Why Ravens-Cowboys Is Most Intriguing Game of Week 3, Potentially Game of the Year
Before the season started, the Week 3 meeting between the Ravens and Cowboys in Dallas looked like a matchup of NFL heavyweights.
With both teams coming off troubling losses last week, the narrative around Sunday's game has changed. Even though it's still early in the season, there's already a sense of urgency for Baltimore (0-2) and Dallas (1-1).
A loss on Sunday would be more damaging for the Ravens, who would fall to 0-3 for just the second time in franchise history. As it stands, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Ravens a 42.3 percent chance of making the playoffs.
NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha called it the most intriguing game of the week.
"The Ravens desperately need a win after suffering through two frustrating losses that easily could've been victories," Chadiha wrote. "The Cowboys need a strong showing after losing by 25 points at home to a Saints team nobody thought would be this good this early. Both teams have the talent to overcome slow starts, but the reality is they definitely need to rebound fast."
"Good Morning Football's" Kyle Brandt still views the Ravens-Cowboys as a matchup of top teams despite their records.
"I have a positive take. No grim reaper. I'm looking over this matchup and how the last two weeks have gone. I think is going to be a clubhouse leader for game of the year," Brandt said. "I think this has unbelievable potential. … I think it is massive, massive, like 41-38 potential."
The Ravens' schedule doesn't get any easier in the two weeks after facing the Cowboys, who had won 16 straight regular-season games at home before losing to the Saints. Baltimore hosts Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 and then travels to Cincinnati to face Joe Burrow and the AFC North rival Bengals.
"There's a world in which the Ravens sweep those games and are right back in the playoff conversation," The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon wrote. "There's another in which they lose all three, perhaps in heartbreaking fashion, and are effectively eliminated from postseason contention before Halloween.
"The Lamar Jackson-John Harbaugh partnership has a long track record of success in the regular season, including a league-best 13-4 record last year and a 14-2 campaign in 2019 that included a franchise-record 12 straight wins. They deserve the benefit of the doubt, but that could all change in the next three weeks."
Looking at the Connection Between the Ravens' and Orioles' Front Offices
The front offices of the Ravens and Baltimore Orioles are regarded as two of the best in their respective sports. What many may not know is that Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta played a role in the Orioles hiring Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias and Assistant General Manager Sig Mejdal.
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec wrote that DeCosta formed a friendship with Mejdal after the two met in 2016 when the Ravens were looking to improve their analytics program.
"Mejdal dropped by the Ravens' facility in August 2016 while the Astros were in Baltimore and met with DeCosta and other members of the organization to provide insight into how Houston was using analytics as part of its draft preparation," Zrebiec wrote. "Later that night, DeCosta was a guest of Mejdal and then-Astros GM Jeff Luhnow in a suite at Camden Yards."
When the Orioles were looking for a new GM after the 2018 season, DeCosta reached out to Louis Angelos, the son of then-Orioles owner Peter Angelos, to recommend Elias.
"We talked about Mike and Sig and my experiences with them and how I really thought these guys were brilliant and smart and how what they were able to do with the Astros was incredible," DeCosta said.
According to Zrebiec, "DeCosta learned quickly that Elias and Mejdal had been on the Orioles' radar well before he sat down with Angelos. Still, DeCosta figured a few more supportive words couldn't hurt."
"Eric was probably our biggest supporter," Mejdal said. "He was checking in with me what seemed to be every other day, more frequently than my own family."
Pundit Says Ravens' Bottom-Ranked Pass Defense Is a Mirage
ESPN's NFL Nation reporters identified an early tendency from the team they cover and determined whether it will continue through the season or whether it's a mirage.
For the Ravens, the early surprise is that they currently rank last in pass defense. Heading into the season, their secondary was regarded as possibly the best in the league.
ESPN's Jamison Hensley said the porous pass defense shouldn't play like this for long.
"Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL (514) through two weeks. This is a major surprise considering this is essentially the same secondary that finished No. 6 against the pass last season," Hensley wrote. "The Ravens are too talented in the defensive backfield, which is led by All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, to struggle like this.
"The Ravens will get to prove themselves over the next three weeks when they face Dak Prescott, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow."
