The Dallas Cowboys are 1-1 going into Week 3 of the NFL season.
Next on their schedule is Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Like Dallas, Baltimore suffered a devastating loss last week. The Ravens will be looking for their first win of the season on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.
What should Dallas look for regarding its next opponent? Here are five things to know about the Ravens:
Bad start, bad omen
The last time the Ravens started 0-3 was in 2015, when they finished the season with a 5-11 record and in third place in the AFC North. In 17 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach, John Harbaugh has had only three losing seasons. Harbaugh has the fourth-best record for an active head coach at 172-111.
MVP is coming to town
Lamar Jackson, the 2023 NFL MVP, has faced the Cowboys only once in his career. That was during the 2020 season. The Ravens quarterback completed 12 of his 17 passes for 107 yards and one interception to lead his team to a 34-17 victory. This season, Jackson has completed 62% of his passes for 520 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He has 167 rushing yards on 21 carries.
Defense is the name of the game
The Ravens’ defense has yet to live up to expectations entering the season. Baltimore has allowed an average of 306.5 yards per game, ranking 18th in the NFL. Despite that, the Ravens have the best run defense, allowing 49.5 yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry.
Coaching similarities
Harbaugh’s career is similar to that of Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. Harbaugh, 61, has a win-loss percentage of .613. In 16 seasons, he has won five division titles, with a 12-10 record in playoffs and one Super Bowl victory. McCarthy, 60, has a career winning percentage of .619. In 17 seasons, he has won eight division titles, with an 11-11 postseason record and one Super Bowl victory.
Historical dominance
Baltimore has a 5-1 record against the Cowboys all-time. The first time they met was in 2000, with Baltimore winning 27-0. The Ravens have visited AT&T Stadium once. In 2016, the Cowboys won 27-17.
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