Monday Night Football in the Valley; Cards Over Ravens 26-18

Picture Courtesy Arizona Cardinals

By Francisco Romero

The Arizona Cardinals beat the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night football 26-18 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

As it usually is on Monday Night Football, the game could not end without drama.

After a blocked punt, a 1-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Kyle Juszczyk and a 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter, the Ravens got within 8 points (26-18) and got to ball back.

The Ravens drove the ball to the 4-yard line with 4:26 to play, but Tony Jefferson intercepted the ball and deflated the Ravens effort to tie the game.

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 5-2, while the Ravens record stands now at 1-6.

Cardinals’ running back Chris Johnson had a spectacular game; he carried the ball 18 times and finished with 122 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona’s quarterback Carson Palmer led his team with 275 passing yards; he completed 20-of-29 passes, utilizing 7 different receivers.

“It is good to get a win when it is close, we have had so many blow-outs in so many games,” said Palmer after the game. “So, to be there and kind of be nervous and have those jitter-bugs, on the sideline as you are waiting, it is good to have that feeling and come out with a win.”

Receiver John Brown caught four passes for 65 yards and one touchdown, while Michael Floyd caught three passes for 59 yards and one touchdown.

“I thought we executed extremely well, played ‘till the final whistle and made the big play at the end,” that is how head coach Bruce Arians described the game during his post game conference.

“We wanted this type of game, we needed to be in this type of game and win it,” Arians added.

The Cardinals will travel to Cleveland next Sunday to face the Browns.