The Baltimore Ravens don’t need a miracle to slow Atlanta down in Week 5, but they do need three defenders to be sharp for all four quarters.
The Falcons have gone from an ugly 0-2 start to one of the league’s most dangerous offenses over the last two weeks, and Baltimore’s defense has not yet put together a full dominant game. The Ravens have shown flashes.
They just haven’t strung them together long enough. If they let up even a little on Sunday, Atlanta has the kind of attack that can make them pay fast.
Kyle Hamilton sits at the center of that conversation. He’s the kind of defender who belongs on this kind of list every time because his impact doesn’t depend on the matchup.
Whether the offense wants to run or throw, Hamilton can change the terms. Against Atlanta, that matters even more with Bijan Robinson and Drake London both capable of doing major damage on any snap.
Hamilton is already an All-Pro and a three-time Pro Bowler, but Baltimore needs one of the best games of his career here.
His value comes in every phase. Against the run, his anticipation and quick trigger make him tough to block.
Against the pass, he can blitz like a problem off the edge and cover enough ground to squeeze windows shut. Jesse Minter has to let him go.
Trenton Simpson is the other big piece in the middle of the field. Baltimore needs his sideline-to-sideline speed because Atlanta’s offense is built to keep moving and keep stressing angles.
Simpson has been one of the Ravens’ best pursuit players, and that matters against a back like Bijan Robinson, who is going to get into the second level. Baltimore can live with some 5- to 7-yard gains.
What it cannot allow is for those runs to keep turning into explosives.
Simpson has also become more than just a fast linebacker. The Clemson product has made clear progress in pass coverage and run defense in 2026, and he looks much more comfortable reading the game.
He’s still a useful pass rusher, too. All of that versatility needs to show up against an offense that’s rolling.
Then there’s Tavius Robinson, whose role may be less glamorous but just as important. Baltimore’s discipline has been a problem, especially when it comes to scramble drills and setting the edge.
Robinson has played enough that a lot of that responsibility lands on him. He started the season hot, flashing as a pass rusher in the first two weeks while holding up against the run, but his production has cooled since then.
The Ravens would love to get that pass-rush spark back, but his edge-setting is the bigger issue in this matchup. Bijan Robinson is dangerous because of how well he cuts back, makes defenders miss, and turns space into points.
If Baltimore can force him back inside, he becomes more manageable, even if that still doesn’t guarantee a stop. Robinson’s job is to help close those cutback lanes and keep Atlanta contained on the edge.
That’s the assignment for Baltimore’s defense: Hamilton to erase space, Simpson to chase everything down, and Tavius Robinson to do the hard work up front.
In Other News...
Ravens Need A New Plan To Keep Zay Flowers Dangerous Sunday Night
Zay Flowers has been one of the Ravens most dangerous weapons when Lamar Jackson is running the offense, the kind of receiver who can turn a quick touch into a chunk play and force defenses to adjust every layer of the field. With Jackson sidelined, though, Baltimore is asking rookie offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to keep the passing game on schedule in a very different setup, and the contrast in Flowers usage with Snoop Huntley has made the challenge impossible to ignore.
Against Atlanta on Sunday night, the Ravens need more than just a bigger target share for Flowers, they need a smarter plan to get him the ball in space and away from the kind of coverage that can bottle him up. Motion, quick-game touches and routes that let him work across the formation all figure to be part of the answer, because Baltimore cannot afford to let one of its most explosive playmakers drift into the background just when the offense needs him most. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens May Be Turning To Teddye Buchanan At The Right Time
Teddye Buchanans role has started to grow at a time when the Ravens could use another steady presence in the middle of the defense. Linebackers coach Jesse Minter acknowledged the possibility of increasing Buchanans playing time as Baltimore works him back into the rotation with Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson, a group the staff is trying to balance as it looks for the best version of the unit.
Buchanan has earned attention for his tackling, and that skill set feels especially relevant with the Atlanta Falcons and their run game on the horizon. Baltimore is exploring ways to get all three linebackers on the field in the weeks ahead, a sign that Buchanan may be entering the conversation just as the Ravens need more physicality and depth on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Zay Flowers Update Leaves Ravens Fans Focused On One Bigger Concern
Zay Flowers remains a central part of Baltimores passing game heading into Week 5, even as his availability has been a concern for much of the early season. The rookie receiver is listed as questionable against the Falcons because of a foot injury, but he has still managed to top 300 receiving yards in limited snaps, a reminder of how much the Ravens have leaned on him when hes been on the field.
For a team already navigating injuries, the bigger issue is the shape of the offense around him. Lamar Jackson is sidelined, which leaves Baltimore searching for stability under center and puts more pressure on the receivers to help carry the load. Flowers status matters, but so does how effective he can be if the Ravens are forced to lean on a different rhythm and a different quarterback than the one they expected to build around. [Read more 🡒]