3 Keys to Victory for Ravens-Falcons Week 5

The Ravens are taking on a real challenge in Week 5, traveling down to Atlanta to take on a red-hot Falcons team that has won back-to-back primetime games with Michael Penix back under center. Baltimore will not have Lamar Jackson on Sunday night, throwing a massive wrench into Declan Doyle’s offensive plans, while Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver will have to scheme against Bijan Robinson, who has demolished opposing defenses thus far this year.

Atlanta is going to score. They have too much offensive firepower between Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and other weapons not to. The Ravens offense is likely going to need to find a way to score more than 17 to have a chance. It’ll be Tyler Huntley leading the team in this one with Jackson down. The obvious first step is a heavy dose of the run game using both Huntley and Derrick Henry. Expect the Ravens to run a heavy outside zone game, similar to what Huntley and Henry did in their big win against Green Bay last year, especially against Atlanta’s depleted EDGE room. Huntley himself needs to get plenty of carries. He isn’t as good as running the option game as Jackson, but he’s certainly capable enough to take some of the attention off Henry. Keep the time of possession in favor of Baltimore and Atlanta’s weapons off the field.

The pass game should be kept simple. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has done an excellent job of giving Lamar Jackson a ton of quick, easy first-read throw options. He needs to dial that up to the max this game. There should be a ton of designed touches planned for this one. Screens to Zay Flowers, Justice Hill, and Henry; tight end leaks to Matt Hibner like we’ve seen a ton this season; and easy quick reads to the top guys like Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews. Make the completions easy and avoid putting your defense in a bad spot with turnovers.

Speaking of defense, we should clear something up. There’s been a lot of concern about the Ravens’ run defense going into this weekend, which is fair considering the opponent. Jonathan Taylor and Javonte Williams both averaged over five yards per carry in Weeks 1 and 2; what kind of damage can Robinson do? That being said, I think Baltimore’s run D is designed this way. From what I’ve seen, it feels like Jesse Minter is willing to take his chances with nickel and even dime personnel against the run, giving up more yardage on the ground but slowing opponents’ passing attacks.

That can’t be the game plan against Atlanta. Without Jackson running the offense, capable of consistent drives with explosive plays, the Ravens can’t be content with letting Robinson, who’s been the best back in the league this year, eat up grass and drain the clock. While Minter likes to live in nickel and dime, it’s time to get all three of Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, and Teddye Buchanan on the field at the same time and bottle up Robinson as much as possible. Force Michael Penix to consistently make big throws over the top to Drake London, covered by Nate Wiggins, in order for Atlanta to win. This is the type of game where giving up quick scores is far preferable to long, punishing drives that take a toll as the game wars on.

I like Snoop. He’s been the most stable backup the Ravens have had behind Lamar Jackson since the Robert Griffin III days. He saved the season last year and kept the Ravens alive for a playoff chase when Jackson was down and Cooper Rush clearly couldn’t get it done. That being said, that was then, and this is now. It’s a new offense with a new coordinator and a new head coach. Plus, there’s the lingering fact that the Ravens very purposefully kept a third quarterback on their roster, UDFA Joe Fagnano, who came out of nowhere and dominated in the preseason enough to force a roster choice.

In the second half of the Titans game, the Ravens offense was shut out, only generating 116 yards on 28 plays. That’s 4.1 yards per play and would rank last in the NFL. Game script was certainly a factor, as was the weather. But if Huntley puts together another first half like that against the Falcons, the Ravens should strongly consider putting in Joe Fagnano, who looked very comfortable operating what Doyle wants to do on offense, preseason competition aside.