If the Ravens are going to slow down Bijan Robinson tonight in Atlanta, they may have to abandon a lot of what they’ve leaned on all season.
That’s the crux of the advice from Greg Cosell, the longtime ESPN/NFL Films analyst who broke down every snap both teams have played this year. His message is blunt: Baltimore can’t keep living in nickel and dime and expect to handle Atlanta’s outside zone attack. Not against Robinson, not against this offensive line, and not if the Falcons are intent on keeping the run game on schedule.
Through Week 5, the Ravens have shown a clear preference for speed and flexibility over bulk. They’ve used a four-man front just five times all season and have been in nickel or dime more than 90% of the time. Cosell thinks that approach has to give way to something much sturdier, with Baltimore potentially moving into looks it has barely touched this season.
“They could play a 5-2 front, too, you know, and get the wider defender for the outside zone run game,” Cosell explained in detail on “The Daily Flock Show” this week. “Because that's where it starts with the Falcons with Bojan Robinson and outside zone.
I think Bijan Robinson is the best back in the league. So you've got to be able to stop outside zone.”
Cosell pointed to a possible setup that would bring more bodies to the line, including edge anchors Tavious Robinson and Zion Young in base looks and, at times, three defensive tackles. Kyle Hamilton’s versatility also gives the Ravens a chance to change the picture at the line of scrimmage and use him in multiple roles.
“Hamilton would then be a (box) safety with (free safety Malaki) Starks as opposed to the big nickel where (Jaylinn) Hawkins is the third safety,” Cosell suggested. “So I think you're going to see more of that. But again, it also depends on the personnel. the Falcons put out there.
“You know, if they run out of base personnel (one back and two tight ends), you'll see that. If they run out of 11 personnel, then Jesse Minter has to decide how he wants to play that.
Now, they don't have a big-time receiving core. So, you might feel that you can still play in your base even if they put 11 out there depending on distance and field location.
“Nothing, as you know, is 100% in an NFL game. So, other than Drake London, you're probably not necessarily believing that there's someone like, ‘Oh, we better stop that guy or else.’
So we'll see. But if you can widen your front, you have a better chance of setting the edge and dealing with that outside zone run game.”
The Ravens’ defensive math gets even more interesting because their opponent isn’t walking into this game at full strength on offense. Atlanta has Snoop Huntley at quarterback rather than Lamar Jackson, and new center Cam Jurgens is on the concussion list with what the source described as serious injury red flags. That combination makes the passing game look less threatening, which in turn could make Baltimore more willing to stay big up front.
Cosell also believes the Ravens could find ways to get linebackers Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson on the field together in some early-down situations. Simpson has replaced Buchanan as a starter since Buchanan’s ACL tear late last season, and Cosell said Simpson is playing the best football of his career by far. He also said both Simpson and Robinson have stood out on film.
On the Atlanta side, Cosell doesn’t see a passing attack loaded with answers that should force Baltimore to keep extra defensive backs on the field. Kyle Pitts is, in Cosell’s view, a glorified outside receiver who still doesn’t look fully vested in the Falcons’ passing game. Drake London is the headliner, but the broader point is that Atlanta’s offense appears built to attack differently.
That leaves the Ravens with a very specific problem to solve: build a front that can survive Robinson’s stretch runs and still hold together if Atlanta decides to test them through the air. Baltimore’s usual formula won’t be enough for that.
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]