Position battleground (offense): Cowboys vs Ravens head-to-head breakdown

Which offense do you believe in more… Dallas or Baltimore?

This week the Dallas Cowboys return to AT&T Stadium to take on the Baltimore Ravens. The Cowboys are coming off a huge loss to the New Orleans Saints while the Ravens have yet to place a notch in the win column this season. So how do the offenses stack up against each other? Let’s battle it out by position and find out.

QUARTERBACK

Dak Prescott
vs.
Lamar Jackson

Dak Prescott didn’t have his sharpest game last week; however, he performed okay given the circumstances, as his defense permitted a touchdown on every possession by the New Orleans Saints offense until the fourth quarter. In the upcoming match against the Baltimore Ravens, Prescott will contend with a defense that has so far surrendered the highest number of passing yards in the first two games. This defense has also recorded a passer rating of 98.5, placing it among the bottom nine in the league.

For Cowboys supporters concerned about the team’s run defense, it is essential to prepare for Lamar Jackson. He is currently averaging 83.5 rushing yards per game, the highest among quarterbacks. While the Cowboys defense has faced challenges in containing the run during the first two games, they will be tested by Jackson, whose primary strength aligns with the defense’s most significant vulnerability: mobile quarterbacks.

Conclusion:
This matchup features last year’s top MVP contenders, with Jackson having a slight advantage in this contest. While the Ravens’ defense has been underperforming against the passing game, the Cowboys’ defense appears disorganized following their recent performance, particularly in defending against the run. Jackson is poised to exploit the vulnerabilities of a Cowboys defense that is likely to be demoralized and recovering from last week’s defeat.
Win: Ravens

RUNNING BACK

Rico Dowdle/Ezekiel Elliott
vs.
Derrick Henry/Justice Hill

The running back committee of the Cowboys is averaging 85 rushing yards per game, which ranks as the eighth-lowest in the league. Both Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott have each accumulated 56 rushing yards, placing them just outside the top 50 among running backs in terms of rushing yards. Despite the Ravens’ difficulties in defending against the pass, they lead the league in allowing the fewest rushing yards. This presents a complex situation, as teams tend to pass more frequently against them, resulting in fewer rushing attempts. Consequently, there are uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of the Cowboys’ running back duo in the upcoming game. Additionally, Dalvin Cook is still waiting for his call up.

The Ravens are positioned fifth in terms of average rushing yards per game, a statistic that incorporates Jackson’s contributions. Jackson is currently ranked tenth among all rushers for total rushing yards, while Derrick Henry follows closely in the 19th position with 130 rushing yards. Additionally, Henry has recorded two rushing touchdowns, resulting in an average of one rushing touchdown per game.

Conclusion:
The Ravens are currently averaging 168 rushing yards per game, while the Cowboys’ defense permits an average of 141 rushing yards per game. This presents an unfavorable matchup.
Win: Ravens

WIDE RECEIVERS

CeeDee Lamb/Brandin Cooks/Jalen Tolbert
vs.
Zay Flowers/Rashod Bateman/Nelson Agholor

The Cowboys faced challenges on offense last week, primarily due to the one-dimensional nature of the game, a consequence of the substantial lead established by the Saints. This receiving group is expected to perform well against the Ravens’ secondary, although similar expectations were set prior to last week’s game. The touchdown connection between Prescott and Lamb provided a significant morale boost; however, incidents like Jalen Brooks’ slip leading to an interception raise concerns. Currently, the Cowboys rank ninth in passing yards, which is promising when considering that the Ravens have conceded the most passing yards this season. The main issue lies in the Cowboys’ ability to score, as their offense tends to stagnate and relies on the “Aubrey Coast Offense” in an attempt to salvage the situation.

If there are concerns regarding Jackson’s rushing ability, it is noteworthy that he currently ranks fifth in total passing yards, demonstrating proficiency both on the ground and in the air. Despite their achievements in the passing game, the team has recorded the same number of receiving touchdowns as Dallas. Zay Flowers leads the team with 128 receiving yards, and the matchup between him and the secondary will be crucial this week. On the other side of the field Rashod Bateman excels at breaking into his routes and possesses an impressive release. The Cowboys secondary will need to recover from the challenges faced in the previous week.

Conclusion:
It can be argued that Lamb is such a significant influence that he single-handedly wins the competition for Dallas within this position group. The concern lies in the Cowboys’ offense in general, which exhibits a lack of tempo and efficiency, leading to uncertainty. Conversely, the Ravens have also faced challenges in their passing game, rendering their projections equally questionable for this game. For the time being, the benefit of the doubt is extended to CeeDee Lamb, particularly given his ability to take control of a game when he is in form.
Win: Cowboys

TIGHT END

Luke Schoonmaker (pending resolution on Jake Ferguson’s injury)
vs.
Mark Andrews

Luke Schoonmaker made a notable impression with an impressive catch and run at the beginning of the Saints game. In last week’s matchup, he successfully caught all six of his targets, accumulating 43 yards. He did have some struggles with the blocking support, which was not entirely adequate. On a positive note, Schoonmaker benefits from the fact that the Ravens defense has permitted the second-highest number of receiving yards to tight ends, as well as the second-highest number of receptions.

In Week 1, Mark Andrews recorded a mere 14 yards, while Isaiah Likely excelled with over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. The following week, Likely was targeted only three times, resulting in a significant drop in his production, while Andrews managed four receptions for 51 yards. This inconsistency renders Andrews a frustrating element in fantasy football, and for this upcoming game, he poses a questionable threat compared to previous years. The Cowboys’ defense has performed adequately against tight ends this season, permitting only four receptions per game, and last year, they ranked among the top teams in limiting yardage to tight ends.

Conclusion:
Jake Ferguson is a key player to monitor in the practice report. However, in this competition, it is important to acknowledge that despite Andrews facing challenges this season, he is still anticipated to outperform Schoonmaker in terms of productivity.
Win: Ravens (unless Jake Ferguson returns)

OFFENSIVE LINE

Zack Martin caused some concern last week when he briefly left the field for evaluation. He returned later and appeared to be in good condition, but it is advisable to monitor any updates on the practice report. The Cowboys’ offensive line permitted three sacks in the previous game, that now ranks them tied for fourth in the league for the most sacks allowed this season. Additionally, their run blocking has been best characterized as slightly above average. Compounding these challenges, the Ravens’ defensive line has performed admirably, accumulating seven sacks so far this year. It is crucial to contain defensive end Odafe Oweh, who leads the team in both sacks and pressures. Alongside him, the formidable 3-technique Nnamdi Madubuike also warrants significant attention.

The performance of the Ravens’ offensive line has been fair so far this year, just some inconsistency with the unit as a whole. This line has helped contribute to the passing game and has demonstrated average pass protection capabilities. Compared to the Dallas offensive line, the Baltimore unit has permitted fewer sacks and less pressures; however, it is noteworthy that the Cowboys’ offensive line may have a slight advantage in run blocking. This observation may seem peculiar, especially considering the impressive performances of Jackson and Henry on the ground. But Dallas’ offensive linemen do look better as a unit in run blocking.

The left tackle position is anchored by the esteemed Ronnie Stanley, who consistently ranks among the most discussed offensive linemen. Keep an eye on his practice designation as he missed practice with an ankle injury. Center Tyler Linderbaum had an impressive season last year, allowing no sacks, and aims to maintain this level of performance. A key focus will be how effectively this offensive line can mitigate the potential pass rush from Dallas, which managed to generate only five pressures in last weeks game against the Saints.
Win: Push