That backfield is the story in Atlanta. Bijan Robinson ripped off a 59-yard touchdown on the third snap Monday and finished with 145 yards and 2 scores. Brian Robinson Jr. added 3 touchdowns, and the Falcons outrushed the Saints 207 to 50. Remember, this is a team that lost 34-3 at home to Carolina in Week 2. Since then they've scored 35 and 45. Whatever was wrong in September, the run game has fixed most of it.
Even if Jackson plays, Baltimore's injury report runs deep. The interior of the line is getting thin: center Ethan Pocic and guard Jovaughn Gwyn both went on injured reserve, Andrew Vorhees didn't return against Tennessee with a foot injury, and Ronnie Stanley is managing a toe. That's a lot of shuffling up front for a team built on Derrick Henry, who needed 23 carries to get 73 yards last week. On defense, Trey Hendrickson is out and Marlon Humphrey left the Titans game with a calf injury, and they're 2 guys you'd want against an offense that just hung 45 points. Atlanta took hits of its own Monday. Jake Matthews left with a groin injury, Za'Darius Smith left with a concussion, and both will be worth watching on this week's practice reports.
Both teams have won 2 straight, and they have 1 opponent in common: the Saints beat Baltimore 24-17 in Baltimore, then Atlanta ran them out of their own building. Meanwhile, the Ravens' passing game is still producing. Zay Flowers caught 8 balls for 118 yards and a score against Tennessee, and Mark Andrews caught a touchdown too. Kickoff is 8:20 PM ET under the roof, and most of what matters will be settled by Friday's injury report. A healthy Jackson makes this a heavyweight Sunday nighter. With Huntley under center behind a patched-up line, it's Atlanta's run game against a defense missing pieces.