Welcome Everyone to Week
#8 of the NFL Season,
Your Arizona Cardinals (1-6) play host to the Baltimore Ravens (5-2) on Sunday.
The Ravens are currently in 1st place in the tough NFC North Divison.
Sportsnaught has the Ravens ranked 1st in defense in the NFL. Pro Football
Network has them ranked 2nd to the Browns. (Links below). The
Ravens have given up the fewest points in the NFL at 97 on the season.
Linebacker Roquan Smith a 1st team All pro is their leader on defense.
Former 1st round pick Jadeveon Clowney may have rejuvenated his career
with the Ravens. Playing the SAM position he already has 3.5 sacks on the season
already surpassing his 2022 totals.
On offense QB Lamar Jackson is on his way possibly to having his best season
as a Pro. He has thrown for 1610 yards 8 Tds while only giving up 3 interceptions.
Jackson has a QB rating of 101.9 and a PFF grade of 90.8. In Addition,
Jackson will hurt you with his feet. .He leads the team with 363 yards rushing.
If there is a weak spot in his game and on the Ravens it is that he has been
sacked
16 times in 2023.
Another strong position is kicker on the Ravens. Justin Tucker
is 12-14 on Field goals on the season. Like The Cardinals Matt Prater he
has a strong leg his longest on the season is 50 yards vs Prater's 62 yarder.
The Cardinals continue to have injuries. Tight End Trey McBride will
get most of the reps after the Cardinals placed Tight End Zach Ertz on IR
QB Josh Dobbs only TD versus the Seahawks was his 25 yard run to paydirt.
He was 19-33 for 146 yards but had no picks. RB Emari Demercado was
a bright spot last week vs Seattle he rushed for 58 yards on 13 carries
4.5 yds per carry. The Offensive line gave up 4 sacks last week
vs the Seahawks,
On defense, The Cardinals best outing was from CB Garrett Williams
who had his first Career interception is his 1st game starting,
Turn over on downs hurt the Cardinals last week. Matt Prater
missed a field goal. Rookie QB Clayton Tune made a crucial mistake
on a 4th down play and 9 yds to go when he completed a pass that was
5 yds short of the line to gain. Last week we only scored 10 points
on a very good defense, Now we face one of the NFL's best.
The Cardinals have looked gased on defense late in some games
Longer drives and less penalties are a cure for that.
The Ravens beat the upstart Lions 38-6 last week.
The Cardinals lack of scoring cotinues haunt the team
and its not Halloween yet.
FLCF Has the Ravens 36-17 Over The Cardinals.
Finally, You may be wondering Why the big
#8 ?That number is a number of reverence for many old time
long time Cardinals fans. When I see the number 8
my thoughts go back to one of my boyhood idols the late
Safety Larry Wilson of the Cardinals. The #8 is now retired.
One of the few Cardinal numbers with that distinction.
Larry Wilson ended up being a Hall Of Famer. He along with
Defensive Coordinator Chuck Drullis innovated the Safety Blitz.
Larry Wilson played 13 seasons for the Cardinals, He has the team
record for interceptions with 52. In 1966, Larry had 10 interceptions
and led the NFL. There are links below that give fans more on
one of our most famous Cardinals of all time. Smitty who heads
our Cardinals history Thread has great photos and articles on
many of the Cardinals in the past. Its worth a look to enjoy
good times.
See you Sunday on this
The Game Day Thread
FLCF
Larry Wilson
www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/sports/football/larry-wilson-dead.html
LARRY WILSON INTERCEPTS PASS WITH TWO BROKEN HANDS
Ravens Defense
www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-defense-rankings/Sportsnaught Ravens 1st / Cardinals 28th
sportsnaut.com/nfl-defense-rankings/