The Baltimore Ravens escaped Marcaña Stadium in Brazil with an electrifying 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Here are the instant takeaways from Baltimore Beatdown’s staff:
Loop the Redeemer
It was a tough handful of months for Tyler Loop: missing the 49-yard field goal to end the Ravens season in January, taking all the crap he did on social media, watching competition be brought in right before the season starts after a rough preseason. The trust level in Loop was not high heading into Week 1. Tyler Loop has done
nothing be perfect since then. His only miss heading into Week 3 was a block in the Saint game. Then with 1 second remaining in the fourth-quarter, the Ravens likely desperate to avoid overtime and seeing the Cowboys offense once more, Tyler Loop hit the second longest field goal of his career from 56-yards to steal the win for Baltimore in Rio. The trust factor in the kicker is as high as it’s ever been in his career now. — Zach Canter
The Ravens have a short yardage problem
An offense with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry should not routinely struggle to pick up a yard or two, but the Cowboys consistently blew up their short-yardage attempts including multiple stops on the goal line. This speaks not only to the Ravens’ issues at offensive line, but also offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s predictability in those moments. Today’s game proved it is not as simple as giving it to Henry and letting him push forward, and Mark Andrews’ hand injury may have ruled out any sneak attempts. Doyle has to figure out which levers to pull and balance feeding his bell cow with change-ups to keep defenses honest. – Nikhil Mehta
The Ravens also have a tackling problem
Year after year, the Ravens defense preaches physicality and intensity during training camp, and year after year, they start the season with sloppy technique and too many yards after contact. All of the issues were there: defensive backs fly in low and wild, linebackers go for big hits instead of wrapping up, defensive linemen struggle to stay on their feet. This isn’t play-calling or pass-rushing woes; it’s simple fundamentals, and a problem that has persisted for years in Baltimore. It always seems to happen on the back-breaking third downs, too – the opposite of ‘being the best when the best is needed.’ – Nikhil Mehta
Center was already a concern. Now, it’s an emergency.
The Ravens have a potential emergency on their hands at center after losing both Jovaugn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic to injuries during the game. If both players are set to miss extended time, then Baltimore is in a true predicament. Vega Ioane filled in admirably during the game, so the Ravens may choose to stick with the rookie first-rounder going forward, but that means that right guard could now be a weakness again. – Dustin Cox
Baltimore’s offense still runs on Lamar Jackson’s legs
The Ravens struggled to find offensive consistency throughout the game. But when they needed it, Lamar Jackson would tuck it and run. It was noted before the game that the Cowboys struggled to defend against the quarterback run against Washington. It’s not a trigger the Ravens pull as often when Jackson was younger but he can still do it better than anybody in the NFL when needed. – Zach Canter
