Baltimore Ravens vs Atlanta Falcons: Where to Watch huge Sunday Night Football clash

The Baltimore Ravens face a difficult test against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night as two of the NFL’s most exciting rushing attacks collide in a primetime showdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Ravens travel to Atlanta looking to extend their winning run and move to 4-1 for the first time since 2021. But they will have to do it without star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury in a major blow to Baltimore’s hopes.

The game kicks off at 8.20pm Eastern Time on Sunday 11 October, with NBC carrying the national broadcast in the United States. For British viewers, that means a 1.20am start in the early hours of Monday morning. UK fans can watch the Baltimore Ravens vs Atlanta Falcons live on Sky Sports NFL.

Ravens face a major test without their superstar quarterback

Baltimore arrive in Georgia with a 3-1 record, having recovered from an inconsistent start to the season. Their latest victory, a 24-18 win over the Tennessee Titans, kept their momentum going, but Jackson’s absence changes the complexion of this contest considerably.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player suffered a left ankle injury during that victory and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. Tyler Huntley is expected to take over under centre, placing the responsibility on the backup quarterback to guide the Ravens through a challenging away fixture.

Huntley is no stranger to the pressure of stepping in for Jackson. He has previous starting experience in Baltimore and showed his composure last week, completing eight of nine passes after replacing the injured quarterback against Tennessee.

Nevertheless, facing an Atlanta defence that has generated significant pressure on opposing quarterbacks will be a different proposition.

Baltimore will likely look to take some of that responsibility away from Huntley by relying heavily on their ground game, led by veteran running back Derrick Henry.

Derrick Henry faces Atlanta’s formidable defence

Henry remains one of the NFL’s most intimidating offensive weapons. The powerful running back has already scored seven rushing touchdowns this season and will be central to Baltimore’s plans as they attempt to overcome Jackson’s absence.

The problem is that Atlanta have been outstanding against the run.

The Falcons entered the weekend allowing just 48.3 rushing yards per game, making them the league’s leading rushing defence. That sets up a fascinating battle between Henry’s physical running style and a defence determined to prevent Baltimore from controlling the clock.

If Henry can break through and produce the kind of explosive performance he delivered earlier in the campaign, the Ravens could give Huntley the platform he needs. If Atlanta contain him, Baltimore may be forced into more obvious passing situations, playing directly into the home side’s hands.

Wide receiver Zay Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews could therefore have particularly important roles, providing Huntley with reliable options when the Ravens need to move the chains.

Falcons finding their feet at the perfect time

Atlanta, meanwhile, appear to be gathering momentum after a difficult start to the season.

The Falcons lost their opening two games, scoring only 16 points across those defeats. However, the return of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has coincided with a dramatic improvement in their offensive production.

Atlanta have scored 80 points across their subsequent two games, including an impressive 45-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night.

Penix has looked increasingly assured since returning from the serious knee injury that ended his 2025 season. His accuracy has helped bring greater balance to the offence, while his ability to stretch the field has created opportunities for Atlanta’s dangerous running game.

The Falcons will hope that continued progress can carry them past a Baltimore side that has traditionally been difficult to beat on the road.

Bijan Robinson could hold the key

One of the most intriguing match-ups will see Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson take on the Ravens’ defence.

Robinson has emerged as one of the league’s most productive all-round offensive players, combining explosive rushing with the ability to make an impact as a receiver. He produced 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns against New Orleans, underlining just how dangerous he can be when given space.

Baltimore must find a way to limit his opportunities without allowing Penix to exploit the resulting gaps in coverage.

That challenge becomes even more important with Jackson unavailable. If Robinson and the Falcons’ offence can sustain long drives, they could keep Baltimore’s attack on the sidelines and gradually take control of the game.

The Ravens will look to linebacker Roquan Smith and versatile safety Kyle Hamilton to disrupt Atlanta’s rhythm, with tackling and discipline likely to be crucial.

Can Baltimore spoil Atlanta’s primetime party?

The historical record favours the visitors, with Baltimore leading the all-time series 5-2 and having won the last three meetings between the teams. However, this will be their first visit to Atlanta since 2018, and the current circumstances make this a particularly difficult assignment.

The Ravens have demonstrated impressive resilience this season, while Atlanta’s recent scoring surge suggests they are becoming a much more dangerous proposition.

Jackson’s absence gives the Falcons a significant opportunity, but Huntley has the experience to make the contest competitive if Baltimore can establish their running game early.

Ultimately, the decisive battle may come down to whether Henry can make progress against Atlanta’s exceptional run defence, or whether Robinson can continue his explosive form against a Ravens unit that must cope without its star quarterback.

With the Falcons enjoying home advantage and their offence hitting top gear, Atlanta have reason to be confident. But Baltimore’s physicality, defensive quality and ability to grind out results mean this should be far from straightforward.

Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons kicks off at 8.20pm ET on Sunday 11 October at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, live on NBC in the United States. UK viewers can watch in the early hours of Monday morning, with kick-off at 1.20am BST.

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