Baltimore (1-0) at Arizona (1-0)
When: Sunday, August 21st 2022
Where: State Farm Stadium,
Glendale, AZ
Time: 8:00 ET | TV: FOX
Opening Odds: Baltimore -3.5/43.5
Open an account at MyBookie to receive a $1,000 Deposit Bonus!
Wins and losses in the NFL preseason is not supposed to mean anything in the overall scheme of things, but don’t tell that to the Baltimore Ravens and John Harbaugh. The team goes for their 22nd straight-up victory in a row this Sunday night when the Ravens visit the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 preseason action. The Ravens extended their improbable run to 21-0 with a convincing 23-10 win at home over the Tennessee Titans. That was Baltimore’s ninth victory by double-digit margins in their last 10 exhibition contests. They have also limited their opponents to 10 or fewer points in four of the past five.
The Ravens come into Sunday’s contest as a 6-point favorite – a rather large spread for a road team in the preseason. The total opened at 41.5 but has since dipped to 38.5 as of Saturday evening. The Cardinals’ offense exploded in last week’s 36-23 road victory at the Cincinnati Bengals despite being outgained in yards. This will be the first preseason meeting between these teams since the Ravens relocated from Cleveland to Baltimore back in 1996. The Ravens have won five of the seven regular season meetings since them including victories in their last three trips to Arizona.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to join a host of starters who won’t see any action once again on Sunday. Jackson’s season was cut short by injuries in 2021, so the Ravens are taking special care with the former MVP, who might no see live action until Week 1 of the regular season. Veteran QB Brett Hundley was cut earlier this week, so Anthony Brown and Tyler Huntley will once again share the play-calling. The duo combined for 226 yards and a touchdown in last week’s victory over the Titans. Wideouts Isaiah Likely and Shemar Bridges – both rookies – combined for 106 receiving yards. The Ravens will host Washington next week before opening the regular season at the New York Jets on September 11.
The Cardinals will also probably rest many of their starters, but the team’s backups were very impressive offensively last week. Quarterback Kyler Murray is still dealing with a wrist injury and may not play at all this preseason. With backup Colt McCoy also nursing an injury, Trace McSorley is expected to make a second straight start. McSorley completed 13-of-22 passes for 163 yards and one score in last week’s victory. However, he remains in a battle for the No. 3 passer job with rookie Jarrett Guarantano, who completed 7-for-10 including a touchdown last week. Arizona will finish preseason play at Tennessee next week.
The betting public is all over the Ravens, and with good reason, but six points on the road is a lot. The Cardinals’ offense is in capable hands with McSorley and Guarantano, who are in a fierce battle to stay on the team. This line is a bit of an overreaction if you ask me.
Pick: Cardinals +6
