Bold Predictions: Battle of Birds in Arizona

The AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens (5-2) travel to face the Arizona Cardinals (1-6) at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 29 (4:25 p.m. ET kickoff). This battle marks the Ravens’ fourth road game in the past five weeks.

Under head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 41-22 vs. NFC teams (1-0 this season). With QB Lamar Jackson as its starter, Baltimore is 16-1 against the NFC, including 1-0 vs. Arizona (2019). The Ravens lead the all-time series vs. the Cardinals, 5-2, including a 2-1 mark in Arizona. These teams last squared off in 2019, when the Ravens emerged victorious, 23-17, at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Ravens have now started a season 5-2 for the 10th time in franchise history (also 2000, 2006, 2010-12, 2014, 2019-21) and for the eighth time under Coach Harbaugh (since 2008).

Can they advance to (6-2)?

The oddsmakers say “yes” as the Ravens are currently installed as an 8-point favorite.

Tony Lombardi

The Ravens are confident, fresh off a dominant performance over the Detroit Lions last week, throttling the big cats to the tune of 38-6. The team was firing on all cylinders starting with Lamar Jackson who was nearly flawless, save a miscue at the mesh point with Justice Hill.

The Cardinals are terrible. They sport the league’s 19th best offense and 28th best defense. ESPN gives Arizona a 14.6% chance of victory. That 14.6% number has me a bit concerned. Why? Because John Harbaugh and his staff know it too and unfortunately, they’ve shown a maddening propensity to play to the level of their competition.

Kyler Murray is eligible to come off IR and be activated for the game but those close to the team don’t think it will happen on Sunday. This scum-bucket organization will play to eat millions for (Caleb) Williams. In other words, they might mail it in on Murray. Who cares? The Cardinals are insignificant and probably always will be as long as I’m breathing. That said, I fear that the Ravens might look at times like they’re barely breathing.

• Josh Dobbs will throw for more yards than Lamar Jackson (240 v. 210). Granted, much of the navigated real estate will be the result of playing catch up, but he will find success and his favorite target will be Marquise “Nixie” Brown. Dobbs will target Brown often and Lamar’s former bestie will collect 105 of those yards, one from long distance over Marlon Humphrey. Brown will lead all receivers.

• Humphrey will get his first pick of the season when Dobbs attempts to force feed Brown who is hellbent on his trumped-up revenge.

• Mark Andrews finds paydirt twice, one score coming from outside the red zone.

• The Ravens will control the clock and the ground game, outrushing the Cardinals 180 to 70. And that will prove to be the difference during a sluggish Ravens performance that will be just enough to move them to (6-2).

• The game ends with the Cardinals trying to knot the score but the effort falls short following Geno Stone’s 5th interception of the season.

Meanwhile, the Steelers, Bengals and Browns all lose. It won’t be pretty, but the day’s end will be for #RavensFlock.

Ravens 24 Cardinals 17

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Aidan Griesser

This could be just as much a statement game as the one against Detroit was, as Baltimore must come prepared against a Cardinals team that is playing for pride and playing hard. I believe Harbaugh will have his boys ready.

— Lamar Jackson continues his stellar play, rushing for a touchdown and throwing for two through the air. The plays may not be as flashy as last week, but he’ll once again eclipse 70% completion percentage, will make smart decisions, and will not turn the ball over. In this kind of game, that’s all you should need.

— With trade rumors swirling about Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, Gus Edwards has another strong performance, going over 100 yards as he ices the game on a late drive. Edwards doesn’t get in the end zone, but Justice Hill does after a breakaway Gus Bus carry gets them close.

— The Ravens defense plays bend-but-don’t-break ball in Arizona, letting Josh Dobbs find some success in the short/medium game, but little down the field. He makes two turnovers including a killer late in the first half, and the Cardinals are held under 10 points.

Ravens 31 Cardinals 9

Rob Shields

This is a game where the Ravens have to be careful. After a few straight big wins, they again have a long travel to play a Cardinals team that beat Dallas at home and has been more competitive than many expected.

While the Ravens should blow them out, I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as it looks like it should be.

I look for the offense to continue to evolve but we need to see mistakes cleaned up and more consistency over a longer period of time before I’m sold that they are over the hump, despite what we saw vs the Lions.

I don’t see the Cardinals doing much offensively (whether Kyler Murray is back or not, which I doubt) but they have some pieces that can hurt you so if the defense is sleeping a little bit, it could be an issue.

All in all, I see this being a closer game than most, and then the Ravens pulling away late in the game.

Ravens 27 Cardinals 13

Darin McCann

This looks like a pretty easy matchup for the 5-2 Ravens against the 1-6 Cardinals, particularly after Baltimore’s standout performance against a more-talented Lions team. But, alas, that’s never how the NFL seems to work, is it? Still, I like this one for the good guys overall.

There is some talk about Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray being on the field this week, which obviously adds at least a little flavor. Still, the Ravens would be kicking themselves if they leave the desert without a win here. Let’s try some predictions:

• Kyler Murray, even if he does suit up, will bring nothing to a bad Cardinals defense that is currently 31st in the NFL in DVOA. Top corners Kei’Trel Clark and Marco Wilson rank 99th and 109th, respectively, out of 115 eligible corners by PFF’s measures. Lamar Jackson will take advantage of this, throwing for more than 275 yards and three more touchdowns.
• Brandon Stephens continues his strong campaign with a pick and seven-plus tackles.
• Kyle Hamilton is the Ravens leading tackler, compiling 12 stops.
• Rashod Bateman builds off his strong game last week with more than 80 yards and a touchdown.

 

Ravens 31 Cardinals 20

Jared Pinder

This one should be easy for the Ravens. The Cardinals started out hot, especially on defense, but they have declined heavily over the season. The biggest wrinkle in this game is the status of Kyler Murray. He might play he might not but even if he does play it will be his first game in over a year against one of the best defenses in the NFL. The corners for the Arizona also are downright awful so this is looking like an easy one for the Ravens.

— Kyler makes his return but struggles throwing two or more picks.

— Lamar torches a bad secondary throwing three plus touchdowns.

— Ravens Defense puts the Cardinals offense in a blender and they don’t give up any touchdowns.

Ravens 31 Cardinals 6

Kevin McNelis

You hear the cliché about “trap games” thrown around a lot in the NFL, and I feel like it’s more of a fan manifestation than an actual phenomenon. Sure, teams can scheme ineffectively if they believe that an opponent is less of a threat than they actually are, but these guys are pros for a reason, and this is a week-to-week league. The Cards may be on a downswing, but there are no cupcakes in this league, and I think the Ravens are going to recognize this after failing to finish off inferior competition earlier in the year. Arizona is going to do everything they can to be a thorn in their side, but the Ravens will come ready.

— Dobbs has been playing with house money as a replacement for Kyler Murray. With so many people overlooking him, he’s been free to sling it impressively in a few games. He’ll put together a long touchdown drive to start the game, but his fast-and-loose style also leads to another pick to, you guessed it, Geno Stone.

— With Baltimore’s secondary putting the screws to Arizona’s pass offense as the game progresses, they’ll have to turn to the ground game. Without James Conner, though, they’ve largely looked flat in that department, and it doesn’t get any easier against Baltimore’s front seven. The Cards are held below 75 yards total rushing on the day.

— I’d expect that Harbs and Todd Monken will keep Lamar slinging it some to maintain the confidence brought from last week’s offensive explosion, but I get the sneaking suspicion that it’ll be the Gus Edwards show. Arizona has been putrid on rush defense, allowing the third most yards on the ground. Gus tops 100 yards on the day and scores on the ground twice as the Ravens pound the ball to kill the clock.

Ravens 27 Arizona 16

Derek Arnold

It’s still hard to not have trust issues with these Ravens. But after what we saw last week, I’m going to give in to my inner optimist for now. I just don’t see a way the Cardinals can score against this Baltimore defense. Likewise, I can’t see the Arizona defense slowing down the Ravens attack – as long as they can keep taming their bugaboo of failing to protect the football.

— Jackson passes for only 225, but two touchdowns, completing 75% of his passes

— Jackson, Edwards, Hill, & Mitchell run wild, especially in the second half, as the team puts up 160+ on the ground.

— Halftime score: Ravens lead 20-3

— Interceptions of Dobbs by Patrick Queen on a tipped pass, and Kyle Hamilton. Ravens win the turnover battle, 2-0.

— Four more sacks for the league leaders: Queen, Justin Madubuike, Hamilton, and Odafe Oweh.

Ravens 30 Cardinals 10

Brennan Stewart

The Baltimore Ravens have two things to prove headed into this matchup against the 1-6 Arizona Cardinals: that they can win consistently against opponents they are capable of beating, and that they can control all four quarters of the game.

Lamar Jackson pushes back on a reporter’s question (with a smile, of course) pic.twitter.com/z2AqgXe19i

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 25, 2023

 

It’s the narrative that all of Baltimore’s haters are pushing right now, ever since the late-game upsets against Indianapolis in Week 3 and Pittsburgh in Week 5. Despite the dominant 38-6 win against Detroit, those two losses allow all of the Ravens’ doubters to keep grasping at straws.

On paper this is Baltimore’s easiest game yet. Arizona is tied for the fourth-fewest passing touchdowns in the league (six), but its six rushing touchdowns land it somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Surprisingly enough, James Conner (who is out for at least two more games while on injured reserve) only accounts for two of those six touchdowns, tied with quarterback Joshua Dobbs who has filled in for Kyler Murray since the season started.

Although Murray has been a full-participant at practice this week, reports out of Arizona suggest that the Cardinals will be cautious of starting him due to the risk of re-injury. If Conner and Murray are both out, former Raven Marquise Brown should be left as Arizona’s greatest offensive threat.

Brown has accounted for half of Arizona’s receiving touchdowns but is facing a defense that is tied with the Rams and Texans for fewest-allowed in the league. He’s expected to mostly line up against Marlon Humphrey, so the two should have familiarity with each other’s game.

I could go on about how the Ravens have the advantage in basically every position, but I don’t think you need me to.

Here are some predictions:

— Brown catches Arizona’s only touchdown.

— Dobbs is sacked at least three times.

— Baltimore keeps up the air raid from last week, scoring more passing touchdowns than rushing touchdowns.

— Jackson throws a single interception.

Hearing Todd Monken say “we’re just getting started” after blowing Detroit out of the water last week gives confidence that Baltimore keeps up the momentum come Sunday.

Ravens 31 Cardinals 10

Tanner George

What a win last week for the Ravens to get back on track. They absolutely dominated the Lions in every phase of the game—and if they’re able to sustain that level of performance, the league better watch out…

But, with all the hype budding around this team, it feels like we’re due for a letdown. And a major one, at that. Throw in the fact that the Ravens face a Cardinals team that’s better than their record, while wearing the dreaded all-white uniforms, you have a real recipe for disaster.

Despite this, logic tells me the Ravens will win this game. The Cards don’t have too many pieces on defense, outside of Budda Baker, meaning we could see upwards of 40 points on the scoreboard if Monken’s offense can keep its momentum. What Mike McDonald has been able to do with the defense in just his second year is absolutely astonishing. They should have no problem locking down a mundane Arizona offense and ex-Raven Hollywood Brown.

I can’t shake the thought that this could be a major trap game… but I have to go with the good guys here. Ultimately, I trust my brain more than my gut.

Ravens 27 Cardinals 16

Chris Schisler

I think the Ravens will pull off a bit of a win streak here. They are starting to roll on all cylinders. I don’t expect another 38-6 but I think we’ll see signs that it wasn’t a fluke. The defense has been consistent all season. I don’t see the Cardinals scoring more than 10 points in this game unless the offense puts the ball in harm’s way.

Lamar Jackson is playing well and that offensive line just had a great performance against the Lions. Give me the Ravens to roll in this one. It scares me because it’s a team they should beat – and the Ravens tempted fate against the Steelers and Colts. But on paper there’s no reason the Ravens should lose this game.

• Ravens defense gets 5 sacks
• Zay Flowers has 100 yards and a touchdown
• Gus Edwards has another 100 yards performance
• Lamar Jackson has 280 passing yards and three touchdowns in the air.
• Justin Tucker is not needed in the red zone and the Ravens continue to finish drives like they did last week. He hits one from 50.

 

Ravens 27 Cardinals 10

Chad Racine

Would it really be that surprising if the Ravens lost this one? The games where the Ravens are heavy favorites worry me a little. Let’s not forget the Ravens have been traveling a lot lately even though they were home last week. Maybe the cumulative traveling could finally take its toll after being in an eight-hour difference time zone from where they were just two weeks ago. Kyler Murray is practicing but still unlikely to play. It’s just hard to imagine the Ravens could lose this one.

— Zay Flowers will have a better day than Hollywood Brown with more receptions and yards. Flowers will find his way to the end zone again this week. Hollywood will not.

— Odell Beckham Jr. will have his best game as a Raven with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

— Lamar will pass for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns.

— Gus Edwards will rush for a touchdown.

— Justin Madubuike will have another sack and a half.

— Patrick Queen will have a sack and forced fumble.

— Humphrey will force a fumble out of Hollywood’s hands (am I starting to sound bitter?)

Ravens 27 Cardinals 13