We have made it to week three already, and doesn’t it seem like when the season starts, the year starts to go by so fast?
With a record of 1-1, the Cowboys will play the Baltimore Ravens out in Rio de Janeiro for the first time in its history, and of course, Dallas will be there, and it will count as one of their ‘home’ games this season.
From what it sounds like thus far, the playing field is not thought to be the greatest.
Questions about the quality of the playing surface at Rio’s Maracanã Stadium started last week when professional soccer players voiced complaints about their home stadium’s grass field.
If you click the list above, you can read some more about the issues.
GAME INFO:
Date: Sunday, September 27th | Time: 3:25 PM CT
Location: Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TV: CBS | Stream: NFL+ & FuboTV
Radio:105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM), 107.5 La Grande in Spanish (KMVK-FM)
ODDS:
ESPN Matchup Predictor Odds to Win: Ravens (54.2%), Cowboys (45.4%).
DraftKings Sportsbook Odds: (O/U: 52.5) | Line: Ravens -3
Story via @jamisonhensley:
Stop The Run
The one and only key to the game is stopping the ground game of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. The Cowboys have given up over 200 yards on the ground after the first two weeks, and they are about to play the guy who will probably be the all-time leading rusher when he retires.
I have no concerns about the Dallas offense. They scored 7 of their 8 possessions last week against Washington and, dating back to week one, 9 out of their last 10.
The issue is 100% like a year ago on the defensive side of the ball, and I see improvement in terms of guys having energy, swarming to the ball, punching the ball out, but guys are still running wide open all over the place.
As for the running game, the guys are getting to the second level without even being touched, and as badly as I want to believe in the defense, they have forced only two punts in the first two weeks of the season, and the injuries have already started to pile up because they are on the field for way to long.
Cobie Durant suffered a hamstring strain in the first half last week, causing him to miss the second half, and P.J. Locke was also ruled out quickly.
He was seen walking with a protective boot on his right foot after the game. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Locke tore the plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue that runs from the heel to the toes.
Both of them are expected to miss time, so that only poises trouble for an already struggling defense.
@1053SS, @rjchoppy, and @BobbyBeltTX break down a wave of injuries hitting the Cowboys’ defense, the latest including PJ Locke (plantar fascia) and Cobie Durant (hamstring)
We just saw this Ravens team lose to the New Orleans Saints, who once again blew a 4th quarter lead, like they have done so many times. The ground game is what worries me. The Cowboys are going to be able to match up with the offense, but this league is a week-to-week one, and we have seen that time and time again already this year.
I am going to pick the Ravens to win this game, simply because I do not trust the Dallas defense, and I fully expect them to control the clock with Henry and RPOs, etc.
Dallas will once again keep it close and probably lead a time or two, but because the Dallas defense has only forced two punts all season, I am going to pick the Ravens to win this game 33-26.
We have seen crazy things happen this season, already, so maybe the Cowboys defense shows up and finds away to slow these guys down, but I don’t see it happening, this game will be closer than folks think because I don’t think the Ravens have an answer for the Cowboys wide outs outside, but we will see what happens.
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