The Falcons are walking into Week 5 with a very different kind of energy than they had just two weeks ago. Atlanta was getting booed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium the last time it played there. Now, after back-to-back wins, the same building is set to host Michael Penix Jr.’s home debut - and the place is expected to be loud.
Penix has already helped flip the mood. In two games at the controls, Atlanta has beaten the Packers and Saints by a combined 42 points and rolled up 447 rushing yards, good for a plus-380 edge on the ground.
The quarterback has completed 73.3% of his passes for 479 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. After the offense sputtered through the first two weeks, the Falcons will be hoping the last two looked a lot more like the real thing.
That momentum gets tested in prime time against Baltimore, a team that still brings plenty of punch even without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens are averaging 153.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks fourth in the league, and Derrick Henry sits fourth in the NFL with 374 rushing yards. Tyler Huntley steps in at quarterback and is not the same kind of threat as Jackson, but he remains a capable option for Baltimore’s offense.
The matchup also comes with a few injury situations worth watching. Ravens receiver Zay Flowers is questionable, while Baltimore will be without All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson on defense. For Atlanta, Za'Darius Smith is out, and tackle Jake Matthews is aiming for his 200th consecutive start.
Atlanta’s defense has been the league’s best against the run early on, so this is a real measuring-stick game for both sides. The Falcons have a chance to prove the last two weeks were no fluke, but they’ll have to do it against one of the NFL’s toughest ground attacks.
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 🡒]