The Ravens will try to avoid a 0-3 start when they visit the Dallas Cowboys for their Week 3 showdown on Sunday. Baltimore blew two double-digit leads in a 26-23 home loss to the Raiders in Week 2.
As for the Cowboys, they’re also coming off a loss at home, falling 44-19 to the Saints.
Therefore, both teams have plenty on the line as the offenses seek redemption Sunday afternoon.
Ravens vs. Cowboys odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | -112 | -1.5 (-102) | o47.5 (-105) |
| Cowboys | -106 | +1.5 (-120) | u47.5 (-115) |
Ravens analysis
There is a scenario where the Ravens could be 2-0 on the season.
They came within inches of scoring a touchdown on the final play of their Week 1 loss to the Chiefs.
Had Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely’s cleats been a few sizes smaller, his catch likely would’ve been ruled as a touchdown even after being subject to review by instant replay.
Baltimore was already signaling for a two-point conversion, which is the right call when facing the Chiefs because you want to kill the game off whenever possible.
We’ve also already touched on the Ravens losing from a winning position in Week 2.
It’s noteworthy that Baltimore is the only winless team in the top 10 of the For The Numbers Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric, ranking ninth in the league.
Offensively, Baltimore has been able to matriculate the ball down the field, ranking sixth in yards per play (6.1).
The Ravens are one of only five teams in the league with a run success rate that’s 50% or higher.
We’ll revisit why their ability to run the ball could help them create invaluable scoring opportunities against the Cowboys.
Cowboys analysis
In Week 2, we saw the Cowboys get bludgeoned on the ground by the Saints. New Orleans racked up 190 yards on the ground on 4.9 yards per carry.
Even in the Cowboys’ Week 1 victory (33-17) over Cleveland, they still allowed 4.9 yards per rush.
Dallas’ defense is now ranked 31st in run DVOA. This certainly isn’t the start that new Cowboys defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer, would’ve hoped for.
He took over a Dan Quinn-led defense that finished fifth in DVOA against the run last season.
However, we must keep in mind that the Cowboys also struggled against the run in their 48-32 wild-card loss last season against the Packers, allowing 143 yards on the ground.
As a result, it’s been three straight games where the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run.
Dallas will need to be particularly mindful of Baltimore’s dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson already has 167 rushing yards through two games while averaging eight yards per carry.
If Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson can average 7.8 yards per carry against the Cowboys, you’d have to like Jackson’s chances of putting up even bigger numbers.
Ravens vs. Cowboys pick
This matchup seems almost tailor-made for scoring, considering the Ravens run offense vs. the Cowboys run defense matchup.
One angle we’ve yet to touch on is the Cowboys’ passing offense against the Ravens’ secondary.
Dallas has struggled mightily running the ball, ranking 27th with 3.7 yards per carry.
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The good news is that Baltimore has been exceptionally vulnerable against the pass, as it’s last in the league, allowing 257 yards per game.
For Dallas to have a chance, it’ll need a big performance from quarterback Dak Prescott.
If both teams can operate from a position of strength, with Baltimore on the ground and Dallas through the air, we should be set up for a high-scoring affair.
Best bet: Over 47.5 points (-105, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Arinze handicaps most major sports for the New York Post. He’s cashed two 15-leg teasers in his betting career as well as a 12-leg parlay that included eight Little League World Series games. More recently, he accurately picked finalists in the 2024 European Championships and Copa America.
