Monday Night Football… the Arizona Cardinals and Monday Night Football go together like Bobby and Whitney. While Arizona is now considered one of the better teams in the League one cannot forget one’s past, especially if you are a Cardinals fan. It’s the melt downs, it’s the post game presser melt downs, it’s also the averaging about 13 points per game thing too. Oh how we love us some Monday Night Football in Arizona.
But this is a new day in Cardinal country. Arizona now sits at 4-2 and leads the NFC West division while the Baltimore Ravens are 1-5, but don’t their record fool you.
Baltimore is ranked 9th in total offense right now, Joe Flacco has thrown for a good amount of yards (1,605) but has 7 interceptions to go with his 8 TDs. The Ravens are averaging 111.2 yards a game with the rush and averaging 4.2 yards per touch. And Steve Smith (Sr), who could ever forget Steve Smith, -510 yards this year, 14.2 average ypc, and one of the funnest guys to watch in the NFL.
The Arizona defense will have to be back to it’s ball-hawking ways on Monday. I’m not sure if Patrick Peterson will shadow Steve Smith or not, but it sounds like a good idea. The Arizona front will have to deal with another quality running-back again this week as Justin Forsett is no joke. But it’s the turnovers Arizona needs, the 11 interceptions in the first 5 games was followed by nada last week against Pittsburgh. Pressure plus Flacco should equal the savage secondary the Cardinal fans have fallen in love with.
On offense Arizona has to run the ball, and the stats just flat out show it. Taking shots down the field is great, Carson Palmer throwing for 400+ is great, but a balanced offense provides better shots down field via play action, and the run game provides the time of possession needed to keep the defense fresh.
Chris Johnson, Andre Ellington, and David Johnson have to get touches. All three backs can run well and catch out of the back field which helps keep a hungry secondary honest. Chris Johnson has 19 first downs this season, his production must increase again this week. The Ravens defense ranks 25th in the League overall, there is no reason for Arizona not to get back to there scoring ways on Monday.
Last but never least is special teams. The bobbles and the drops have to stop and the return yards have to increase. Patrick Peterson has yet to break one, and David Johnson needs to secure the catch before scanning the horizon. The punts need to improve as well, field position is always a key part of the game.
Good teams do not lose 2 games in a row and Arizona is a good team. Monday Night Football is the biggest stage in the NFL. The Cardinals will have to play solid football for 4 quarters if they do not want another bad review. The NFC West division is still up for grabs, and in the words of Outkast, “you only funky as your last cut.”
PICS BY Mike Yduarte
