After getting off to a surprising 0-2 start, the Ravens are flying to Dallas desperate for a win.
"It's kind of tense in terms of, we do not want to go 0-3," outside linebacker Odafe Oweh said this week. "That's not what's going to happen."
Here are my thoughts, all in 50 words or less:
- Is there such a thing as a "must-win" game in Week 3? No, but it's close. Since 1979, six teams have overcome an 0-3 start to make the playoffs, including only one since the turn of the century (2018 Texans). The Ravens don't want to have to travel that road.
- The cream usually rises to the top in the NFL. Every week there are shocking results, and every year the NFL's "Circle of Parity" is completed. The Chiefs got beat by the Raiders in Week 16 last year and won the Super Bowl. Ugly losses happen. It's how you rebound.
- The Ravens are one of the NFL's most talented teams. They are one of the best coached teams. That hasn't changed in two weeks. The road ahead is tough, but do the Ravens ever make it easy? We usually see Baltimore's best when it's in this kind of position.
- The only time a healthy Lamar Jackson has seen the Ravens lose three straight regular-season games was just before he took over as the starter in 2018. Never on his watch. There may not be any Raven who hates losing more, but he also can't try to do too much.
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- The Cowboys pose similar threats as the Raiders – a star pass rusher (Micah Parsons), star wide receiver (CeeDee Lamb) and gunslinging quarterback (Dak Prescott). The Raiders' stars outshined the Ravens' last week. The Ravens' stars need a Terrell Owens-like star statement in Dallas this week (not literally).
- The Ravens' defensive line is ranked No. 3 in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. We thought the secondary was going to be the defense's best position group and I still believe this secondary will tighten up. But the emergence of Oweh and Travis Jones made this group loaded.
- Parsons hinted this week that he could be an occasional quarterback spy on Jackson, especially on key third downs. Sign me up. The Ravens' offensive line will probably welcome any break from trying to block the Cowboys' star pass rusher and I'll take Jackson vs. anyone.
- Head Coach John Harbaugh hinted at the possibility of offensive line changes in Dallas. We don't know how drastic those changes could be. A new starter? A new rotation? The Ravens know they need better play now, but they're also confident their young blockers will keep improving.
Here are five matchups to look out for in the Ravens-Cowboys game.
LT Ronnie Stanley vs. LB Micah Parsons
Stanley is off to his strongest start since 2019 but will have a tough test facing Parsons. Parsons had 14 sacks last season and will spend time going against Stanley, but he will also move around Baltimore's line looking for a weak link. Baltimore has struggled against star rushers through two weeks and Sunday won't get any easier.
ILB Trenton Simpson vs. TE Jake Ferguson
The Ravens gave up 98 yards to rookie tight end Brock Bowers last week and now face a 2023 Pro Bowl tight end in Ferguson. Simpson, who played every defensive snap for the first time in his career last week, will try to slow down Ferguson and the rest of Dallas' playmakers in the middle of the field.
CB Marlon Humphrey vs. WR CeeDee Lamb
Lamb was second in the league in receiving yards last season and will face an up-and-down Baltimore secondary on Sunday. Humphrey will get his share of reps against Lamb in a matchup of multi-time Pro Bowlers. For the Ravens to get their first win of the season, keeping Lamb in check is pivotal.
QB Lamar Jackson vs. QB Dak Prescott
Jackson won his second MVP last season and Prescott finished as the runner-up. Both quarterbacks are in their prime and coming off elite seasons. Sunday's game has boom potential for these offenses as each team is looking to rebound from disappointing losses.
WR Zay Flowers vs. CB Trevon Diggs
Diggs missed most of last season with a torn ACL, but now he's healthy again and should see Flowers a lot in Week 3. Flowers had 91 receiving yards and a touchdown last week, and he continues to be a favorite target for Jackson in Year 2. A two-time Pro Bowler, Diggs can certainly be a ball hawk. He had 11 interceptions in 2021 and got one in the Cowboys' season opener.
- While Baltimore's offensive line is a question mark, so is the Cowboys' banged-up defensive line. The Ravens have a golden opportunity to win in the trenches, and Derrick Henry can make his first statement in the place where he lives and thought he might land as a free agent.
- One of the Ravens' most memorable wins under Harbaugh was when they closed out Texas Stadium with an upset win in 2008. The Saints already ended the Cowboys' 16-game home winning streak at AT&T Stadium last week. The Ravens have the chance to start a losing streak.
