Sunday Night Football features two teams that are coming off wins that, on the surface, look quite different. The Baltimore Ravens narrowly defeated the Tennessee Titans 24-18, despite losing Lamar Jackson to an ankle injury at halftime. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons exploded for 45 points against the New Orleans Saints, propelled by an efficient performance from Michael Penix Jr. and a rushing attack that dominated large portions of the game. The Ravens hold a 3-1 record and have already demonstrated their ability to win in various ways. However, the biggest question entering Week 5 is whether Jackson will be healthy enough to play in Atlanta, as he left M&T Bank Stadium in a walking boot and has been labeled day-to-day.
This uncertainty alters the matchup but does not leave Baltimore helpless if Tyler Huntley has to take the start. The Ravens still have enough offensive firepower, with players like Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers, to keep the game competitive. Meanwhile, the Falcons have found a more dangerous rhythm since Penix returned to the lineup. Atlanta has scored a total of 80 points in their last two games, and their offense appears much more balanced than it did during the first two weeks, which were quite rough.
Here are three bold predictions for the Ravens-Falcons matchup in Week 5.
Bijan Robinson clears 150 scrimmage yards and scores twice
Atlanta has spent the last two games showcasing why Robinson is one of the most challenging running backs in football to defend. He recorded 194 rushing yards against Green Bay and followed it up with another impressive 145-yard performance against New Orleans. This heavy workload should remain a key part of the game plan against Baltimore, regardless of who starts at quarterback for the Ravens.
The Ravens have a talented front seven, which may prevent another 190-yard rushing performance, but Robinson does not need to reach that number to have a significant impact, as Atlanta has been creatively involving him in the passing game, which allows him to take advantage of open space rather than facing stacked defenses directly. This versatility is particularly advantageous against a speedy and aggressive defense since screens and short passes can exploit linebackers who move too quickly toward the line of scrimmage.
Kevin Stefanski has little reason to abandon a formula that has helped Penix regain his starting position, especially as a strong rushing attack can keep Baltimore's offense off the field and limit the number of possessions in what could be a risky game if Jackson is available.
Expect Atlanta to give their lead back another 20 or more touches. With a combination of rushing and receiving work, he should surpass 150 scrimmage yards, and he is likely to convert two red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
Zay Flowers records his second straight 100-yard game
Flowers appeared to be fully recovered from the hamstring issue that had slowed him earlier in the season when he had an impressive first half against Tennessee, accumulating 119 yards and a touchdown. He consistently created separation while Jackson attacked downfield, although an ankle injury later led to a change in Baltimore's offensive strategy.
This connection between Flowers and Jackson has become one of the key strengths of the Ravens' passing game. Even if Jackson is limited or unavailable on Sunday night, Flowers should still be the primary receiver to feature because Huntley, the backup quarterback, can effectively utilize shorter passes without relying solely on deep throws. Baltimore can manufacture touches for Flowers through quick crossers, screens, and intermediate routes, allowing their most explosive wideout to generate yards after the catch rather than requiring the backup quarterback to operate exclusively from the pocket.
Article Continues BelowWhile Atlanta's secondary possesses enough talent to prevent another first-half onslaught, particularly with A.J. Terrell providing a solid option against outside receivers, Flowers' ability to move around the field can help Baltimore avoid predictable one-on-one matchups all night. His speed also compels safeties to respect the vertical route even when the offense focuses on making easier completions underneath.
Another touchdown would rely more on quarterback play, but the yardage threshold seems achievable through sheer volume. If Flowers records eight or nine receptions, he could easily surpass 100 yards for the second consecutive week.
Michael Penix Jr. throws three touchdowns as Atlanta wins a one-score game
Penix has provided the Falcons with exactly what they needed since returning from his knee injury. He completed 72% of his passes against Green Bay and followed that up with another efficient performance against New Orleans. As a result, Atlanta's offense has become much harder to defend because the quarterback no longer needs to force the ball downfield for explosive plays to develop.
Drake London has had two strong games in a row since this change, and Kyle Pitts remains a valuable target in the middle of the field. Additionally, the running game is compelling defenses to pay more attention to the box, allowing Penix to throw with cleaner windows than Atlanta was able to create earlier this season.
Baltimore's defense did force two turnovers against Tennessee and should be able to generate enough pressure to prevent a completely clean night for Penix, but the Ravens lost Marlon Humphrey to a calf injury in Week 4 and entered this week already dealing with several significant injuries on both sides of the ball.
A more pressing issue for Baltimore may be the possession volume if Jackson is not able to play at full strength. Huntley completed eight of nine passes after stepping in against Tennessee, but the Ravens were shut out in the second half as their offense became much more conservative. Continuing to play this way against an Atlanta team that is coming off consecutive explosive offensive performances would put immense pressure on their defense.
Even with Jackson available, if his ankle limits his scrambling and designed rushing, two elements that usually make Baltimore difficult to contain, it could create opportunities for Atlanta to control parts of the game through its running attack and keep Penix out of obvious passing situations.
Expect the Falcons' quarterback to finish with three touchdown passes, without needing a massive yardage total, while Atlanta converts another balanced offensive performance into a narrow victory on Sunday night, likely in the range of 30-27.