After months of waiting and field discussions, we're now just hours away from Baltimore and Dallas kicking off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Ravens face an opponent with a sharp divide between its passing offense and run defense. Dallas can score quickly when Dak Prescott finds rhythm. It has also given opposing offenses room to run and struggled to get off the field on third down.
What Dallas does well
Prescott has completed 73.8% of his passes for 454 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. CeeDee Lamb has 197 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Jake Ferguson has caught two scores. Baltimore cannot focus solely on limiting the Cowboys’ outside receivers and forget the tight end when Dallas reaches scoring range.
The Cowboys have converted 15 of 22 third
downs, a 68.2% rate. They have also allowed Prescott to be sacked only twice. Baltimore’s five sacks through two games show it can create pressure, but the Ravens must get Prescott off schedule before Dallas strings together another extended possession.
Where Baltimore has an opening
Dallas has allowed 173.5 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. That is a difficult pairing against Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. Baltimore averages 155 rushing yards per game; Henry alone has 212 yards and four touchdowns. Productive early-down runs could keep Jackson out of predictable passing situations and limit Prescott’s time on the field.
Dallas’ defense has also allowed opponents to convert 17 of 25 third downs, or 68%. The Ravens have converted just seven of 18 themselves, so the matchup offers an opportunity, not a guaranteed advantage. Baltimore must finish drives that its running game starts.
Big play opportunities for Lamar Jackson
The secondary is another concern for Dallas. The Cowboys have listed Cobie Durant, Malik Hooker, and P.J. Locke as out, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is also out. Even with Zay Flowers potentially unavailable, Lamar Jackson has an opportunity for explosive plays in the passing game, especially if Baltimore’s receivers give him reliable options.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Cowboys scouting report: What Ravens must stop and where they can attack
