The Ravens head to Atlanta on Sunday night trying to string together a third straight win, but this one comes with a very different feel. Without Lamar Jackson, Baltimore has to lean on Tyler Huntley, a reshuffled offense and a defense that needs to set the tone.
Derrick Henry didn’t hide his belief in Huntley when asked about the quarterback’s confidence. “Did you watch the Green Bay game last year?
Put the tape on. That’ll tell you.”
That’s not the same as having Jackson, obviously, but the Ravens still believe they can win if the supporting cast does its job.
That means the game plan has to fit Huntley, not the other way around. He’s not the same downfield threat, so Declan Doyle needs to keep things disciplined with quick throws and play-action while pairing that with a heavier dose of Henry on the ground. Baltimore can’t just chase chunk plays the way it might with Jackson running the show.
Even the run game has its limits here. Atlanta owns the NFL’s top run defense, giving up just 2.7 yards per carry, and Baltimore hasn’t exactly been dominant between the tackles this season. That makes Huntley’s legs a real part of the designed rushing attack, not just a backup plan.
The bigger pressure point may be on defense. The Ravens have had a mediocre start to 2026, and this group needs to be the one that carries the night. Jesse Minter and the personnel around him are more experienced than the 2022 group under Mike Macdonald, but the standard still has to rise.
Stopping Bijan Robinson is the obvious first order of business, and that’s easier said than done. Even Henry called him “the best in the game.” Baltimore has to win at the line of scrimmage, hold the edge and tackle far better than it has so far.
The Ravens also have to deal with Drake London, who has taken off since Michael Penix returned to action a couple weeks ago. Baltimore ranks 29th in defensive DVOA against No. 1 wide receivers, and that shows up in the recent production allowed to Chris Olave, CeeDee Lamb and Carnell Tate.
There’s injury uncertainty on Baltimore’s side too. Zay Flowers was limited in practice all week after having his foot stepped on last Sunday, and he carries a questionable designation. His status doesn’t sound like a major concern, but the Ravens need him to create yards after the catch against Atlanta.
The offense also has to adjust without Durham Smythe, who had been playing at least 32 snaps in each of the first three games before tearing his Achilles last Sunday. Nick Vannett is now on the 53-man roster, but this looks more like a committee solution than a one-man fix.
Calais Campbell is another player with a heavy emotional load on this trip. He’ll be back in the city where he tragically lost his mother, and Sunday is also her birthday. Anthony Weaver said, “I know how much the guys in that locker room care about him, and I expect everybody to try to pick him up.”
Up front, Vega Ioane is set for another start at center with Cam Jurgens out. That’s a tough assignment in a prime-time road game, especially for an offense that has already had issues with pre-snap penalties even when fully stocked.
The Jurgens move itself still carries real risk, but Eric DeCosta was dealing with a unit that had already lost three centers and didn’t have much interior depth to lean on. Whether the trade works out or not, it reflects a team trying to make the most of its Super Bowl window right now.
Atlanta has already shown it can survive adversity, starting Cooper Rush at quarterback in its first two games. The Falcons won’t be offering sympathy because Baltimore is missing its highest-paid player on each side of the ball. The short week helps the Ravens a little, though.
Still, this feels like an “under the hood” test for the new staff as much as anything. The Ravens have a history under John Harbaugh of rising up in spots like this, including against the Packers last December, but it remains to be seen how this group responds under Minter and his coaches.
Baltimore could absolutely make it interesting. A close win wouldn’t be a shock. But with the offensive line still a concern and the defense not quite trustworthy yet, there’s enough here to think Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Drake London make the difference in a 23-17 Falcons win.
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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 🡒]