The Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens will play their Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro, and the matchup will include two of the more controversial quarterbacks in the league. Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson take center stage for the people of Brazil to witness the greatness of two players who are routinely criticized when their teams lose.
Both teams enter the game at 1-1, and going under .500 early in the season wasn’t expected for either the Cowboys or Ravens. Yet, here they sit, in danger of digging themselves out of a hole with a loss. This is a scary matchup for the Cowboys and their new look defense that has struggled. Here are three reasons to hate the Week 3 game with the Ravens.
Dynamic rushing duo
The Cowboys came into the year focusing on stopping the run,
something their defense has had a major problem with in the last few seasons, but it remains an issue. The New York Giants ran for 165 yards against Dallas’ defense, and the Washington Commanders backed that up with 182 more on the ground.
Both of those teams have athletic QBs who are very good when running. However, neither Jaxson Dart nor Jayden Daniels are Lamar Jackson, who’s an elite runner.
Trying to slow down Jackson is one thing, but running back Derrick Henry adds another level of difficulty to stopping the Ravens’ rushing attack. Henry has rushed for 212 yards and four touchdowns through two weeks and is averaging close to six yards a carry.
As a team, the Ravens are fourth in the NFL in rushing yards a game at 155, while the Cowboys rank 29th, giving up almost 175 yards per contest on the ground.
It’s a major mismatch for the Cowboys, who will need to find a way slow down Henry and Jackson. That didn’t happen the last time these two teams played, when Dallas gave up 274 rushing yards to the Ravens, which included 238 yards and three scores to the dynamic duo.
Last time the duo of Jackson and Henry played the Cowboys, they ran for 238 yards and 3 scores. Jackson added another touchdown through the air.
— Ben Grimaldi (@BenTalksCowboys) September 23, 2026
Not much has changed, the Cowboys are still near the bottom of the league in run defense, the Ravens near the top in rushing offense.
Another effort like that and the Cowboys don’t stand a chance.
Stingy defense
Baltimore’s defense is one of the stingiest in the league, allowing just under 275 total ypg. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s unit is equally adept at stopping the pass and the run, making it hard for offenses to move the ball.
The Ravens are one of just two teams in the league holding passing attacks to under 200 ypg, while also allowing under 85 yards on the ground per game.
That’s not a great matchup for the Cowboys’ running game, which is averaging a miniscule 67.5 ypg. Prescott is leading a passing game that is more efficient, throwing it for over 220 yards a contest, with six touchdowns through the air.
However, the Ravens’ secondary boasts four first-round picks, so there’s danger in trying to throw it too much.
The Cowboys have the offense and weapons to challenge the Ravens’ defense, but it won’t be easy to move the ball or put up points against one of the league’s best units.
Can attack the QB
It will be another tough day at the office for the Cowboys’ offensive line. The Ravens have a stout pass rushing group that can attack on the edges, as well as through the interior.
Through two games the Ravens have five sacks, yet only one has come from one of the top pass rushers in the league. Offseason addition Trey Hendricksonhas one sack and leads a defensive line that also boasts veterans Calais Campbell and Travis Jones. That’s enough to give any OL fits, but with All-Pro Nnamdi Madubuike likely to play, the task gets tougher.
Edge rusher Mike Green has a sack and is showing improvement in his second year, but it’s linebacker Tavius Robinson who leads the defense in sacks with two.
Dallas’ offensive line needs to be up to the task of slowing down a good pass rush. If that doesn’t happen, Prescott and the passing game could falter, shrinking their chances of leaving Brazil with a win.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys vs Ravens: 3 reasons to hate the matchup in Week 3
