The Baltimore Ravens’ defense is about to go through a trial by fire. They’re facing the most explosive offense in the NFL over the past two weeks: the Atlanta Falcons. And while Bijan Robinson is the headliner, you can’t ignore Drake London.
London is a lethal weapon and a nightmare to play against. At 6-foot-4, he’s almost always open — his route running is just good enough to create easy passing lanes. It doesn't matter how much separation he creates; if there’s enough space, there’s a high chance he’s coming down with the football.
In fact, he is the Atlanta passing attack. According to FOX Sports’ Greg Auman, London accounts for an extremely high share of his team’s receiving yards at 48.2%. With 14 receptions and 290 yards in the last two games, Michael Penix Jr. is unlocking a new level in London. That duo will test Baltimore’s secondary.
Baltimore Ravens secondary doesn’t match up well with Drake London
The Ravens have to be in their best shape come Sunday. They might be without Lamar Jackson, and with the emergence of the Falcons’ offense since Penix’s return, things could get really bad. Baltimore’s defense may quickly look like an unstoppable nosebleed if they’re not careful.
And while Atlanta hasn’t done overwhelming damage through the air, their efficiency can be the back-breaker. Penix has completed 73.3% of his passes, and to London, they’re connecting at an 87.5% rate. Good luck stopping them.
That’s going to be an issue for the Ravens. Their secondary has been an eyesore in 2026, giving up big games to Chris Olave, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens, which is expected, but that’s the caliber they’re facing in London.
Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Marlon Humphrey have all struggled, too. Sure, Nate Wiggins is the CB1 and seems like the obvious guy to shadow London; however, his slim frame could make him an easy target.
I love Wiggins’ feistiness in coverage. It might be his best trait. Unfortunately, it gets to a point where he might just be outmuscled at the catch point.
Jesse Minter also said he doesn’t foresee anyone consistently shadowing London in Week 5. Even if he wanted to, he talked about how Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons don’t really make that a possibility.
“There’s potentially some situational things [for Wiggins to shadow London],” Minter said. “[The Falcons] shift and motion and fast motion so much on their normal down stuff. That’s why they do it to create space for [London] to get him away from people. He’s in the slot a lot as well … We know that they’re gonna get him the ball; obviously, we gotta do things to negate that.”
It sounds like Wiggins, or someone else, may have some opportunities to follow London. But with the $141 million wide receiver staying on the move, it wouldn’t be smart to keep one guy on him at all times. On a quick snap, you’d risk London finding ample space off rip, and he doesn’t need much space to make plays.
It seems like the only way to stop London might be scheming him out of the game. Or at least trying to.
Bracketing or double-teaming him in any way possible should be the move. If the Ravens want a shot in this one, they need to limit him in some capacity. You can’t be left playing catch-up against Atlanta’s offense, especially if Jackson is out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google