Baltimore Ravens stave off Arizona Cardinals: Handing out 3 game balls

Despite a late-push, the Baltimore Ravens ultimately held the Arizona Cardinals back for the win. Here’s three game balls to the best performances.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 23-17, in what was a closer game than many thought would be. The defense struggled and the offense came back down to Earth, but there were still some impressive performances and we are going to acknowledge them here with my three game balls:

Lamar Jackson:

Last week, my fellow Ebony Bird teammate, Richard Bradshaw, awarded Lamar Jackson with his first game ball of the season. Here in week two, I’m doing the same.

Jackson’s game was much more balanced than last week’s full-blown aerial attack. Against the Arizona Cardinals, Jackson beat Arizona with both his arm and legs. Number eight finished the day with 272 passing yards, 120 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. Do the math and Lamar Jackson accounted for 392 of the 440 total yards by the Ravens. That’s absolutely insane.

Jackson made great decisions with the football, not forcing a throw and taking off when the lane was provided. Today’s game plan showed how this offense will use Jackson’s full skill-set to their disposal.

Jackson found his two favorite targets from week one, again in Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews, connecting with both eight times each, for 198 total yards, and a touchdown (Andrews).

Now, there were a few throws that Jackson wishes he could’ve had back and he wasn’t as sharp through the air as in week one, but he was still able to find the open man consistently. Ultimately, Jackson put the game away on the Ravens final drive, throwing a DIME to Brown along the sideline, for the game clinching 47-yard, first down reception.

All in all, Jackson stole the show again and carried Baltimore to a 2-0 start.