Dallas Cowboys Opponent Profile: Cowboys Face Third Straight AFC North Opponent In Baltimore Ravens
By Shawn Lealos
The Dallas Cowboys finished Week 10 with the best record in the entire NFL as the New England Patriots fell to the Seahawks on Sunday night. The Cowboys are also in the midst of a three-game stretch against AFC North teams and finish things off this week against the Baltimore Ravens. Here is a look at the Baltimore Ravens team profile heading into the Week 11 game.
Baltimore Ravens Season Record
The Baltimore Ravens sit alone in first place in the AFC North thanks to the Dallas Cowboys beating the Pittsburgh Steelers this past week. However, the Cowboys could spoil their celebration if they knock the Ravens off this week and the Steelers beat the Browns as expected. Baltimore is 5-4—one game up on the Steelers—and need this win to keep their lead.
Baltimore Ravens On Offense
The Baltimore Ravens just lost their starting guard Alex Lewis, which will make things tough on quarterback Joe Flacco. The former Super Bowl quarterback is having a very tough season right now; his 78.3 QBR actually ranks below names like Blake Bortles, Trevor Siemian and Tyrod Taylor. Flacco has thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions through nine games. He has only thrown more than one touchdown in two games this season, but has four games with multiple interceptions.
Meanwhile, Terrance West has shocked most people by winning the starting running back job and has 510 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the season. That ranks 18th in the NFL, and combined with Flacco's inability to score touchdowns, explains the team's struggles this season.
Baltimore Ravens On Defense
The Baltimore Ravens rank first in the NFL in defense, which is the only reason they have five wins this season. They limit opposing teams to 281.6 yards per game, 13 less than the second-ranked defense. They will use Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce to try to stop Ezekiel Elliott this week, which won't be an easy task. Terrell Suggs is still a force when it comes to rushing the quarterback.
However, Dallas is one of the top offenses in the NFL and this will be a strong battle. The Cowboys overcame a tough game playing against the Steelers defense on Sunday, but this will be the toughest defense Dallas has played since they beat the Philadelphia Eagles in overtime. The Ravens can win this game if their defense shuts down Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.
Baltimore Ravens Players To Watch
Mike Wallace – Joe Flacco has struggled this season but his top weapons are both veterans. Steve Smith Sr. has 36 receptions for 417 yards and two touchdowns while Mike Wallace has 43 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns. While Wallace is not as explosive as he once was, he is still quick enough to do damage to the Cowboys injured secondary.
Terrell Suggs – The Baltimore Ravens defense is who will win this game if Dallas stumbles here. Suggs has six sacks on the season. He will work on knocking Dak Prescott out of his rhythm in this game.
Outlook
This is going to be the toughest game for the Dallas Cowboys since they went to overtime with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Ravens have the defense capable of throwing off rookie Dak Prescott, and if they can bottle up Ezekiel Elliott, they can win this game. This might be a hard-fought battle, but if they can't stop Elliott, the Ravens don't have the offense to compete.
