The Cowboys and Ravens have met only six times in the series history. The Ravens have won two of the last three meetings, both at Baltimore.
Both teams need this victory.
The Ravens are 0-2 and face two AFC contenders in Buffalo and Cincinnati after the Cowboys game. The Cowboys’ next two games are on the road, at the New York Giants on a short week and at the Steelers.
A major concern for the Ravens is the Cowboys’ pass rush.
“Those guys are hard to handle,” Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I mean they disrupt the game. I mean obviously. It’s the starting point of everything you do — like it’s been every week, in terms of those guys and doing everything we can within our power ... to try and neutralize those guys. At times we have, and at times we haven’t.”
Cowboys-Ravens will also be the third straight Dallas game Tom Brady broadcasts for Fox. What a start to a career.
Who will be the spy?
In Week 1, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown played 44 snaps. The next week, just 18. What gives? The Cowboys played more nickel defense in Week 1, where Overshown is aligned with fellow linebacker Eric Kendricks. He also played a spy role, shadowing Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. In the second game of the season against the Saints, Overshown didn’t play in the base package and there was no need to spy the quarterback. Saints quarterback Derek Carr is more of a drop-back passer. But Sunday against the Ravens, Overshown might spy quarterback Lamar Jackson, considered one of the fastest quarterbacks in the NFL.
It also could mean Overshown moves to the base defense with Kendricks and Damone Clark, with Overshown spying Jackson.
Overshown’s playing time is a topic of discussion heading into the Saints game.
“I really didn’t care, like I said before the season started, they had different personnel for different things,” he said “I’m still coming back from [the torn ACL] and we got some ballers in the linebacker room. So if they out there, they can play. I never looked at [playing time], OK. When my number is called just make sure you’re ready that’s just what that was.”
Committee changes
The Cowboys run attack has struggled this season. After two weeks, the Cowboys have rushed for 170 yards on the season, eighth fewest in the NFL. The Cowboys use a rotation of Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn. The team has Dalvin Cook on the practice squad but it doesn’t appear he’ll get moved up for the Ravens game. Dowdle said some changes will come with the rotation. In Week 1, Elliott started followed by Dowdle and Vaughn. The next game, Dowdle and Vaughn started with Elliott not coming in until after 15 plays transpired.
The Cowboys want to use all three backs efficiently with the hope the freshest back can close out a lead. So far that hasn’t happened. The Ravens run defense has allowed 99 yards after two games.
Lamb-Prescott chemistry
While team owner Jerry Jones was somewhat dismissive of training camp practice time between receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott, it’s apparent they miss each other. In the second quarter of last week’s game against the Saints, Prescott missed Lamb on a touchdown throw. Lamb ran his route inside while Prescott threw a pass toward the corner of the end zone. Lamb and Prescott are two dynamic players who need more practice time.
Prescott connected with Lamb on a touchdown pass in double-coverage against the Saints.
“Just continuing to communicate each and every day that we’re in here, whether it’s the film, whether it’s something at practice,” Prescott said. “Certain routes to make sure that some of those mistakes don’t happen again and everybody points out the one in the red zone there. That’s a simple mistake that if we’re on the same page, we understand what needs to be accomplished, that’s an easy touchdown.”
Defensive line changes
The starting defensive line is Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa at tackle with DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons at end. Smith missed two days of practice with a back injury and backup tackle Jordan Phillips was placed on injured reserve with a wrist injury. The Cowboys signed Carlos Watkins off the Washington practice squad to back up Smith. The Cowboys also have Linval Joseph as another backup tackle. The loss of Phillips and Smith’s uncertain status could bring some changes. Chauncey Golston has played both tackle and end in his time with the Cowboys. He might play more defensive tackle against the Ravens. The Cowboys might promote end Carl Lawson from the practice squad as well. Struggles against the run is something the Cowboys want to solve, so finding the best combination of players is important.
Welcome back, Jake
Tight end Jake Ferguson (left knee) is on target to play Sunday. He missed the Week 2 game against the Saints with a sprained ligament. Before suffering his injury, Ferguson was targeted five times and had three catches for 15 yards in the season opener at Cleveland. Last year was Ferguson’s breakout year. He set career highs in catches (71), yards (761) and touchdowns (five). He also was second on the team in targets (102) behind CeeDee Lamb’s 181.
Ferguson’s return doesn’t discount Luke Schoonmaker’s role on the team. He played well in a starting role last week. Brevyn Spann-Ford might be inactive for the Ravens game along with John Stephens, who continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
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