The Baltimore Ravens get to try and prove that Week 1 was no fluke. After beating up on the Miami Dolphins 59-10, Baltimore now gets their home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
We here at Ravens Wire have looked over the matchups and put together our list of the boldest, yet still plausible predictions for this game. Though some are bolder than others, all are in good fun.
Take a look at what we each think will happen in Week 2 as the Ravens take on the Cardinals.
Matthew Stevens:
Baltimore’s defense picks off Kyler Murray four times
Murray is the shiny new thing in the NFL and has gotten somewhat undeserved praise thus far. This will be a tough game for Murray, who gets to go into an opposing NFL stadium for the first time, across the country. With the Ravens having one of the more aggressive and complex defensive schemes in the league, teamed with their success against rookie quarterbacks (15-2 all time), Murray is embarrassed as the Ravens hit him frequently and make him think faster than he’s capable of yet.
The Ravens make sure to put him in his place as the defense nabs four interceptions on the day and give the rookie signal caller his first bad game in the NFL.
Chuck Mills:
Terrell Suggs is a virtual non-factor in this game
The Ravens are catching the former legend early in the season, where he is freshest and most likely to produce. But between creative scheming from Roman, excellent blocking from Ronnie Stanley as well as an assist from Nick Boyle, who will prove that the Ravens did not make a mistake by handing him a lucrative contract during the offseason. The highlight of Suggs’ day will likely be the applause he receives from fans during the game because he won’t be making any highlight reels this Sunday.
Kevin Oestreicher:
Lamar Jackson throws for five touchdowns for the second week in a row
What’s better than Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns? Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns in consecutive weeks. With a depleted Cardinals secondary that is going to be playing without Patrick Peterson and Robert Alford, I believe that this Ravens offense can exploit weaknesses in the Cardinals defensive backfield. Jackson showed us that he’s a quarterback and a good one at that. I expect him to silence even more critics this week with another dominant performance.
Alex Bente:
The Ravens rush for 300 yards
The Ravens run for over 300 yards as the Cardinals aren’t sure what to expect and become more worried about the prolific passing attack. Watch as Arizona’s already weak run-defense drops their personnel deep to account for Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews and others while allowing Ingram & Co to gash huge holes in the Cardinals front line. Wouldn’t surprise me if Jackson rushes for a pair of TDs as well. I think this game complements the Dolphins outing by showing that this Ravens offense is set up to beat opponents however they prepare, sending shockwaves around the league.
Neil Dutton:
Mark Andrews has another career day
Mark Andrews, while racking up a career-high 8 receptions for 108 yards against the Dolphins, will have seen what rookie TJ Hockenson managed to do against the Cardinals in Week 1. As a result of this, while the Cardinals will be determined to make sure Ravens first-year speedster Marquise Brown doesn’t beat them deep, Andrews and Lamar Jackson will link up early and often. Andrews will finish with ten receptions for close to 100 yards while finding the end zone again.
