latest victory came with Jackson getting hurt, and his status for this primetime game remains uncertain.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is riding a two-game surge of its own. The Falcons rolled over the Saints 45-24 on Monday night after handling the Packers 35-14 the week before, and they now get another shot to shine under the lights.
The betting market has reacted hard to the Jackson news. The Ravens opened as 3.5-point favorites, but the Falcons have since moved to a three-point edge. The total has also dipped from 46.5 to 43.5.
SI Betting’s Iain MacMillan said the early number on Atlanta was the right way to attack this game, pointing to what he sees as a defense that has been among the NFL’s best to start the season. He also noted that Atlanta may be a different team with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, and said he’s ready to back the Falcons in another upset on prime time.
MacMillan also pointed out that if Jackson can’t play, Atlanta could even close as the betting favorite by kickoff Sunday night. He advised taking the Falcons as underdogs while the price was still available.
That early window is gone now, but MacMillan still likes the home side. He said the spread is less appealing at Falcons -3, yet he still prefers Atlanta and thinks the total has dropped too far given Atlanta’s recent offensive production and Derrick Henry still doing Derrick Henry things for Baltimore.
In Other News...
Jake Matthews Forces A Big Falcons Decision Ahead Of A Rare Milestone
Jake Matthews is hovering around a milestone few NFL offensive linemen ever reach as the Falcons head into Week 5 against the Ravens. The veteran left tackle is questionable with a groin injury from Week 4, and his status has become one of Atlantas biggest pregame decisions because one more appearance would put him at 200 consecutive starts, a rare mark for a player in the trenches.
The timing adds another layer to a game already shaped by injuries on the other side, with Baltimore set to be without star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. For Atlanta, the choice is simple on paper and complicated in practice: protect Matthews, protect the streak, or trust him to keep one of the NFLs steadiest runs going while the Falcons try to keep their offensive line intact. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Run Defense Is About To Face Its Realest Test Yet
Through four weeks, the Falcons have done something that has turned heads around the league: they have looked like the NFLs best run defense. The early slate has kept them mostly away from the kind of pounding ground game that can expose a front seven, but the production has still been there, and Atlanta has made a habit of keeping opposing backs from getting comfortable.
Week 5 brings a different kind of exam. Baltimore arrives with Derrick Henry, a power runner who changes the tone of a game just by getting the ball, and Atlantas defense, including rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels, will have to prove its early success can travel against a back built to wear teams down. This is the test that can tell us a lot more about where the Falcons really stand in stopping the run. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Penix Jr. Is About To Face Atlantas Defining Stretch
The Falcons have steadied themselves with a two-game winning streak after their slow start, and Michael Penix Jr. has been a big reason the mood around the building has shifted. His recent play has given Atlanta a chance to reset the conversation, but the margin for error is still thin in a conference where every slip can change the picture quickly.
Now comes the part of the schedule that will say plenty about whether this surge is real. Atlanta is about to enter a four-game run that should help define its playoff outlook, with quality opponents lined up and little room to coast, and the next few weeks could tell the Falcons a lot about where they truly stand. [Read more 🡒]