Third Quarter
The Cowboys began with the ball and, you are going to be shocked, punted after three plays. So it goes.
Fortunately for them the Ravens could not make much happen once they got their hands on the ball and booted it right back.
Joe Milton found himself a bit on the next possession and a big reason was a 49-yard completion to Jonathan Mingo. Yes, for real.
Unfortunately a Ryan Flournoy penalty somewhat stalled the drive and the Cowboys had to settle
for a field goal to make it 18-10.
All told the Ravens got down into field goal range once more and hit from the 3-point line yet again. This helped make the score feel normal as they took a 21-10 lead.
Phil Mafah finally got in the game as the quarter wound to a close.
Second Quarter
The Ravens held the ball when the quarter began and put together another long drive.
This time Baltimore only needed 13 plays, but the result was a Cooper Rush pass for a touchdown like the game’s most recent possession. This one was for his actual team, though.
The Cowboys took over and had barely been an offense to this point what with their own issues and the pick six. They began to move things a bit and look a little comfortable and the virtual measurement system for first downs even showed its face which was fun.
To be clear it was fun the first time around as Dallas converted, but then faced a fourth and short that Miles Sanders could not move the chains on. The virtual system actually proved that Sanders was 1’3” short of the line to gain which gave the Ravens the ball back with them having a 12-7 lead.
While it was another point-scoring drive for the Ravens it only yielded a field goal thanks to some stellar play by Damone Clark. Unfortunately the Cowboys barely did anything with the ball as they went three and out to give Baltimore another chance with two and a half minutes left before halftime.
Consider that this was the fourth offensive possession of the game for the Cowboys at the moment in time and that it was the second three and out (not technically, but basically). The other two were a safety and turnover on downs, so not exactly a great night of work to that point.
But fortune smiled on Dallas and they were able to get the ball back quickly thanks to a Kemon Hall interception!
Unfortunately the good vibes did not last long…
Joe Milton threw an interception in the endzone on the very first play of the next drive.
Cooper Rush did what he could to get the Ravens into field goal range for one last shot before halftime.
Rookie Tyler Loop nailed it which made him a perfect 3 for 3 on the night to that point.
First Quarter
The Baltimore Ravens won the opening coin toss and chose to receive. That is life in the preseason.
While old friend Cooper Rush completed his first pass for a first down, things became more difficult for him after that. The Cowboys defensive front began to swarm Rush a bit and kept him on his toes for three straight plays which forced a Baltimore punt.
Unfortunately matters went even worse for the Cowboys when they took over. The first play was a hand off to Miles Sanders for a gain of a yard and then he lost five on the next one. As if that weren’t bad enough Joe Milton was sacked on third down in the endzone for a safety.
The Ravens moved the ball down the field rather well across 15 total plays. Seriously.
Dallas was playing their corners a bit off the line of scrimmage which was allowing for some easy pitches and catches. Thankfully the Cowboys stood tall once they got near the endzone and forced Baltimore to settle for a field goal which made the score 5-0.
While the next possession saw Joe Milton complete his first pass on the night the next two after it were incompletions and Dallas punted it away.
Things took a turn on the next possession. Cooper Rush threw a touchdown at AT&T Stadium once more, but as the opposing passer. Andrew Booth picked him off and took it back to the house!
This gave the Cowboys a lead of 7-5 (funny score!) which is where things stood when the first quarter ended.
