The Ravens will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a Week 3 showdown. Baltimore blew two double-digit leads in a 26-23 loss to the Raiders at home in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys also lost at home to the Saints, 44-19.
So there's a lot at stake for both teams on Sunday afternoon as their offenses look to bounce back.
Ravens vs Cowboys odds
| team | Money Line | Spread the word | 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 go 2-0 this season.
They came inches away from scoring a touchdown on the final play of their Week 1 game against the Chiefs.
If Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely had cleats a few sizes smaller, his catch would have been probably Even after instant replay review, it would have been ruled a touchdown.
Baltimore had already attempted the two-point conversion, but when playing the Chiefs, it's the right call because you want to close the game out as much as possible.
We also already mentioned how the Ravens came from a winning position to a loss in Week 2.
Of note, Baltimore is the only winless team in the top 10 of For The Numbers' Defensive Adjusted Overvalue Average (DVOA) metric, ranking ninth in the league.
Offensively, Baltimore has had success moving the ball down the field, ranking sixth in yards per play (6.1).
The Ravens are one of just five teams in the league with a run success rate of over 50%.
Let's take another look at why their running ability will create valuable scoring opportunities against the Cowboys.
Cowboys Analysis
The Cowboys were outplayed on the ground by the Saints in Week 2, with New Orleans giving up 190 yards on the ground on 4.9 yards per carry.
The Cowboys came away with a 33-17 Week 1 win over Cleveland, but still allowed 4.9 yards per rush.
The Dallas defense currently ranks 31st in run DVOA, which is certainly not the start new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer was hoping for.
He takes over a Dan Quinn-led defense that finished fifth in run defense DVOA last season.
But it's important to remember that the Cowboys struggled with the run game last season, allowing just 143 yards on the ground in a 48-32 loss to the Packers in the Wild Card game.
As a result, the Cowboys have struggled to stop the run for three straight games.
Dallas will need to be especially careful with Baltimore's two-way quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson has already rushed for 167 yards through two games, averaging eight yards per carry.
If Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson can average 7.8 yards per carry against the Cowboys, Jackson should have a good chance of putting up even bigger numbers.
Ravens vs Cowboys predictions
Given the matchup between the Ravens run offense and the Cowboys run defense, this matchup seems almost tailor-made for scoring.
One aspect we haven't touched on yet is the Cowboys passing attack versus the Ravens secondary.
Dallas has struggled greatly against the run, ranking 27th with 3.7 yards per carry.
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The good news is that Baltimore is extremely vulnerable against the pass, allowing just 257 yards per game, last in the league.
Dallas will need a great performance from quarterback Dak Prescott to have any chance of winning.
If both teams can play from positions of strength, Baltimore on the ground and Dallas through the air, we should be able to expect a high-scoring game.
Best bet: Over 47.5 points (-105, FanDuel)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Michael Arinze writes for the New York Post and handicappers most major sports. During his betting career, he has won two 15-leg teasers and one 12-leg parlay including eight Little League World Series games. Most recently, he correctly predicted the finalists for the 2024 European Championship and Copa America.
