Falcons confirm Jake Matthews, Divine Deablo and Samson Ebukam as Week 5 starters for Sunday Night Football vs. Ravens

The Atlanta Falcons released their Week 5 inactives ahead of Sunday Night Football, and the notable detail is who was not listed. Left tackle Jake Matthews, inside linebacker Divine Deablo and defensive end Samson Ebukam were all omitted from Atlanta’s inactive group, meaning each player is set to be active against the Baltimore Ravens at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

For the Falcons, that trio covers three different layers of the game plan: Matthews anchors the offensive line at left tackle, Deablo is positioned in the middle of the defense as an inside linebacker, and Ebukam operates on the edge as a defensive end. Being active does not automatically tell the full story of readiness for any player, but the decision to keep them off the inactive list is a clear report that Atlanta expects to use them in the game plan.

The timing matters as well. Sunday Night Football puts an emphasis on operational consistency because teams must finalize matchups, substitutions, and game-day roles with limited margin for late changes. Falcons officials determined the final status of Matthews, Deablo and Ebukam when they published the inactives list, giving their coaching staff the option to build continuity into the first-and-second-half rhythm rather than reshaping personnel at kickoff.

From a matchup perspective, the Falcons and Ravens will lean on their frontline and their core defenders. Baltimore’s approach is often built around pressure and disruption in the pocket and in the run fit, while Atlanta typically has to manage protection responsibilities and communication in the interior and on the back end. Matthews’ availability is particularly consequential in pass protection, where left tackle play can influence both how long routes can develop and how quickly pass rushers can impact the quarterback.

Defensively, Deablo and Ebukam are both types of players who can affect multiple phases. An inside linebacker is central to diagnosing run formations and matching coverage responsibilities, while a defensive end can expand the defense’s options in terms of edge containment and pass-rush alignment. Keeping both available suggests Atlanta wants its core defensive pieces on the field for the matchup with Baltimore’s offensive identity.

The inactives release also acts as a practical reference point for fans and analysts preparing for the evening. When a player is listed as active, it generally narrows the likely rotation patterns and reduces the number of unknowns around early downs. Conversely, any other names that appear on the inactive list would become the primary personnel storyline, since those are the players Atlanta will be unable to use during the game.

As the Falcons and Ravens move closer to kickoff, the key watch is how Atlanta deploys this group in the opening drives. With Matthews, Deablo and Ebukam active, the Falcons will aim to establish baseline execution on both sides of the ball, especially in the areas these players influence most: protection and offensive stability, interior defensive clarity, and edge pressure.