Ravens Face Falcons as Huntley Replaces Injured Jackson

The Baltimore Ravens visit the Atlanta Falcons for a Week 5 NFL matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kickoff scheduled for Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET. Baltimore enters the interconference contest at 3-1 and aims to extend its winning streak to three games, while Atlanta seeks to build on consecutive offensive improvements with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. back in the lineup. The Ravens will be without Lamar Jackson because of an ankle injury, leaving Tyler Huntley set to start at quarterback.

According to the Baltimore Ravens' official team preview, Baltimore leads the all-time series 5-2 and has won the last three meetings. The teams last played in 2022, when the Ravens won 17-9. Baltimore also defeated Atlanta 26-16 in its previous visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2018.

The Ravens enter the game after a 24-18 victory over Tennessee, while the Falcons are coming off a 45-24 win against New Orleans. Baltimore is tied with Cleveland atop the AFC North, and Atlanta shares first place in the NFC South with Carolina, according to CBS Sports.

Jackson's absence puts additional responsibility on Huntley, who has experience operating Baltimore's offense. The team's official preview also identified injuries along the offensive line, including guard Andrew Vorhees, who is dealing with a foot injury, and center Cam Jurgens, who is in concussion protocol. Jurgens is not expected to make his Ravens debut until the following week, while outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson could miss a second consecutive game because of a finger injury.

Running back Derrick Henry will be central to Baltimore's offensive approach. According to CBS Sports, Henry has carried the ball 89 times for 374 yards and seven touchdowns this season, averaging 4.2 yards per attempt. He has not surpassed 100 rushing yards since Week 1, but his previous performance alongside Huntley offers Baltimore an established option while Jackson recovers.

Atlanta's ground game presents a major challenge for the Ravens defense. Bijan Robinson has recorded 494 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries, according to CBS Sports' statistical breakdown. Baltimore's official preview highlighted Robinson's recent production, reporting 349 rushing yards and four touchdowns over his previous two games, including 145 yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans.

Henry has also praised Robinson's ability, calling him the "the best in the game right now," according to the Ravens' team preview. Atlanta's rushing attack also features Brian Robinson, who has recorded 194 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries, giving the Falcons another productive option on the ground.

Atlanta's passing offense has gained momentum since Penix returned to the starting lineup. Sports Yahoo reported that Penix completed 73.3% of his passes over the previous two games while averaging 10.6 yards per attempt. Wide receiver Drake London has also been productive during that stretch, averaging seven receptions and 145 receiving yards per game.

Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton is another key player to watch. The Ravens' official preview identified him as an important component of the team's run defense and noted that he received Baltimore's highest defensive grade from Pro Football Focus in Week 4. His versatility could be significant against an Atlanta offense that combines a productive rushing attack with improved passing efficiency.

The matchup carries historical significance for Baltimore under first-year head coach Jesse Minter. A victory would give the Ravens a 4-1 record for the first time since 2021, according to the team's preview. Baltimore has already won twice on the road this season, while Atlanta is seeking its first home victory of 2026 after opening the campaign 0-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

According to CBS Sports, Baltimore and Atlanta have taken different paths into the contest, but both teams enter with winning performances in their most recent games. The Ravens must compensate for Jackson's absence, while the Falcons will look to sustain the production that helped them score 45 points against New Orleans.