Here is one last preview post for tonight's Monday night matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and Baltimore Ravens. This time, it is a simulation using the ever popular Madden 16 game. As we have seen much of this season, the Madden AI is not a huge fan of the Cardinals. The trend continues, as in this week's simulation, the Cardinals fall behind early, rally to tie, but ultimately fall 23-17 to the Baltimore Ravens. What is worse is it predicts Carson Palmer gets hurt and cannot finish the game.
Arizona fell behind 14-0 in the first half when running back Javorious Allen scored twice. The Cardinals get a field goal late in the first half, but Baltimore responds with one of their own to make the halftime score 17-3.
Arizona had a chance to get points at the very end of the half, but shot themselves in the foot with three straight penalties to end the half.
In the second half, the Cardinals pick off a Joe Flacco pass for the second time and get a field goal to make it 17-6. Then, after forcing the Ravens to punt, the Cardinals get another field goal from Chandler Catanzaro, but they had to finish the drive with Drew Stanton at quarterback. Carson Palmer was sacked and left the game.
It was 17-9 entering the final quarter and Palmer returned. He led the Cardinals to a touchdown, finding Michael Floyd and then connecting with Larry Fitzgerald for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 17.
But in Arizona's next offensive series, Palmer is sacked for the second time and leaves the game injured. He does not return.
Baltimore gets a 36-yard field goal to take the lead. Then the Cardinals turn the ball over on downs. The Ravens get another field goal with a minute left in the game and four Drew Stanton deep pass attempts fall incomplete.
The Cardinals lose 23-17.
Palmer was 21/34 for 229 yards, a TD and an INT. Stanton was 3/13 for 11 yards.
Chris Johnson rushed 21 times for only 54 yards.
Larry Fitzgerald had seven catches for 72 yards and John Brown had six for 54.
For Baltimore, Joe Flacco was 25/39 for 225 yards and two picks. Justin Forsett rushed for 77 yards and Javorious Allen had 45 yards on the ground to go with his two scores. Steve Smith, Sr. was held to two catches for 19 yards, but Kamar Aiken had eight receptions for 64 yards.