Ravens Down Cardinals, Extend Preseason Win Streak

The Baltimore Ravens extended their historic preseason win streak to 22 games, defeating the Arizona Cardinals by a final of 24-17. Lamar Jackson and many of the Ravens offensive starters did not play for the second consecutive week but that didn’t stop an impressive offensive night that saw the Ravens rack up 292 total yards and three touchdowns.

Tyler Huntley was impressive once again on Sunday night throwing for 129 yards and one touchdown, while only throwing one incompletion in the first half. In two games Huntley has combined to throw only three total incompletions.

While Huntley continued his dominate play in the preseason so did rookie tight end Isaiah Likely who was on the receiving end of Huntley’s lone touchdown, an eight-yard strike near the end of the first half. Likely finished the game with a game leading eight catches for 100 yards, making his case to have a legit role in this Ravens offense come the regular season.

Likely wasn’t the only rookie to show he deserves a role in this offense, undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Brown continued to make his case for a roster spot completing 10 passes on 13 attempts for 91 yards and two touchdowns. One to receiver Raleigh Webb and the other to rookie running back Tyler Badie. Badie had a strong night leading the team with 34 rushing yards on 12 carries, while also adding a receiving touchdown.

One the defensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald will have some adjustments to make as the Cardinals seemingly moved the ball up and down the field on the Ravens totaling 306 yards of total offense. While finding the end zone twice in the second half to cut the final score to a touchdown.

While the Ravens struggled to stop former Raven, now Cardinal Trace McSorley who threw for 229 yards on the night, the defense did come up with two key interceptions to stall promising drives by the Cardinals. Veteran Kyle Fuller came away with his first interception of the preseason followed by rookie Pepe Williams nabbing his first interception midway through the third quarter.

Cornerback Brandon Stephens, who struggled in coverage for most the night, lead the Ravens with six tackles followed by linebackers Malik Harrison and Josh Ross who both finished with five tackles respectively. Undrafted rookie linebacker Chuck Wiley had his strongest day of the summer as he was a force in the Cardinals backfield recording a sack and a half on the final offensive drive for the Cardinals to help seal a Ravens win.

First round pick Kyle Hamilton struggled to find his footing once again finishing Sunday’s game with four tackles. Hamilton’s most impressive play however came late in the second quarter down in the Ravens red zone, when Hamilton charged towards the line of scrimmage stopping and using his long 6’4″ frame to jump up to deflect a McSorely pass that likely would have been a touchdown if not for Hamilton’s athletic play.

The Ravens finish the preseason on Saturday against the Washington Commanders before final roster cuts taking place on Tuesday August 30th.