The Falcons are suddenly in a spot nobody in Atlanta expected a couple of weeks ago: favored in a prime-time game against the Ravens.
That turnabout comes after the Falcons opened 0-2 with journeyman quarterback Cooper Rush, then ripped through the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints in back-to-back national TV appearances. Now they’re back in the spotlight again, this time on NBC’s Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. EST, and they’ll do it as the team expected to control the matchup.
Baltimore is dealing with a short-handed roster that includes 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 predictions listed here were made before the Ravens officially ruled him out Friday afternoon.
The most striking part of the matchup is that Atlanta is drawing a clean sweep of support. NFL Network’s five analysts all picked the Falcons.
Brooke Cersosimo framed it this way: "Is anyone better in prime time than Bijan Robinson? Not in my book, though Derrick Henry might have something to say about that.
But God bless the schedule-makers for giving us Bijan thrice in night games over the first five weeks."
ESPN’s Seth Walder, long known as a Falcons skeptic, is the lone holdout among his colleagues. Pamela Maldonado and Eric Moody also sided with Atlanta.
Baltimore will have Tyler Huntley at quarterback, which puts even more pressure on Derrick Henry to drive the offense. Henry already made his own case earlier this week, saying Bijan Robinson was the best in the game right now. On the other side, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is well aware of what Henry can do.
Atlanta’s defense has spent the first month of the season ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the run, and Ulbrich knows that kind of test is coming straight at his group.
"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.”
For Falcons fans, the setting matters almost as much as the opponent. They’ve been burned before when the lights get bright. This time, though, Atlanta comes home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium riding a wave on both sides of the ball, with a chance to show that the fast start to this turnaround is real.
In Other News...
Ravens Face A Real Test Of Depth Without Lamar In Atlanta
Tyler Huntley is back in the spotlight as Baltimore prepares for a trip to Atlanta without Lamar Jackson, and the matchup has already turned into a good early measure of how sturdy the offense can be when the Ravens have to adjust on the fly. The conversation around this week has centered on Huntleys comfort in the system, how the run game can help him, and how the coaching staff balances aggression with the need to keep the offense on schedule against a Falcons team that will make Baltimore earn everything.
The other side of the ball brings its own questions, especially with injuries forcing the Ravens to lean deeper into the roster at key spots. Atlantas passing game gives Baltimore a real test of coverage discipline, and the game also asks the Ravens to sort out how they replace a blocking presence that has become part of their identity in short-yardage and protection packages. It sets up the kind of tight, physical game that can reveal how much depth Baltimore really has when the margin for error gets smaller. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have A Marvin Harrison Jr. Decision Worth Watching
Baltimores search for help at receiver has become a little more interesting, with the Ravens reportedly monitoring the trade market for Marvin Harrison Jr. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has already become one of the biggest names to watch as teams look for impact talent, and the Ravens are among the clubs keeping close tabs while trying to upgrade a receiving group dealing with injuries and uneven production.
The appeal is obvious, but so are the hurdles. Baltimore has been operating with cap constraints after its recent move for center Cam Jurgens, so any major swing for a receiver would require some financial creativity as well as a real willingness to pay the price in draft capital or players. For now, there is no formal agreement in place, which leaves the Ravens in the kind of waiting game that can either lead to a bold addition or a quick reminder of how quickly a big-name market can move. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Trade Approach Clearly Changed After One Deal Fell Apart
After the Ravens had a trade for Maxx Crosby fall apart when he did not pass his physical, their next move came with a lot more caution built in. Baltimores front office was far more deliberate before completing its recent deal for center Cam Jurgens from the Philadelphia Eagles, making sure it had the information it needed before pulling the trigger.
Jurgens did pass the physical, which cleared the trade to go through, but his availability remains a separate issue for the Ravens to watch. The center is currently sidelined with a concussion, a reminder that even when a move gets across the finish line, health questions can still linger well after the paperwork is done. [Read more 🡒]