Arizona
Arizona Cardinals not oblivious to Ravens’ 21-game preseason win streak
GLENDALE — Preseason soccer doesn’t depend within the win-loss column.
Stats aren’t rolled over into the common season and the quantity of precise starters collaborating within the exhibitions is few and much between.
Don’t inform the Baltimore Ravens that.
The Ravens enter their Sunday Evening Soccer matchup in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals with a weird 21-game win streak within the preseason, an NFL file.
As Cardinals left deal with D.J. Humphries — who was unaware of the streak till Thursday — put it, “it’s thrilling and unusual all on the identical time.”
However earlier than you begin snickering at a bunch of video games that carry little weight within the standings, there’s a technique to the insanity.
Because the streak started, the Ravens have received a minimum of eight common season video games and made the playoffs 3 times, making it to the divisional spherical twice. They’ve completed first or second of their division in all however one season (2021).
“That’s a part of their tradition,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury mentioned Monday. “They are saying, ‘We’re going to win these video games and assist it construct into the common season.’
“I respect that strategy. Clearly, their group believes it, they’ve had one of the vital profitable franchises within the league. We’ll positively get their finest shot. We all know it is going to be an actual problem.”
Baltimore’s streak first began with a 2016 victory over the Carolina Panthers and continued final week with a win over the Tennessee Titans, who the Cardinals face in Week 3 of the preseason.
Now, one of many gamers who helped the Ravens construct that win streak could possibly be the rationale they take their first preseason L since 2015.
After shining in his first begin of the preseason, Ravens 2019 sixth-round draft choose and present Cardinals QB Hint McSorley is predicted to get the nod as soon as once more.
He is aware of all too properly what Arizona is strolling into on Sunday night time.
“Understanding how they deal with preseason, it’s form of been one thing that I’ve been capable of form of impart some issues to a few of the guys right here that you simply higher be prepared,” McSorley mentioned. “Higher be strapped up and able to go, as a result of they’ll deliver it.
“Sort of just like the outdated quote, ‘You play to win the sport.’ They deal with it like that,” the QB added. “It’s not only a preseason sport for them. The starters and the veteran guys that aren’t going to be enjoying, they even get on a few of the youthful guys. They simply discuss profitable preseason over there. It’s not nearly getting reps and attempting to win a job.”