The Ravens head to Atlanta in Week 5 with Sunday Night Football setting the stage for a game that could swing on a handful of individual moments. Baltimore opens a two-game road stretch against the Falcons, and the outcome could leave it sitting atop the AFC North or scrambling in a tighter race after the weekend.
If the Ravens get the win, they’ll move to 4-1 and could tie for or claim first place in the division. A loss, though, would leave them at worst tied for second with either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Cincinnati Bengals if both teams come through on Sunday.
With Lamar Jackson out because of injury, the spotlight shifts to Tyler Huntley. The former Pro Bowl reserve will make his 17th career regular-season start and his 12th in place of the two-time league MVP.
Baltimore figures to lean hard on five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, but Huntley will still have to deliver in key moments with his arm or legs when the game demands it. He’s done that before, especially in his two most recent starts last year, when he averaged just under 150 passing yards, a passing touchdown and just over 56 rushing yards in wins over the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
On defense, the Ravens will keep working second-year pro Trenton Simpson into the mix. His snaps have risen each week since he returned in Week 3 after recovering from the torn ACL that ended his rookie season last December. He isn’t moving past four-time Pro Bowl veteran Roquan Smith or Simpson into the starting lineup, but he should see more playing time again against Atlanta’s ground game and Bijan Robinson.
Baltimore also may need more from rookie fifth-rounder as its tight end situation shifts. After veteran blocking specialist Durham Smythe went down with a torn Achilles, the Ravens added Nick Vannett from the practice squad to the active roster for depth.
Even so, the rookie could still see an increased workload for a third straight week, especially as a blocker. That would allow him to handle some of the lead-blocking duties Smythe had taken on in the backfield while also giving Baltimore another underneath option on play-action.
Then there’s Mike Green, whose job will be as much about discipline as disruption. Atlanta’s run game leans heavily on stretch and outside zone concepts, so setting the edge and staying gap sound will be critical for the Ravens’ front.
Green is Baltimore’s best edge run defender and leads the team with two sacks and six quarterback hits. With fourth-time Pro Bowl veteran Trey Hendrickson out for a second straight game while he recovers from finger surgery, Green’s role should be central again, whether he’s lined up inside or out on the edge, in early-down run defense or in obvious passing situations.
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 🡒]