The Baltimore Ravens are set to take the field against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have a fair amount of hype surrounding them this offseason with a new offense and a new quarterback in Kyler Murray. The Ravens are traditionally a hard opponent for any rookie quarterback and there isn’t much reason to believe that will change today.
Here are three things the defense can do to help get the win.
1. Take Kyler Murray down
The Cardinals have a weak offensive line that allowed Murray to get sacked five times and take an additional seven hits during his debut against the Lions last Sunday. The Ravens should have little issue getting to Murray this week, judging from how the pass rush was able to harass Ryan Fitzpatrick last Sunday.
A ferocious pass rush will throw Murray off his game all day and a few exotic looks from Don Martindale will keep him confused when he’s in the huddle.
2. Stop Larry Fitzgerald
Even in his 16th season, Fitzgerald continues to be a big-play threat, having caught eight passes for 113 yards and a touchdown last week. But as has been the case for most of his career, the Cardinals do not have much behind Fitzgerald, with the rest of the receivers being unproven talent.
If the Ravens can make Fitzgerald a non-factor in this game, it will take away Murray’s most reliable target and the Cardinals’ best offensive playmaker. It will go a long way towards shutting down their offense.
3. Don’t let up
The Lions had the Cardinals right where they wanted them in the fourth quarter, being up by 18 with the Cardinals looking incredibly flat. But they let up and Murray was able to lead them on an incredible comeback that forced the game into overtime and an eventual tie.
Now while the Ravens aren’t the Lions and should have no trouble taking care of the Cardinals, there’s no reason to make things unnecessarily difficult by softening up and potentially allowing them to make a comeback. The defense should give their all for a full 60 minutes, not until it looks like they can take a break and get ready for next week.
