Baltimore will face Atlanta on Sunday Night Football without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, a development that has reshaped how experts are approaching the matchup, per reporting from CBS Sports' Will Brinson and Deadspin.
With Jackson unavailable, the game shapes up as a run-heavy affair built around two of the league's primary ball carriers. Brinson expects a clash between Derrick Henry and Bijan Robinson that keeps overall scoring low and creates prime value on player props. Deadspin identified Atlanta's running game as a key factor, citing the Falcons' -3 spread as an appealing pick given the circumstances.
Atlanta is coming off a 30-23 loss to Baltimore on Sunday, October 11, snapping a two-game winning streak. The Falcons sit 2-2 in the NFC South and have shown offensive versatility in recent weeks—they routed New Orleans 45-24 on October 5 and defeated Green Bay 35-14 on September 24. Robinson, their running back, will be central to their game plan against a Ravens defense that has won its last two games.
Baltimore improved to 3-1 with the win over Atlanta and has won three straight. The Ravens rank second in the AFC North and will travel to Cleveland on October 18. Henry, the veteran back acquired by Baltimore, will be the primary offensive option in Jackson's absence, making his output a critical factor in Brinson's analysis.
The reporting provides no detail on Jackson's expected return timeline or the nature of his unavailability. Experts' picks and player prop recommendations appear designed around a ground-focused game plan rather than passing volume, suggesting oddsmakers and analysts expect both teams to lean heavily on their running backs Sunday night.





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