THE The cowboys The Blue Bombers would like to get rid of the bad taste of defeat after their Week 2 disaster against the New Orleans Saints. Baltimore would also like to cleanse its palate with the sweet taste of victory after starting the 2024 season 0-2.
Two longtime playoff teams meet in Week 3 hoping to get their franchises back on track as quickly as possible. Both teams face tough times ahead, so this week could serve as a turning point for their year.
This interconference matchup is not a familiar one. The Ravens and Cowboys have met just six times in total, with Baltimore holding a 5-1 advantage. Both teams entered the season with clear playoff expectations, and both are about to fall into a hole few teams can overcome. But it’s clearly the Ravens who are the more desperate. Baltimore can’t go 0-3 and still hope to make the playoffs in a crowded AFC.
It will be a battle of wills and should come down to the winner of these three keys to the game…
Ravens IOL vs Cowboys IDL
Things have been a disaster in Dallas over the last week. The Saints rushing attack has completely exposed the Cowboys run defense. Dallas’ interior has been outmatched physically and mentally, leading many to believe the Cowboys have the worst defensive interiors in the NFL.
Dallas 1-Tech’s two defensive tackles, Linval Joseph and Mazi Smith, were ranked the worst and third worst in the NFL this season (109th and 111threspectively) and no one seems to dispute it.
More damning evidence on DAL DTs. Opposing teams don’t often use them twice.
According to this study, Osa Odighizuwa currently has the highest double-team rate in DAL, at around 44%, but he is 52nd among all DTs in the league. Even worse, DAL NTs (the one who should get…
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) September 19, 2024
The Ravens’ interior line is also under scrutiny this season. Guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele are ranked near the bottom of the positional rating scale and have struggled to open gaps and handle blitz packages through two games.
Both teams are likely to consider themselves “just what the doctor ordered” given their recent struggles. The team that is the least bad inside has a good chance of winning on Sunday and giving their team some hope for the future.
There’s no doubt the Cowboys can generate pressure inside, but can they withstand the run?
Center back Trevon Diggs vs. fullback Derrick Henry
Cornerback vs. running back isn’t a typical matchup to focus on in game previews like this, but given Henry’s success on the edge this season, coupled with Dallas’ run-stopping struggles on stretch plays, Diggs is going to find himself in more than a few ugly tackling situations Sunday.
63 of Henry’s 130 rushing yards came on the edge. He gains nine yards per carry on the left edge, recording two explosives (10+ yards) and four missed forced tackles.
Diggs, the Cowboys’ ball-rushing extraordinaire, could be called upon to do some heavy lifting Sunday. He was often asked to step up and stop the run against New Orleans and will likely be used in the same way against Henry and the Ravens.
Henry is over 50 pounds on both Dallas corners, so stopping Baltimore’s RB won’t be an easy feat, but it will be necessary.
Lamar Jackson vs. the Spy
The Cowboys successfully experimented with their spy situation in Week 1 against the Browns. DeMarvion Overshown exploded on the screen and appeared to be Dallas’ secret weapon against a rushing quarterback.
Lamar Jackson, arguably the best QB on offense since Michael Vick, will be an unprecedented test. Since the Cover 1 defense gives Dallas an extra run stopper in the box, Dallas will likely rely on it early and often. Unfortunately, that also means the outside CBs will be in man-to-man coverage, playing with their backs to Jackson and daring him to make big gains. The onus will largely fall on the spy to stop those gains.
Whether the spy is Overshown or Marist Liufau will depend on the type of personnel present on the ground. 50 percent of Baltimore’s offensive packages consist of 12 players. The extra tight end usually requires base defense, which means Liufau, not Overshown, is on the field.
No matter who fills the position, it’s critical that they minimize the damage done by Jackson’s rushing ability.
It goes without saying
For the Cowboys to have a chance, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys passing attack need to get back on track. Prescott hasn’t been at his best since last season. CeeDee Lamb has been underutilized and the pass protection has been suspect, to say the least.
Dallas can win all three of the keys listed above, but if Prescott can’t get back on track, none of that will matter. The Cowboys are built to play with a lead, so this offense needs to get off to a flying start.
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This article was originally published on Cowboys Wire: This unique battle between defender and talent player is one of three key matchups between the Cowboys and Ravens.
