Cardinals share many similarities with 2012 Ravens
The Arizona Cardinals have found a winning formula this season under head coach Bruce Arians - one John Parolin of ESPN.com discovered is eerily similar to the 2012 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.
For example, running back Andre Ellington has accounted for 28.5 percent of the Cardinals' yards from scrimmage this season, which ranks the third-most in the NFL.
Like Ellington, running back Ray Rice was responsible for more than one quarter of the Ravens' yards from scrimmage in 2012, and was capable of contributing as a receiver.
| Per-game averages | 2012 Rice | 2014 Ellington |
|---|---|---|
| Yards from scrimmage | 101 | 98 |
| TD | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| 1st downs | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Percentage of team receiving yards | 12.00% | 13.50% |
Sixteen percent of the Cardinals' pass attempts this season have been thrown at least 20 yards downfield, which is the same percentage as the 2012 Ravens.
Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton has completed 10 of 25 downfield attempts for 325 yards this season with four touchdowns and no interceptions. During the Ravens' four-game playoff stretch in 2012, quarterback Joe Flacco was 14-of-29 for 504 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
| Passing 20+ yards downfield | 2012 Ravens | 2014 Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of attempts | 16% | 16% |
| Completion PG | 2 | 2 |
| Completion percentage | 35.60% | 35.70% |
| TD-Interception | 8-0 | 7-0 |
On the defensive side, Parolin noted the Cardinals have allowed a quarterback rating of 45.4 this season, which is on par with the 2012 Ravens. Both teams excelled at stopping the run, too, allowing fewer than 4.0 yards per rush.
| Pass Defense | 2012 Ravens | 2014 Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Completion percentage | 60.10% | 62.10% |
| TD-Interception | 15-13 | 14-15 |
| Total QBR | 46.3 | 45.4 |
The similarities don't stop there. The Cardinals' special teams have contributed 1.71 expected points per game this season, while the Ravens' special teams contributed 1.75 points per game in 2012.
It remains to be seen whether these numbers translate to a Super Bowl run for the Cardinals, but they're clearly in good company.