Baltimore just took a massive hit, and it is going to make their Week 5 primetime matchup against the Atlanta Falcons an absolute grind. Star QB Lamar Jackson is officially sidelined for the game, and potentially beyond, due to an “unconventional” ankle injury that’s apparently neither a high nor low sprain. This immediately puts the 3-1 Ravens in a tough spot, especially rolling into Atlanta to face a Falcons team that is absolutely firing on all cylinders, now listed as 3.5-point favorites via FanDuel.
Penix Has Atlanta’s Offense in the Stratosphere
The Falcons, currently 2-2, look like a completely different team than they did just a few weeks ago. They stumbled out of the gate, losing their first two games with ex-Raven Cooper Rush under center. But Michael Penix’s return to the starting lineup has been a game-changer, sending their offense “into the stratosphere.” Seriously, these guys have been lighting it up, eclipsing both 200 passing and 200 rushing yards in *each* of Penix’s starts. They have racked up a wild 80 points and a staggering 918 yards of offense in those two games alone.
And while their offense is soaring, their defense is no slouch, especially against the run. Atlanta’s D has been stifling, holding opposing rushing offenses to a measly 48.3 yards per game and just 2.7 yards per carry. That’s going to be a massive obstacle for the Ravens. They do give up a lot of passing yards, the third-most in the league, but they make up for it with a ferocious pass rush that keeps yards per attempt down, only allowing the seventh-fewest. So yeah, this isn’t going to be easy for Baltimore on either side of the ball.
Ravens Face Uphill Battle with Huntley and Injuries
With Lamar out, it is Tyler Huntley trotting out for his 17th career start, his 12th for Baltimore. Now, Huntley has a reputation as a ‘gamer’ and he actually won both games in Jackson’s absence last year. The dude can play above what people think of his arm talent. But here is the catch: his success has always been super reliant on Baltimore’s ability to run the ball, whether that is Derrick Henry churning out yards from under center or Huntley using his own legs in the read-option game.
The problem? Baltimore’s run game has been “underwhelming at times” this year even with Jackson in. Now, with leading edge rusher Trey Hendrickson also out, and newly-acquired center Cam Jurgens not available until next week, plus multiple injuries on the offensive line, the Ravens’ ground attack faces a monumental challenge against Atlanta’s run-stuffing D. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and run game coach Dwayne Ledford are going to need some serious creativity. Zach Canter from Beatdown threw out the idea of a heavy dose of outside zone runs to attack Atlanta’s weakened edge defenders and force their fearsome interior to chase. I am with him. You also absolutely gotta mix in those QB runs for Huntley to keep that Falcons defense honest. On top of that, Baltimore needs to keep the offense ahead of the sticks to avoid obvious passing downs that let Atlanta’s ferocious pass rush just pin their ears back and feast on that banged-up O-line. For the pass game, it is all about quick reads and high-percentage, designed touches, probably keying on Zay Flowers, who the Falcons will surely be focused on.
This Week 5 primetime showdown is more than just another game for Baltimore. It is a true test of depth, coaching, and resilience. Can Huntley and a hobbled Ravens squad find a way to silence the red-hot Falcons in their own house and keep their 3-1 season on track? We will find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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