The Falcons emerge from Week 4’s Monday Night Football matchup with the hated Saints as glorious victors, dominating on a level I previously assumed was impossible. Atlanta’s 45-24 humiliation of New Orleans on such a historic night is nothing short of astonishing, and requires a re-evaluation of what we all believed this Falcons team could be just a few weeks ago.
After an 0-2 start where the team managed just 8 points per game (32nd) under third-string quarterback Cooper Rush, the Falcons have now
averaged 40 points per game (1st) under starter Michael Penix Jr. Bijan Robinson is as dominant as ever, and his complement in Brian Robinson has also impressed. The Falcons offense looks balanced and unstoppable, and now enters a third-straight primetime matchup: Sunday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. The Falcons are 3.5-point home favorites per FanDuel—the first time Atlanta has been favored this season—implying a tight game, particularly if injuries impact the Ravens starting lineup.
Falcons vs Ravens predictions
The biggest thing to monitor heading into this game is the injury report. Baltimore seems likely to be without MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, as he missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. It’s not impossible for Lamar to suit up, but Atlanta will probably face veteran backup Tyler Huntley on Sunday night. This Ravens offense has been quite potent over the first four weeks of the 2026 season: 7th in scoring and 5th in total yards. But it’s unlikely that type of production will continue with Huntley in the lineup, as Jackson’s dynamic athleticism and playmaking ability raise the ceiling tremendously.
Baltimore’s offensive line is also very banged up. The Ravens are down multiple centers are were forced to move rookie guard Vega Ioane into the middle. A trade for Cam Jurgens will provide long-term help, but Jurgens is not expected to play on Sunday. Left guard John Simpson has been limited with a groin injury, and reserve guard Andrew Vorhees (who is starting at right guard with Ioane at center) is dealing with a foot injury. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is battling through toe and ankle injuries, but is expected to play.
This is very bad news for the Ravens, with the Falcons boasting the league’s top run defense and the league’s top pass rush in pressures. Atlanta’s ability to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball is part of what led to their lopsided victories over the past two weeks. Baltimore is a far better opponent than either Green Bay or New Orleans, even with Tyler Huntley, but that’s a tough matchup to deal with.
On the other side of the ball, top edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and corner Marlon Humphrey both missed practice to start the week. This is the best defense the Falcons have faced yet, even with those two potentially out of the lineup, both those are major losses against a red-hot offense. Atlanta is the second-best rushing attack in the NFL (including the two Cooper Rush starts) and has allowed the lowest pressure rate in the league on offense.
Those mounting injuries—along with the road trip to an Atlanta stadium that will likely be the most raucous it’s been in years after two straight blowout victories—could lead to a very difficult environment for the Ravens to have success. However, this is a well-coached team that’s still got talent all over the roster, and they’re not just going to roll over for the Falcons.
All that being said, if Tyler Huntley plays, I’m not sure the Ravens will be able to get enough out of the passing game to keep pace with the Falcons offensively. Atlanta’s defense can be vulnerable to big plays in the passing game, but I don’t think Huntley is the type of quarterback who can take advantage. The Falcons will be loading up to stop Derrick Henry and crowding the short area of the field to take away quick play-action and YAC throws. This will be by far the best rushing attack Atlanta has had to defend, and we’re going to learn if the team’s elite run defense is capable of shutting down one of the best running backs in the NFL.
The Ravens defense will put up more of a fight than either of their past two opponents, and I’d expect Atlanta’s offense to sputter a bit out of the gate. But the Falcons are simply too good on the ground to hold down for long, and the more Baltimore sells out to stop the run, the more downfield opportunities will present themselves for Michael Penix Jr. This could be a bigger test for Penix, as the Ravens will likely opt to “make Penix beat us”. Working out of play-action and finding the right times to attack downfield will be critical to keep the defense honest.
An injury-marred Ravens team helmed by Tyler Huntley would’ve been a classic trap game for the Falcons under Raheem Morris. That’s a game this team would almost always find a way to lose, despite the matchups largely falling in their favor. I know Baltimore will put up a fight regardless of who is behind center, and Atlanta should be prepared for a brawl—particularly in the first half. Atlanta starts to wear down the Ravens in the second half, and ultimately comes away with the Sunday Night Football victory, 27-20.
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