A Homecoming Spoiled For Messrs. Suggs, Williams & Crabtree
Tony Lombardi
After a dominant performance on the road in Miami, the Ravens return to the comfy confines of M&T Bank Stadium and one has to wonder if this is a prototypical trap game for the team. Have they bought into their own hype or are they focused on the task at hand, to advance to (2-0) and remain atop of the AFC North?
Rookie QBs haven’t fared well against the Ravens particularly at The Bank and even more particularly, those young signal callers who make the eastbound cross-country trek regularly fail – hence the line of 13 ½. Even experience wagerers at online betting site like agen sbobet will take pause with such a line.
That said, it’s tough to see this game going any other way but that of the Ravens. That said, it won’t be a stroll through the sunflower fields of Monkton as the Ravens look to spoil the homecoming for Terrell Suggs, Maxx Williams and Michael Crabtree.
The former by the way, will get a raucous standing ovation…and he deserves it.
Now on to the boldness…
• Lamar Jackson comes down to earth a bit completing roughly 60% of his passes for 2 scores and a pick as he finishes with a passer rating of 95.8.
• The Ravens will churn up 450 yards of offense split fairly evenly between the run and pass. Mark Ingram eclipses the century mark on 21 carries.
• Mark Andrews will once again be Lamar’s target of choice. He’ll also account for over 100 yards of offense for the second consecutive game and add another score.
• Justin Tucker goes 3 for 3 including a 55-yard connection to close out the first half.
• The Ravens pick off Kyler Murray twice, both on tipped passes – one each from Tony Jefferson and Patrick Onwuasor. Peanut takes his gift in the form of a Michael Pierce batted ball to the house for a defensive score.
• Greg Davis’ debut is a success despite feeling awkward about the “Don’t be a jerk!” chant. Many in the crowd will wonder aloud, “Bruce who?”
Ravens advance to (2-0) with a 30-20 win.
Todd Karpovich
— The Cardinals had the worst rushing defense in the NFL in 2018 and don’t appear to be dramatically better this year. The Ravens will set the tone with the ground attack and are poised to amass over 200 yards for the second straight week.
— Rookie Kyler Murray finished with some solid statistics in Week 1 (29-54, 308 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). However, he was just 9 of 25 for 70 yards and an interception through the first three quarters. The Ravens will pressure him into making more mistakes.
— Terrell Suggs will have a solid game in his homecoming. It’s only the second game of the season, which works in his favor. Don’t be surprised if he earns a sack.
— Lamar Jackson will run more than three times, but will have at least 20 passing attempts. He is primed for a second straight solid game.
Prediction: Ravens 30, Cardinals 10
John Darcey
Why does this game scare me so much? It is because I have been a lifelong Ravens fan. This just reminds of a typical game that the Ravens would lose coming off a big Week One win (see: 2018, 2012 and 2011). Albeit the difference in those years was the losses in Week 2 came on the road. However, since this game is at home, that makes me feel pretty good about the Ravens being 2-0 come roughly 4pm on Sunday. Though I do not see them hanging 50+ points again.
— Lamar throws 2 more TD (Andrews and Snead) and rushes for one more
— Hollywood finds the end zone again this week, this time a rushing TD on a jet sweep
— Earl Thomas gets another pick
— Suggs while held in check for most of the day does get one sack and 2 hurries on LJ
— David Johnson goes over 100 scrimmage yards for the Cards
While the game will remain close, Ravens pull away in the end 34-24
Chad Racine
Of course this week won’t be nearly as good as last week. I do however believe it will be another dominant performance on both sides of the ball. Wink Martindale will have Kyler Murray confused early and often. Lamar and company will prove for the 2nd week in a row this offense is hard to handle.
— Lamar throws two touchdowns and rushes for one.
— Hollywood gets another touchdown for 40 plus yards.
— Mark Andrews for the 2nd week in a row puts up more fantasy points than Travis Kelce.
— Suggs is held without a sack
— Kyler Murray’s rushing and passing yards will be neck and neck.
— Earl Thomas will have his 2nd interception in as many games.
— The Ravens will only get one sack but will have consistent pressure.
Ravens 34 Cardinals 13
Ryan Jones
We’re all riding high after that beat down at the hands of the lowly Dolphins. Are the Dolphins that bad? Are the Ravens that good? The answer probably falls somewhere in the middle.
There’s no doubt that the Ravens are the better team this weekend but it won’t be the cakewalk Week 1 was. It’s too early to call this a trap game but the Cardinals discovered something in the fourth quarter against the Lions. That carries over to a tense first half in the Ravens home opener.
— The Ravens trail by a field goal at halftime with Kyler Murray doing his best Lamar Jackson impression running for over 75 yards and a touchdown.
