Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 8 game between the Ravens (5-2) and the Cardinals (1-6) at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix.
Brian Wacker, reporter
Ravens 27, Cardinals 14: The Ravens have a history of playing down to lesser opponents, but they could bring their B-game and still beat the Cardinals. Baltimore is allowing an NFL-low 13.9 points per game, and Arizona comes in averaging the ninth-fewest points per game at 18.1. Lamar Jackson and the offense are clicking as well as they have all year and the team is relatively healthy after dealing with several injuries early on. This one shouldn’t be close.
Mike Preston, columnist
Ravens 30, Cardinals 14: This will be a great opportunity for the Ravens to prove they’ve stopped playing down to the competition. The Cardinals are ranked No. 19 in total offense and No. 28 in total defense. This shouldn’t be much of a game.
Childs Walker, reporter
Ravens 31, Cardinals 16: Letdown or no letdown, the Ravens will go into Arizona with a significant talent advantage. Lamar Jackson will have plenty of time to find open targets against a defense that struggles to create pressure. The Cardinals, with just 55 points in their past four games, won’t have the firepower to keep up.
C.J. Doon, editor
Ravens 26, Cardinals 17: If we’re following the pattern of this season, this is when the Ravens deliver another frustrating clunker. Arizona has been much worse without injured running back James Conner, but quarterback Joshua Dobbs has flashed at times, particularly as a runner, and wide receiver Marquise Brown could deliver a revenge performance against his former team. In four straight losses against good competition, the Cardinals entered the fourth quarter trailing by an average of 5.8 points. It could be closer than expected Sunday.
Tim Schwartz, editor
Ravens 31, Cardinals 10: Perhaps I am foolish to believe the Ravens have turned a corner and are truly the juggernaut they looked like against the Lions. But they’ve shown glimpses all season of being that team, and the Cardinals are simply not on the same level as Baltimore. Lamar Jackson and company are rolling, and there’s no reason to believe they can’t carry it over to Arizona. But we’ve seen them play down to lesser opponents over the past few years, so they shouldn’t be overlooking anyone.
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