John Harbaugh's Halftime Adjustments Help Baltimore Ravens Defeat Arizona Cardinals

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the desert 31-24 on Sunday afternoon to improve their record over NFC teams with quarterback Lamar Jackson under center to 17-1. The Ravens are now 6-2, lead the AFC North, and are riding a modest three-game winning streak.

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Arizona Cardinals in the desert 31-24 on Sunday afternoon to improve their record over NFC teams with quarterback Lamar Jackson under center to 17-1. The Ravens are now 6-2, lead the AFC North, and are riding a modest three-game winning streak.

Leading 14-7 at the half, the Ravens had lots of things to improve on after the break. The running game was abysmal in the first half with just 28 total yards, and in the halftime quick hits video, I mentioned that needed to improve dramatically to put the Cards away in the second half. It did.

Adjustments were made in both locker rooms that benefitted both teams. The 31 points scored by the Ravens were just enough to hold off an unlikely charge by Arizona in the second half, aided by a successful onside kick late in the game.

One thing that did not improve was third-down efficiency. After going 3-for-3 on third down in the first half, Baltimore went just 1-for-8 the rest of the way, and that helped the Cardinals get back in the game after the break. 

Baltimore was perfect from the red zone on Sunday, going 4-for-4 from inside the 20, but the Ravens also allowed the Cardinals to be a perfect 3-for-3 on their end. 

The need to make halftime adjustments is a part of the game, and some teams are better than others. The Ravens have been good under coach John Harbaugh, and it's easily one of his strengths. On Sunday, Harbaugh and Co. made the right moves at halftime, but those moves were matched almost perfectly by Jonathan Gannon and his staff in the home locker room.