Cowboys’ offense running into a great Ravens run defense

COWBOYS will be attempting to win 9 straight games for first time in 57-year history after overcoming Steelers 35-30 with rookies QB Dak Prescott, RB Ezekiel Elliott continuing to do heavy lifting. Another executive predicted the Cowboys could ask for a second or third. I think we are more disciplined up front. I think the Cowboys will pull out a close one. “We go as they go”. What an opportunity for the Ravens. It has more to do with how well you’ve played, how well your replacement played, and how much capital – both financial and emotional – the team has invested in you.

For the first time since 2014, the Ravens recorded their first double digits victory, defeating the Cleveland Browns by 28-7 last Thursday night.

The Cowboys might want to keep Romo for as long as possible as a quality veteran quarterback just in case. A win against the Ravens would avoid another 8-8 season and would give Cowboy’s fans a sigh of relief.

They have been beaten for four rushing touchdowns, a league low. The week before that (Nov. 6), Baltimore beat the visiting Steelers, 21-14, after building a 21-0 fourth-quarter lead. It has to be frustrating to lose your job after playing that Cowboys’ offensive line. Rookie QB Dak Prescott passed for 319 yards & 2 TDs in last week’s win at Pittsburgh, he ranks 3rd in the NFC with a 106.2 QB rating.

“When you get the lead, you want to keep the lead”, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. He’s the kind of guy everyone respects and looks up to, not only as football player, but as a person.

If Terrell Suggs wasn’t a Raven he’d be a pretty likeable guy. Albert McClellan is a stalwart on the other side.

Sunday will see Dallas’ irresistible offensive force collide with Baltimore’s immovable defence. This is coming up against a Ravens passing defence that is ranked fifth, and is second in the league on interceptions, with C.J Mosley leading the way with three picks. Ravens WR Mike Wallace has 400 receiving yards and a touchdown in his last 4 games. Cowboys-20, Ravens-17.

The Ravens must set the tone early with defense and let their offense get into sync without needing to play from too far behind.

We were the Homecoming opponent. It must be hard for Romo to know that with this line he was ready to get past recent post-season hurdles. “We were popping out of our skin”, Harbs said at the time. Add in the stable of receivers he had to work with, and he walked into a team where he had all the tools around him that most first round draft pick QBs lack.

Can the Cowboys go all the way this year? “When you’re in a position where we are, we’ve won eight games in a row, you start to break up some of that”. “Hey, where are we supposed to practice?” yelled Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan, playing to the hilt the role of disrespected coach and team.

There were celebrities and former elite Cowboys everywhere. It’s just a matter of how much a team is willing to gamble. I expect Zeke to rush for 80 yards and a touchdown.

“We wanted to be party crashers”.

The rookie isn’t afraid of anything standing between him and 100 yards on the ground, but the Ravens will be his toughest test yet – and I do realize that was said when he faced the Bengals and then the Packers. That will continue against Dallas to take some of the pressure off quarterback Joe Flacco, who is just 3-4 when forced to throw 40 or more passes this season.

There has to be accountability to the team, and trust has to be placed in teammates. We ended up in the AFC championship game the following month.

The Cowboys had some limited participants again this week.