Cowboys who clawed vs. Ravens

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ARLINGTON, Texas — It went with out saying that the Dallas Cowboys wanted a a lot, significantly better displaying once they took the sector in Week 3 to host the Baltimore Ravens over the displaying one week prior towards the New Orleans Saints. They could not get something of substance going within the latter, and Lamar Jackson’s objective was to maintain it that means.

Jackson walked into AT&T Stadium desperately attempting to stave off an 0-3 begin to the season, whereas the Cowboys have been hoping to keep away from a three-game shedding streak at residence that dates again to the playoff loss in January to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.

Resiliency is normally a calling card of Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys, proudly owning a formidable document of 12-2 (courting again to 2021) after struggling a loss, and even the 2 losses have been to the wire — one involving time beyond regulation.

This was no completely different than the latter two occasions.

In what seemed to be one other blowout loss at residence, the third since January, the Cowboys caught hearth and dwindled a a number of possession lead down to only three factors because the fourth quarter wore on, giving the Ravens a really actual scare. The unhealthy information is that they nonetheless suffered the loss, however the silver lining that was wholly current from Week 2 is that it is attainable the offense, and the protection, have once more discovered their mojo heading into Week 4.

Right here is my checklist of those that practically despatched the Ravens residence with a monumental collapse of their carry-on baggage.

It is one more week whereby the Cowboys struggled to seek out offense, however Brandon Aubrey was nonetheless Brandon Aubrey. He did not get many probabilities to swing his proper boot towards the Ravens by advantage of the offensive errors (e.g., fumble, penalties, and so on.), however he made it rely with every alternative. His afternoon included kicking a 65-yarder proper down the center of the uprights with room to spare, the only longest subject objective within the historical past of the Cowboys’ franchise. There was a time when the offense wasn’t the priority and the kicker was, however that is flipped in 2024.

It is most likely not an important outing when the punter makes my checklist. This is not a knock in any way to Bryan Anger, a weapon in his personal proper, however it tells you that there was little to nobody at a talent place that outplayed the punter towards the Ravens. Anger, a Professional Bowler, logged greater than 200 yards along with his proper foot in Week 3, continually placing Baltimore deep into their very own territory to start drives — together with a 62-yard bomb — however it in the end did not matter every time, although not by any fault of his personal. He’d get loads of relaxation within the fourth quarter although, because of Dak Prescott and the offense coming alive.

As was the case for almost all of the offense, Prescott needs he had the primary three quarters of play again. He was pressured into oblivion as his offensive line struggled to guard him, combined with penalties by that very same unit that killed drives, however Prescott fought till he could not struggle anymore — main the Cowboys to a few touchdowns within the fourth quarter. That is greater than what the Cowboys produced within the earlier 11 quarters mixed, and it confirmed they might lastly be again on observe as they prepare for a brief week going into the battle with the New York Giants.

It isn’t a reputation you will hear usually, seeing as he is largely relegated to being a particular groups ace, however Goodwin will remind you a time or two why he is nonetheless round in Dallas. After lastly discovering pay filth, within the fourth quarter, to make it a 16-point affair (the Cowboys weren’t profitable on the two-point conversion try), it was Goodwin leaping ahead on the onside kick to recuperate it and provides Dak Prescott one other shot at shrinking the lead additional with the clock working towards Dallas.

Goodwin’s arduous work was rewarded by Prescott and the offense, by the best way. The Cowboys’ offense marched down the sector on a seven play, 56-yard drive aided by Jalen Brooks on a 24-yard catch and run, punctuating it with a 15-yard landing toss to Jalen Tolbert — his first landing of the season. It was one other failed two-point conversion thereafter, however Tolbert’s landing shrunk the result in a extra manageable 10 factors with seven minutes remaining and the Cowboys proudly owning all three of their timeouts.

It was a valiant effort by Dowdle, to be sincere. He not solely began for the second week in a row, however he made it rely when he was given the ball. His whole yardage does not say a lot, however what’s additionally true is that he was averaging 4.5+ yards per carry every time he took a handoff. So what’s lacking right here? Properly, the very fact he was solely requested to hold the ball seven occasions getting into he fourth quarter, largely as a result of the Cowboys have been being blown out for a second consecutive week and working the ball would accomplish nothing. Dowdle seemed stable, although, and in addition on his 18-yard burst late within the sport that saved the Cowboys alive — resulting in a landing by KaVontae Turpin.

It has been one thing I’ve pleaded to see via the primary two weeks (and his first two seasons in Dallas) that hasn’t been unleashed but, or no less than not till the second half towards the Ravens. It is Turpin and his capacity to be greater than only a dynamic returner, but in addition to contribute within the passing assault for Prescott and playcaller Mike McCarthy. The Professional Bowler offered not as soon as impression catch, however two, within the waning minutes and the second was a landing to cap an 11-yard drive that made it a three-point sport. He is able to such, so let’s have a look at extra of this going ahead.

It was robust sledding all through a lot of the sport for Ferguson. Having returned from his one-game absence resulting from an MCL sprain, he confirmed no indicators of ailing bodily, however was unable to get right into a rhythm till the fourth quarter. However when he did, it helped spark the eventual landing drives due to the shift in power offered by the Professional Bowl tight finish. On a day the place nothing was given and all needed to be earned, there was Ferguson incomes his.

It is tough to sift via the defensive mess and discover anybody who stood out in a constructive means, however there’s inevitably one or two, and Kendricks makes this checklist in Week 3. It wasn’t an ideal day for the previous First-Crew All-Professional, however he did all he may in main the workforce with tackles and, on multiple event, flying in at factors through the third quarter to assist the Cowboys get off of the sector on third down. He actually did attempt to set the usual on Sunday, however was worn down by the onslaught.

One other defensive participant who jumped out at me was Lawrence as a result of, regardless of being blown out two weeks in a row, it appeared prefer it was practically all the time Lawrence nonetheless chugging alongside and attempting to chase down defenders from the bottom. He by no means confirmed a single molecule of give up, and his movie will help his efforts. The second everybody performs with Lawrence’s stage of dedication and tenacity ,on every rep, is the second the Cowboys’ protection will get issues circled.