The Sports Xchange

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens are struggling in several areas this season, particularly with clock management late in the game.

The Ravens have five losses by a total of 22 points and had a chance to win three of those games on the last drive, including last week’s setback to the 49ers.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said that is an area of focus heading into Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals, especially getting to the line quicker in the two-minute offense.

“I think the end of the story is that we try to do that as fast as we can,” Harbaugh said. “It’s something we need to become great at, and we can. We have a great offensive line, a veteran offensive line. And we have a veteran quarterback, and that’s something we can become great at.”

However, the challenges facing Baltimore this week extend beyond simple clock management issues. Baltimore has a long history with Cardinals’ quarterback Carson Palmer and not many of those experiences have been positive.

Palmer went 9-4 against Baltimore when he was with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has thrown for 3,570 yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 14 career games against the Ravens.

So, in a season when Baltimore’s secondary is struggling again, this is not an ideal match-up entering the Monday night game.

“He’s throwing accurately,” Harbaugh said about Palmer. “He’s making throw under pressure. He looks good.”

Another main focal point for the Ravens this week is stopping big plays on defense. Harbaugh is confident the team can turn things around if it could stop giving up huge yards.

“That’s where all the yards are at,” Harbaugh said. “That’s how most of the yards are made in this league — by big plays. It’s hard to methodically go down the field every single series and execute perfectly.

“There’s no margin for error with that, so you have to be able to make big plays.”

The Ravens struggle to get opposing offenses off the field, ranking last in allowing third down conversions.

On offense, Harbaugh said the team needs to start making big plays. Part of that is developing the proper schemes to exploit the opposing team’s defense. He also wants to stop turning the ball over so much.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown seven interceptions in six games.

“When you have more turnovers than your opponents, it’s going to be a tough time winning,” Harbaugh said. “We have to clean that up. Those are the big-picture things.”

SERIES HISTORY: Sixth regular season meeting, Ravens lead series 4-1. Baltimore has won the last four games, including two on the road. The Cardinals last beat the Ravens 16-13 on Nov. 28, 1997.

GAME PLAN: The Ravens simply need to get off to a quick start to avoid playing from behind for the sixth time in seven games. Baltimore needs an effective running game to extend drives and keep the Cardinals’ potent offense off the field. The Ravens must pressure Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer or he could pick apart the struggling secondary. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco does not have the weapons at wide receiver to get into a shootout with Palmer.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Ravens wide receivers vs Cardinals secondary.

Arizona’s secondary has been stellar this season, led by cornerback Patrick Peterson. Fellow cornerback Jerraud Powers has also played well. They have also meshed well with safeties Tyrann Mathieu, Rashad Johnson and Tony Jefferson. As a result, Arizona has the ninth-best pass defense in the league, allowing 224.2 yards per game with 11 interceptions. With the exception of wide receiver Steve Smith, the Ravens receivers have struggled to make big plays this season. This group is going to have to play better to keep the offense from being one dimensional.

–Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald.

Entering the season, Smith was widely viewed as one of the best shutdown corners in the league. However, he has struggled and allowed receivers to get behind him for long gains or touchdowns. Fitzgerald poses the biggest challenge he has faced this season. The veteran wide receiver ranks fourth in the NFL with 583 yards on 43 receptions with six touchdowns. Smith probably will need some support from his safeties or it could turn into another long, miserable night.

–Ravens RB Justin Forsett vs. Cardinals LB Kevin Minter.

Baltimore is going to have to establish the run against the Cardinals to take some of the pressure off quarterback Joe Flacco. After two straight games in which he ran for more than 100 yards, Forsett was held to 62 yards on 17 carries by San Francisco. He is nursing a sore ankle. The Cardinals rank 16th in the NFL against the run, allowing 104.5 yards per game.

Minter sets the tone and appears to be always around the ball. With Arizona’s talented secondary, the Cardinals’ front seven will be determined to shut down the run and force Flacco to take chances. Forsett will have to overcome that challenge.