OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- As soon as Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton stepped to the microphone on Wednesday, he was asked the biggest issue facing the Baltimore Ravens defense this week.
How do you 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 and, you know, there is not a lot like him."
When the Ravens play at the Falcons on Sunday night (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Baltimore is facing the NFL's most electric running back under the lights. Robinson is averaging 145.5 yards from scrimmage in primetime, which is the most ever by a player since 1970, according to ESPN Research.
He has been so dominating that the next closest on the list is nearly 20 yards per game behind him and that's hall of fame running back Barry Sanders, who averaged 126.3 yards from scrimmage in such games.
Middle linebacker Roquan Smith called it "an exciting challenge" for a Baltimore run defense that prides itself on stopping the run. Since the Ravens traded for Smith midway through the 2022 season, they have allowed 97.1 yards rushing per game -- 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."
Robinson has been on a tear in primetime. His stretch of three straight primetime games with at least 125 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns is tied with Emmitt Smith for the longest such streak since 1970.
Baltimore has built an impressive streak as well. The Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 18 straight games. The last player to gain over 100 yards rushing against the Ravens was David Montgomery, who ran for 151 yards in Baltimore in Week 3.
Hamilton called it a "necessity" for every player on the Ravens defense to swarm Robinson when he has the ball.
"Eleven [players] are needed," Hamilton said, "because he can make 10 miss."
The other key: Don't try to do too much against Robinson.
"It is up to us to be where we are supposed to be," Hamilton said. "I think that is the big thing first and foremost, especially in the run game. Do not get out of your gap, trust guys to come and do their job and I think we will be fine."
The Falcons are 7-2 (.778) when Robinson gains 120 or more yards. But the Ravens coaches and players pointed out that this is not a one-man show.
Smith complimented the offensive line and the receivers for "their willingness to block." Ravens coach Jesse Minter called Drake London "one of the best blocking wide receivers in the league."
"[Robinson] is an elite, elite player with a good offensive line and a bunch of other good players around him." Minter said.
The Ravens defense has acknowledged that it's still trying to find its identity in the first season with Minter, who is the defensive playcaller. Baltimore defenders were frustrated about allowing 15 fourth-quarter points in a Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints and were upset about allowing 31 points in a Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
With quarterback Lamar Jackson dealing with an ankle injury, this is an opportunity for the Ravens defense to lead the team to victory. And cornerback Marlon Humphrey believes he knows how Baltimore can beat Atlanta after watching the Falcons' 45-24 win over the Saints on Monday night.
"If you're not playing fundamental football, they will torture you," Humphrey said. "I didn't feel that [the Saints] were doing a lot of the fundamental things, just tackling and just coming up on blocks. And I think that the Falcons just made them pay bad for that. So we want to try not to be error repeaters in that aspect and hopefully put on a good show on Sunday night."