As soon as Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton stepped to the microphone Wednesday, he was asked the biggest issue facing the Baltimore Ravens defense this week: how to slow down Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
"That's a loaded question," Hamilton replied. "He is super talented in everything that he does. He is very sudden, very strong, explosive. Obviously, he has the stats to back it up."
When the Ravens play at the Falcons on Sunday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Baltimore faces the NFL's most electric running back under the lights. Robinson is averaging 145.5 yards from scrimmage in primetime, the most ever by a player since 1970, according to ESPN Research. The next closest on the list, Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders, averaged 126.3 yards in such games. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith called it "an exciting challenge" for a Baltimore run defense that has allowed 97.1 yards rushing per game since Smith arrived midway through the 2022 season, the fewest in the NFL.
"I look at this as a front-seven game," Smith said. "The whole world's watching, so it is about showing up and showing out."
The Ravens have also built an impressive streak, not allowing a 100-yard rusher in 18 straight games. Hamilton said it is a "necessity" for every defender to swarm Robinson. "Eleven [players] are needed," he said, "because he can make 10 miss." The key, he added, is discipline: stay in your gap and trust teammates to do their jobs.
Ravens coaches pointed out that Robinson is not a one-man show. Smith praised the offensive line and receivers, and coach Jesse Minter called Drake London one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league. The defense is still searching for its identity under Minter, who serves as defensive playcaller, after allowing 15 fourth-quarter points to the New Orleans Saints and 31 points to the Dallas Cowboys in recent games. With quarterback Lamar Jackson dealing with an ankle injury, the defense has a chance to lead the team to victory.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing