The Ravens’ stint as the best present on turf was a brief one.
Per week after scoring on every of their first 4 possessions and Lamar Jackson throwing 4 landing passes and operating for one more towards the Detroit Lions, Baltimore’s offense hit a drought towards the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Still, it did simply sufficient, discovering the tip zone 4 instances, after which doing what it does greatest: counting on its protection.
The Ravens (6-2) stopped Arizona on fourth down twice, intercepted Josh Dobbs twice, and held the quarterback to 208 yards passing en path to a rocky 31-24 win over the Cardinals (1-7). The victory retains Baltimore atop the AFC North on a day the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers misplaced and the Cincinnati Bengals received to every transfer to 4-3.
Leading the way in which defensively for Baltimore was sort out Michael Pierce, who bullied his method by way of the Cardinals’ line, racking up 4 tackles, together with one for a loss, flattening a fourth-and-1 cross and forcing a fumble on a strip sack.
Geno Stone additionally had his NFL-leading fifth interception of the season, choosing off Dobbs on the Cardinals’ 24-yard line late within the third quarter. Stone’s NFL-leading 5 interceptions tie him with Hall of Famer Ed Reed (2007) for probably the most by a Ravens participant within the workforce’s first eight video games of a season in workforce historical past, in response to ESPN Stats & Information.
But it was the play of Pierce that helped set the tone for the NFL’s greatest protection.
The Ravens got here into Sunday having given up a league-low 13.9 factors per sport and having allowed the second-fewest yards per sport. Yet, the Cardinals nonetheless at instances managed to maneuver the ball — till they couldn’t.
After Dobbs scored on a 1-yard sneak to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive on the opening collection of the sport — one which was aided by a Kyle Hamilton unlawful contact penalty that negated a Justin Madubuike sack on third down and a 23-yard Marlon Humphrey cross interference penalty — Baltimore, and Pierce, bore down.
On the Cardinals’ second possession and going through a fourth-and-1 from the Ravens’ 44, Pierce knocked down a cross meant for former Raven Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. On their subsequent drive and going through one other fourth-and-1, this time from the Ravens’ 36, the 6-foot, 355-pound seventh-year veteran stuffed Emari Demercado on a handoff up the center.
Dobbs was 8 of 12 for 55 yards within the first half.
The Cardinals completed with 310 complete yards; the Ravens had 268.
Still, it was sufficient.
On the Ravens’ first possession, in addition they drove 75 yards for a landing — and likewise obtained assist with huge receiver Odell Beckham drawing a cross interference penalty for a 19-yard achieve right down to the Cardinals’ 8. Two performs later, Jackson, who was 6 of seven for 64 yards on the collection, hit tight finish Mark Andrews for a 5-yard landing cross over the center at the back of the tip zone. It was his fortieth profession rating, transferring him to inside certainly one of Todd Heap’s franchise report for a good finish.
The Ravens then took benefit of a Brandon Stephens second-quarter interception (his second of the 12 months) on the Cardinals’ 47 with slightly below two minutes left and drove 43 yards in six performs with Gus Edwards plowing in from a yard out.
Edwards (19 carries, 80 yards) then discovered the tip zone once more on a 7-yard scamper following Stone’s interception, and Justin Tucker later added a 48-yard subject purpose early within the fourth quarter.
Dobbs lastly discovered the tip zone by way of the air, connecting with tight finish Trey McBride from 17 yards out halfway by way of the fourth, then added a 2-point conversion run.
But Edwards put the sport out of attain along with his third landing of the sport — one other 1-yard run — with 2:51 to go.
Dobbs related with Brown for a 1-yard rating with 1:14 remaining however the 2-point attempt failed. Matt Prater’s profitable onside kick gave Arizona one other shot down 10, and Prater related on a 47-yard subject purpose with 26 seconds left however the Cardinals did not get well one other onside kick, with Nelson Agholor cradling it and the Ravens operating out the clock.
This story can be up to date.
Week 9
Seahawks at Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 4 1/2
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Source: www.bostonherald.com