When the Baltimore Ravens take the field against the Dallas Cowboysin Rio de Janeiro, most of the attention will focus on the usual names. Lamar Jackson. Derrick Henry. Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton rank among the headliners. That's understandable. Star players are paid to deliver in big moments.
The Ravens know better than anyone, however, that victories are rarely secured by household names alone. Depth matters. Complementary football matters. Sometimes, the difference between winning and losing comes down to a player who wasn't discussed much during the week suddenly making two or three critical plays.
Baltimore enters Week 3 hoping to capitalize on their embarrassment of riches. They're looking to rebound froma frustrating home loss to the New
Orleans Saints. If the Ravens want to leave Brazil with a victory, these three under-the-radar contributors may need to do a little more.
Chris Moore, wide receiver
Rashod Bateman answered the bell in Week 2. Chris Moore did well, too. After earning his way onto the roster, Moore caught two passes on five targets for 59 yards against the Saints. He provided Baltimore withan occasional spark and showed he can still stretch the field when given opportunities.
The challenge now is building on that performance.
Whether Zay Flowers returns this week or not, the Ravens need more consistency from their receiving corps beyond Bateman and Mark Andrews. Dallas has enough defensive talent to keep Baltimore from relying solely on one or two pass catchers. Moore doesn't need a 100-yard afternoon, but another timely contribution or two could go a long way toward keeping the Cowboys honest.
Zion Young, EDGE
The Ravens have invested heavily in their pass rush, and Zion Young is part of that equation. Through two games, the second-round selection has logged 35 defensive snaps and recorded three tackles. The production hasn't jumped off the stat sheet yet, but neither do most pass-rush numbers early in a season. Sometimes the breakthrough comes quickly.
Baltimore has collected five sacks through two games, which is respectable. At the same time, the Ravens would love to generate more consistent pressure without relying exclusively on their established veterans.
Dak Prescott becomes a different challenge when he has time to operate. Young doesn't necessarily need a multi-sack performance, but the Ravens would welcome a few disruptive plays that force Prescott off his spot and help tilt the pocket in Baltimore's favor.
Travis Jones, defensive tackle
Few Ravens defenders have the physical tools that Travis Jones possesses. The problem is that the production hasn't fully matched those expectations through two games. Jones has played 69 defensive snaps and generated three pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. All three have been hurries. He is still searching for his first sack of the season.
The Cowboys present an opportunity. Baltimore's defense needs more disruption from its interior defensive line, especially against an offense featuring Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Edge pressure is important, but quarterbacks become much harder to defend when they can comfortably step up into the pocket.
Jones has shown flashes throughout his career. The Ravens may need one of those impact performances this week.
The Ravens aren't asking these players to carry the offense or defense. That's not their role. What Baltimore does need is meaningful production from players operating just outside the spotlight.
The margin between winning and losing in the NFL is often smaller than it appears. If Chris Moore can provide another spark, Zion Young can help generate pressure, and Travis Jones can become more disruptive inside, the Ravens' trip to Brazil could end much differently than their home opener did a week ago.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 3 Ravens flying under the radar who must step up against the Cowboys
