Coming off their most impressive win of the season, a 38-6 drubbing of the Detroit Lions, the Baltimore Ravens head off to the desert to take on the floundering Arizona Cardinals. It was a weird one in Phoenix. Many expected the Ravens to waltz all over the 1-6 Cardinals, but it didn’t turn out that way. Arizona hung in tough and even scored a touchdown on their first drive on offense. It was the first time all season the Ravens defense did that. Baltimore, however, seemed to have pulled away until Arizona made a late rally. The Ravens held on to win 31-24. A win is a win for the Ravens, but it was a weird one, to say the least.
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Ravens Escape The Desert With A Win
Ravens Offensive Inconsistencies Show Its Head Again
A week ago, the Ravens offense put up its best and most complete performance of the year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson played his best football of the year. The wide receivers that general manager Eric DeCosta assembled played their best game. The offensive line played their best game of the year. Everything came together for the Ravens offense last week. This week, they started strong with an opening drive touchdown to tie the game at seven. A touchdown pass from Jackson to tight end Mark Andrews. It looked like they were off to the races again, but not exactly.
Despite the 31 points they put up, Baltimore’s offense stalled a lot after the opening drive. The Cardinals defense did a pretty solid job at containing Jackson. The receivers didn’t have a particularly good day, and Odell Beckham Jr, who had zero catches in this game, continues to struggle. Zay Flowers was also very much limited. The offense did take advantage of Ravens defensive interceptions, converting two of them into touchdowns. Later in the 4th quarter, Baltimore’s offense flipped the switch and ran the ball effectively. They were grinding out yards on the ground with their standout player of the game.
Gus Bus With A Hat Trick
Amid trade speculation regarding Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, the Ravens current feature back reminded people that he can handle the load. Gus Edwards powered the Ravens offense on this day, rushing on 19 attempts for 80 yards and scoring three times on the ground. His three rushing touchdowns are the most by a Ravens running back since Mark Ingram in 2019. With the trade deadline on Tuesday, Edwards put it all on tape and proved to DeCosta that he should be the leading man in the Ravens running game. The question is, does DeCosta think it was enough?
Ravens Defense Was Pretty Good Until It Wasn’t
Baltimore’s defense has been dominant all season, and on paper, they would have another day against Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs. Then the Cardinals stunned Baltimore’s defense by opening the game with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take an early 7-0 lead. Then the defense woke up by dominating and stopping the Cardinals on two fourth downs. Both stops were made by defensive tackle Michael Pierce, who had a big day that also included a sack and forced fumble on Dobbs. Then, with the score tied at seven and almost at the halfway mark, Dobbs airmailed a throw right at cornerback Brandon Stephens. Setting up a Ravens touchdown. Safety Geno Stone came through again with his fifth interception of the year. That set up another Ravens touchdown.
With the score 24-7 and nine minutes left in the game, Baltimore seemed to have finally taken control and were about to cruise their way to a win. Until the defense gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive and a successful two-point conversion to cut the Ravens lead. Following a Ravens drive that saw them run right through the Cardinals to extend the lead to 31-15 and seemingly end the game there, the defense gave up yet another touchdown drive. The Cardinals recovered the onside kick and kicked a field goal to make it a one-score game. Lightning would not strike twice for the Cardinals as the Ravens recovered the second onside kick, and Baltimore finally prevailed 31-24.
What’s Next?
The Ravens will cozy on back home for three straight games after playing four of their previous five on the road. Baltimore went 3-1 in those four road games, which is impressive in the NFL. Baltimore welcomes the 5-2 Seattle Seahawks coming off a win over the Cleveland Browns.
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Main Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