— Terrell Suggs has two sacks including one strip sack that leads to a score.
— The Ravens come out strong in the second half that includes a long touchdown to Mark Andrews.
— The Ravens pull away halfway through the 4th quarter for a 28-20 victory.
Aidan Griesser
Lamar Jackson won’t be as electric as last Sunday, but he’ll be good enough to solidify any doubters. Give him another two touchdown passes including 1 on the ground and 0 turnovers.
–Many people expect this defense to eat rookie QB Kyler Murray alive. I’m not going to go that far, but I still think we’ll be more than comfortable with the performance. Chalk up a strip-sack for Tim Williams and another INT for ETIII.
— This game will be closer than most think it will, but in the end, the running game will come through and wear Arizona down. Nobody in their division will have a rushing attack like ours, not even Seattle. This week, Mark Ingram cracks 100 and Justice Hill breaks a 40+ yarder.
— While Hollywood Brown doesn’t get a touchdown this week with the defense going all-hands-on-deck to stop him, Mark Andrews has another huge day. Detroit’s TE feasted last week, and Andrews will have even more success, going for just over 100 yards but tallying 2 scores.
Final Score: Ravens 27, Cardinals 18
Nick Capecci
This time last year, Baltimore was coming off a win against the lowly Bills and then had a train wreck of a game versus the Bengals. Here is hoping we don’t see a repeat of that.
The Cardinals are a rebuilding team, and even though I think they could surprise us with some big plays, this team is not talented enough to pull a win.
Rookie of the year candidate Kyler Murray will struggle against Baltimore secondary throughout the day. Even though he can and probably will buy time with his legs, the defense is too fast for him to try to extend plays. The offensive line will hold up at times, but I anticipate him being sacked 3 times, and throwing a pick to Earl Thomas.
This defense has some interesting edge rushers in the form of Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs, both of whom played well against Detroit last week, but their secondary is still on the lower tier of the league. Patrick Peterson’s suspension doesn’t help them whatsoever. Ultimately I see another big game for Lamar and the offense, but we will try to rely on the run game to prevent any late game heroics from Kyler & co. like we saw last week. Lamar will hover around 250+ yards and 2 scores. Mark and Gus will be at the 75-yard mark, while Justice Hill gets the first score of his career.
I like Kyler Murray and all, but Baltimore is typically not kind to rookie QBs, and no amount of advice from Suggs will help him come Sunday
Baltimore – 24 Arizona- 3
Derek Arnold
John stole my thunder a bit with his recitation of previous Ravens’ blowout Week 1 wins by teams that came crashing down to earth the following week, albeit on the road. I’d feel better about the home opener against a rookie QB if I was more confident that the Bank would be packed. After last week’s explosion, I would have expected it to be, but there are a LOT of unsold (face value, not resale) tickets currently on the Ravens website. Go the game, y’all!
I do know that there’s no way this game will be nearly as comfortable as last week’s. I expect a close game at the half – call it 13-10, Ravens – but one where the Ravens close it late, though not without giving us some heart palpitations well into the fourth quarter.
Hey, what can I say? I’m a battered Baltimore fan. I also expect the Maryland Terrapins to disappoint against Temple tomorrow.
Ravens 27 Cardinals 20
Adam Bonaccorsi
The big pre-game talk will circle the return of Terrell Suggs to Baltimore, Kyler vs Lamar, and whether LJ can sustain another great passing performance (won’t matter- if he does it’ll be another round of “well he faced a bad defense!”).
Despite the focus on the QB’s, I think Sunday’s tilt comes down to the run game, particularly for the Ravens offense that will look to pile on the Cardinals. I expect a steady dose of Mark Ingram who will break the 100-yard mark (again) and add another pair of touchdowns on goal-to-go plays. Justice Hill will be a pleasant surprise Sunday as the Ravens will be looking to get the ball out of Jackson’s hands quickly and avoid the pass rush tandem of Chandler Jones and some dude wearing 56 that looks better in 55, and purple over red…
Look for Hill to put a modest 30 yards on the ground, but an additional 40 through the air on 4 catches, as he becomes the 3rd Ravens rookie to find the end zone this season. Also looking at TJ Hockenson feast on the Cards D last week gives me high hopes for the Tight Ends, as Mark Andrews corrals a pair of touchdowns, while the trio of Hurst/Andrews/Boyle combine for 150 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Ravens will be looking to force Kyler Murray to beat them with his arm and make some quick decisions with the ball. While I don’t expect more than a pair of coverage sacks, I do think they’ll have Murray flustered most of the day, as they keep him under 200 passing yards, a single touchdown and 2 picks.
Ultimately, the Ravens pull away once again, handing Kliff and Kyler a KO and their first loss of the season.
BAL 41 ARI 13
