The Ravens (0-2) will face the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Here are game predictions from The Baltimore Banner’s sports staff.
Kyle Goon, columnist
The Ravens are at a crossroads, and so am I. Will their season turn around? Are the assumptions we made about this team and its talent still intact? I believe this is the game that will determine that. I can’t get over that there are so many weapons on the Ravens’ offense, starting with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, that haven’t been used to full potential. Scuffling along the offensive line shouldn’t be enough to overshadow that, especially against this Dallas team that can’t stop the run.
At minimum, CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott should be a little banged up, and the Ravens defense was so good against the run last week, it should leave them plenty of room to work on the communication issues that have disrupted their pass coverage. Call me naive, but I’m clinging to the belief that this team is too talented to go 0-3. If there’s a week to figure things out, it’s this one. Hopefully for Baltimore, desperation is enough motivation to finally get right.
Ravens 30, Cowboys 20
Giana Han, reporter
If you’d asked me three weeks ago, I would have picked the Ravens. In fact, I’d have had them at 2-1 after this game. But, after what I saw against the Raiders, I just don’t have the faith the Ravens can pull this one out. I certainly think they have the tools. The problem is, will they use them? Derrick Henry has been on the team for months now, and the Ravens haven’t figured out how to use him. Additionally, a limited or absent Kyle Hamilton can have a huge impact on an already struggling pass defense. I imagine the Cowboys will attack the middle of the field with their passing game. And, even if the Ravens know it’s coming, I’m not sure how well they will adjust, because they didn’t from the Chiefs game to the Raiders game. I’d love to be proven wrong. But the Ravens have not earned my confidence.
Cowboys 27, Ravens 24
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Jonas Shaffer, reporter
The Ravens should run all over Dallas, especially if starting defensive tackle Mazi Smith’s injured back sidelines him Sunday. But, if the Ravens find themselves in obvious passing situations, watch out for Micah Parsons. With left tackle Ronnie Stanley recovering from a minor ankle injury, the Cowboys’ star linebacker is a mismatch for just about every Ravens lineman. Dallas racked up six sacks and 24 pressures against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus.
Watch out for CeeDee Lamb, too. The Ravens haven’t had an answer for WR1s so far, and the Cowboys’ star wideout is more dynamic than the Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice (seven catches for 103 yards in Week 1) and the Raiders’ Davante Adams (nine catches for 110 yards in Week 2). As the Raiders showed, Dallas and quarterback Dak Prescott won’t need a run game to move the ball. The Cowboys’ home-field advantage is real, too, despite last season’s playoff loss and their Week 2 flop.
Cowboys 24, Ravens 23
Paul Mancano, ‘Banner Ravens Podcast’ co-host
This week, after emphatically stating that Daniel Faalele beat out Ben Cleveland for the starting right guard spot during the preseason, John Harbaugh hedged slightly. “So when I see — if I see — that Ben is playing better than Daniel, then Ben will be the starting right guard, and he practices every day,” he said.
No, Harbaugh is not on the hot seat. But there’s no question he feels pressure after this 0-2 start. If Faalele gets off to another rough start Sunday, it’s plausible the Ravens make a change midgame. I’m not sure Cleveland is the answer, but all Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry need is some daylight. This team is too talented to start 0-3.
Ravens 27, Cowboys 24
Chris Korman, editor
I picked this Ravens team to win the Super Bowl, beat the Chiefs and destroy the Raiders.
Never follow me for gambling advice. Or, if we’re being real, any advice.
But, ultimately, I believe in this team and think most of the problems are the ones anyone should have expected. Except for the secondary. The corners, Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey, rank Nos. 42 and 48, respectively, at the position, according to Pro Football Focus. While there’s some subjectivity built in to that, it’s clear they have not been nearly good enough. In fact, it may be time to wonder whether Humphrey is cooked. Nate Wiggins can’t get healthy/the number of a reliable driver soon enough.
The Ravens are favored, by the slimmest of margins, so ... I don’t know, I’m just going to roll with it. There’s a lot of talent here. Lamar Jackson is special. Kyle Hamilton and Roquan Smith are going to make big plays. Sure, Micah Parsons is probably going to have like 85 pressures, but this season has been so weird I’m just going to close my eyes and pretend there’s a way the losing streak stops here.
Ravens 26, Cowboys 24
Brandon Weigel, editor
Prior to last week’s 44-20 beatdown at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, the Cowboys had won their previous 16 regular-season games at home. That does not bode well for a Ravens team trying to stabilize its season after digging an 0-2 hole.
But you know what? I’m going with Baltimore here. The Cowboys have surrendered 4.9 yards per carry on the ground and a league-worst five rushing touchdowns in the early going. If ever there was a time for a Derrick Henry game, this is it. Give him the ball 25 times, and let the offense dictate the pace of the game. And that, in turn, should allow ample opportunity for coordinator Todd Monken to finally get the Ravens’ play-action game into gear for large chunk plays.
On the flip side, the Dallas backfield of Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle hasn’t done much in the first two games, collectively accumulating 112 yards on 31 carries, good for 3.6 yards per carry. The always-stout Ravens front won’t give the Cowboys many opportunities to fix things, and that will set the secondary up for a “get right” game against the Dallas passing attack. This group is far too talented to rank as the league’s worst.
Ravens 23, Cowboys 17
