Even though the Ravens shut down New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez last week, Sunday will likely prove to be more challenging.
That’s because the Cincinnati Bengals have Carson Palmer calling the shots, and he’s battled the Ravens with great success in the past.
“Carson Palmer [is a] premiere quarterback,” said Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh. “[He] has proven it – has really proven it against the Ravens. How many times has he played well against the Ravens in the last eight years or so? We’ve got our hands full with that offense.”
Palmer is 8-3 all-time against Baltimore, completing 61.2 percent of his passes for an average of 248.4 yards per game. Throw in his 14 touchdowns and only nine interceptions, and Palmer could be considered a Raven-killer.
In order to stop him, the Ravens are going to have to get a solid pass rush up front, while their secondary must stick with a stable of talented receivers, including Pro Bowlers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.
Never mind that Palmer beat Baltimore twice last year. The Ravens are excited for yet another Palmer challenge.
“It’s going to be a fun one for us as a secondary,” said cornerback Fabian Washington. “We like the challenge. You have to be motivated to play cornerback, because if you’re not, you’re playing the wrong position. I’m ready to go.”
Palmer admittedly pumps himself up for these heated AFC North meetings.
“I don’t know of a year that they slipped out of the top five in total defense,” said Palmer. “You have to get fired up to play against them because you have to play your best to win. Fortunately over time we’ve won most of those games, but this is a new year, it’s a new defense, we’re a new offense and this game is huge to us.”
While outsiders might look at Palmer’s pedestrian performance last week in a 38-24 loss to the New England Patriots – much of his 345 passing yards came when the game was out of reach – the Ravens believe they’ll get Palmer’s best.
At least, that’s what recent addition T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been telling his teammates after spending the first eight years of his prolific career in Cincinnati.
“People that know football know that Carson can play,” Houshmandzadeh said. “Carson is the real deal. You don’t know what you have until it’s gone and I experienced that.
“I know first-hand.”