Ravens stave off Cards’ comeback, win 26-23

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens

Two unlikely players figured into the ending of this game: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Baltimore Ravens QB Kyle Boller. Warner rallied the Cardinals from a 17-point deficit late in the 4th quarter, but Boller moved the Ravens to within field goal range for kicker Matt Stover. Stover connected on a 46-yard FG as time expired as the Ravens squeaked by the Cardinals 26-23.

With Cardinals QB Matt Leinart struggling early on (9-for-20, 53 yards), Warner took over. Using mainly a no-huddle offense, they engineered a dramatic comeback. Boller, on the other hand, replaced an ailing Steve McNair in the 4th quarter; McNair was favoring his groin which was injured last week. After the Cardinals tied the game at 23, Boller went 5-for-5 for 32 yards to get Stover in position to win the game for the Ravens. The Ravens certainly got some help from a questionable penalty on the Cardinals’ Adrian Wilson, who was penalized for a high hit on Ravens TE Todd Heap at the end of a first down play.

Warner led all passers, going 15-for-20 for 258 yards, with 2 touchdowns and WR Anquan Boldin had a superb game, with 14 catches for 181 yards and 2 scores. The Ravens were led by RB Willis McGahee, rushing for 98 yards and WR Derrick Mason catching 8 balls for 79 yards and a TD. Stover’s 46-yard FG was his 416th, third most in NFL history.

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