Gus Edwards runs for 3 TDs to help 1st-place Ravens down Cardinals

Associated Press
Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 8:01 p.m. | Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023 8:01 p.m.

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Ravens running back Gus Edwards celebrates his touchdown during the second half Sunday.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Gus Edwards ran for two of his three touchdowns following interceptions by Baltimore’s stout defense, and the Ravens beat the Arizona Cardinals, 31-24, on Sunday.

A week after blowing out Detroit, 38-6, the AFC North-leading Ravens (6-2) labored offensively.

The Cardinals (1-7) prevented Lamar Jackson from scrambling for more than a few yards at a time, and the Ravens finished with 268 total yards. Jackson threw for 157 yards on 18-of-27 passing and ran for 18 yards on four carries.

Baltimore’s defense made up for its struggling offense.

The Ravens harassed quarterback Joshua Dobbs all afternoon, forcing two interceptions and a fumble. Dobbs threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns, the second a 1-yard score to Marquise Brown with 1:14 left.

Arizona recovered the onside kick, and Matt Prater kicked a 47-yard field goal, but the Cardinals couldn’t come up with another onside kick and lost their fifth straight.

The good news for Arizona: Quarterback Kyler Murray returned to practice this week for the first time since tearing an ACL last season.

Dobbs was sharp early in his eighth straight start, scoring on 1-yard sneak to cap a 75-yard game-opening drive.

The fourth-year quarterback wasn’t quite as good after that.

The Cardinals turned it over on downs near midfield twice, and Dobbs had a pass intercepted by Brandon Stephens on an overthrow.

It didn’t get any better in the second half.

Dobbs fumbled on a sack — the Cardinals recovered — and had a pass intercepted by Geno Stone at Arizona’s 23 when he tried to throw into double coverage. Edwards scored on a 7-yard run three plays later to put Baltimore up 21-7.

Arizona tight end Trey McBride bulled his way through several defenders for a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Edwards answered with a 1-yard score to put the Ravens up 31-15.

The Ravens had a similar start and stutter.

Jackson hit 6 of 7 passes for 64 yards on Baltimore’s first drive, finding tight end Mark Andrews in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard score.

The Ravens had 64 yards of offense the rest of the half, taking a 14-7 lead on Edwards’ 1-yard touchdown dive following Dobbs’ first interception.