Big Red Recap: Cardinals finish big against Ravens in Monday Night win

Can the 2015 Arizona Cardinals finish?

That was the question being asked after two losses in the past three weeks in which the offense failed to produce a late go-ahead score.

The answer is yes. The defense can finish (A question mark remains offensively).

Tony Jefferson’s interception in the end zone sealed the 26-18 victory over the Baltimore Ravens — who were making their first-ever trip to University of Phoenix Stadium — in front of a sold out crowd and a national television audience on Monday Night Football.

Carson Palmer passed for 275 yards and two touchdowns, Chris Johnson rushed for 122 yards and a score, while the defense forced two turnovers and allowed just 276 yards.

With the win, the Cardinals (5-2) maintained their game-and-a-half lead in the NFC West.

Jefferson had been beaten two plays earlier on a similiar throw to tight end Crockett Gillmore, a lob pass by Joe Flacco that set the Ravens (1-6) up 1st-and-goal at the Arizona 4.

Down 10-7 late in the second quarter, the Cardinals scored 19 unanswered points and overcame a pair of special teams mistakes — a missed PAT and a blocked punt — in the fourth quarter to win their second straight home Monday night game.

THE GOOD

– The cutback preceded the broken tackle and the end result was a Chris Johnson 26-yard touchdown run, his third in five games and 54th of his career, the fourth-best total in the NFL dating back to his 2008 rookie season. The score, which gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead at 3:59 of the first quarter, capped a three-play, 80-yard drive that saw chunk passes to Jermaine Gresham (21 yards) and Michael Floyd (33 yards).

– Quite the second-quarter defensive stand by the Cardinals defense. With the ball on a 1st-and-10 at the Arizona 23, the Ravens were called for holding, passed incomplete and then lost a combined seven yards on consecutive plays (Tyrann Mathieu and Calais Campbell tackles for loss) forcing a punt.

– Still in the second quarter, the Cardinals special teams came up with a huge play. Punt returner Jeremy Ross was stripped of the football by Justin Bethel, who also recovered the fumble. Add a personal foul penalty on Asa Jackson and the Cardinals took over at the Baltimore 12. Five plays later, Palmer found Floyd for a three-yard score that gave Arizona a 14-10 lead. It was Palmer’s 15th touchdown of the season, the most of any quarterback in Cardinals history through seven games.

– More incredible Chris Johnson-running was on display in the third quarter. On 3rd-and-7 at the Arizona 16, Johnson took the handoff, ran left, got spun down, but since he landed on a defender just kept right on going 62 yards to the Baltimore 8. The play pushed Johnson’s rushing total over 100 yards for the third time this season and 39th time in his career, the most in the NFL since 2008. He became the first Cardinal to rush for 100 or more yards three or more times in a season since Edgerrin James in 2007.

– More Palmer-touchdown throwing was showcased in the fourth quarter. On 1st-and-goal at the Baltimore 4, Palmer hooked up with John Brown for a score as Arizona took a 26-10 lead at 8:08. It was Palmer’s 16th touchdown of the season, two more than Kurt Warner for the most of any quarterback in Cardinals history through seven games. It also extended the Cardinals run to 19 unanswered points since they trailed 10-7 late in the second quarter.

THE BAD

– Strike 1: On 3rd-and-six at the Baltimore 34, Palmer was sacked for a three-yard loss by C.J. Mosley. Strike 2: Chandler Catanzaro missed wide right on a 55-yard field goal. Strike 3: The Cardinals went eight plays for 43 yards in 4:08 and came away with no points on the opening possession of the game.

– Three different Cardinal defenders — Campbell, Cory Redding and Tony Jefferson — had a shot but none of them could stop Justin Forsett on his way to a 14-yard touchdown run, the fourth play of 10 or more yards on the Ravens go-ahead drive (eight plays for 84 yards) that put them in front 10-7 at 3:54 of the second quarter.

– The Cardinals’ red zone struggles re-surfaced in the third quarter. Twice they had the a 1st-and-goal inside the 10 and twice they were forced to settle for Chandler Catanzaro field goals, both good from 21 yards. On those two drives, the Cardinals totaled 11 yards on six plays, including four pass attempts.

– Though it was not his fault — Rashad Johnson appeared to miss a block — Drew Butler had his punt blocked by Jackson in the fourth quarter. It was recovered at the Arizona 1. On the very next play, Kyle Juszczyk caught a one-yard touchdown. The two-point try was successful, pulling the Ravens within 26-18 with 4:26 left in the game.

STAT OF THE GAME

2: It was Jefferson’s second interception of the season and the Cardinals’ second win in six all-time meetings against the Ravens.

HE SAID IT

“We closed it out, but at the same time we had the game where we wanted it,” Jefferson said, pointing to the fourth quarter missed PAT and blocked punt. “We got to eliminate those things. We don’t have to make them close. We did a great job on the last drive.”

NOTED

– Backup offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley played the first two snaps of the game, lining up at fullback and tight end.

– With his 14-yard second-quarter catch, Larry Fitzgerald has caught at least one pass in 170 straight games.

– Cornerback Jerraud Powers exited the game in the third quarter and did not return after injuring his hamstring.

– Dwight Freeney’s third-quarter sack was his first in two games since signing with the Cardinals.

– Palmer moved into 20th place on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list, ahead of Donovan McNabb (37,276).

– Arizona improved to 8-15-1, including 6-8-1 at home, all-time on Monday Night Football.

– The Cardinals improved to 20-5 against teams outside the NFC West under head coach Bruce Arians.

– Among the Cardinals’ inactives were injured starters linebacker Alex Okafor and tight end Darren Fells.

– Members of the multi-platinum recording group Journey performed the National Anthem prior to kickoff.

– With the Ravens visit over, that now leaves the Bengals, Jaguars, Jets and Titans as the only NFL teams never to play at University of Phoenix Stadium.

UP NEXT

It’s back on the road for the Cardinals in Week 8.

They travel to Cleveland to tackle the Browns on Sunday, Nov. 1, at FirstEnergy Stadium in what will be the 50th meeting all-time between the two franchises. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. with pregame coverage beginning four hours earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

The Cardinals have won three of the past four matchups, including most recently four years ago at home, 20-17 in overtime on a Jay Feely 33-yard field goal.

This marks the Cardinals’ first trip to Cleveland since 2003, when Arians, then the Browns offensive coordinator, had Kelly Holcomb pass for 392 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-6 victory.

Overall, the Browns hold a 33-13-3 advantage in a series that dates back to 1950.

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