The Baltimore Ravens are about to take the field to face the Arizona Cardinals. The Ravens are heavily favored today, but upsets can happen any week in the NFL, which means that the team has to stay focused, even if this is one of the easier games on the schedule.
Here are three things the Ravens offense can do to help get the win today.
1. Stop the Cardinals’ edge rushers
The Cardinals don’t have much talent on defense, especially with cornerback Patrick Peterson missing this game with a suspension. But they do have an excellent pass-rushing duo with outside linebackers Chandler Jones and Terrell Suggs.
Keeping Lamar Jackson upright is paramount, so the Ravens will need Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown to be at their best today and it might help to have tight end Nick Boyle stay to help block on certain plays.
2. Establish the run
After Jackson’s incredible performance against the Dolphins, opposing teams will now have to respect his ability to attack them deep, something that they didn’t really have to account for during his rookie season. This will open up opportunities for the run game to thrive, now that defenses can’t stack eight men in the box anymore.
The Ravens should take advantage of this opportunity by giving a healthy amount of carries to Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill as well as allowing Jackson to have a few carries, just to remind defenses that he’s still a dynamic player on the ground.
3. Feed the tight ends
Last week, Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson had a big day in his NFL debut, catching six passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens have some talent of their own at tight end, with Mark Andrews, Hayden Hurst and Boyle all capable of taking over a game if allowed.
The Cardinals will almost certainly be focusing on wide receiver Marquise Brown after his performance against the Dolphins last Sunday, which will likely leave plenty of opportunities for the tight ends to have some big days of their own.
