What did the Ravens expose about the Falcons?

The NFL has a funny way of humbling everybody, and Sunday night was the Falcons’ turn.

After back-to-back 21-point blowouts in primetime — games in which Atlanta physically overwhelmed its opponents for four quarters — the Falcons found themselves in a rock fight with a team that’s been living in those trenches for more than two decades. In a lot of ways, Baltimore is exactly what Atlanta is trying to become. Sunday was a reminder that there are levels to it.

The Ravens won the line of scrimmage from the opening bell. The Falcons came in as the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense, allowing fewer than 50 yards a game on the ground — but the offenses they’d faced to that point had no real interest in pounding the rock. Baltimore did, and did it brilliantly. Derrick Henry and Justice Hill combined for 175 rushing yards on 28 carries, and Tyler Huntley and Zay Flowers chipped in 33 more, giving the Ravens 208 on the night. A jarring departure from everything Atlanta’s defense had seen through four weeks.

One game doesn’t erase the strides the Falcons have made up front. A year ago, they were among the worst run defenses in football, surrendering over 126 yards a game, and the additions along the defensive line have made a significant impact. But it’s fair to say, after Sunday, that the No. 1 ranking was at least partly fool’s gold. The Packers and Saints didn’t want to run. The Ravens did — and that’s why they walked out winners.

The other thing Baltimore exposed was Michael Penix Jr. He’s flashed real upside in his first three starts, pushing the ball downfield with accuracy and rarely putting it in harm’s way. Paired with Atlanta’s run game, it has the makings of a perfect marriage.

But Penix has to start hitting his layups. There were three critical plays Sunday where receivers were wide open within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Hit them, and they likely become touchdowns instead of field goals — and he only needed to connect on one of them for the Falcons to win. That’s been the sticking point early in his career, especially under pressure.

And the numbers are staggering.