Cowboys bucking history in Ravens’ matchup

Last week, the Dallas Cowboys were hoping to extend several winning streaks.

Those hopes sank faster than the Titanic.

This week the Cowboys will look to end some losing streaks. Their opponent – the Baltimore Ravens – are also looking to end a losing streak.

Something has to give.

The Cowboys’ offense didn’t have to do much in the season-opening win against Cleveland. Last week against New Orleans, they moved the ball but couldn’t match the Saints’ touchdown onslaught.

The Cowboys’ defense looked like world-beaters against the Browns.

Last week they were a no-show against the Saints.

If they struggle again today against the run – with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry sure to see plenty of touches – the offense will be required to put the ball in the endzone.

Whether or not they can do so is the question. After the first two weeks as a sample, the answer seems uncertain.

While the Ravens’ offense has had its struggles – and Baltimore is 0-2 on the season – their defense can still get the job done.

You hate to say a Week Three contest is make-or-break for an entire season. But the fact is that the Cowboys have some tough games coming up on the schedule ahead.

They’ll need every win they can get and starting the season 1-2 will put them in an early bind they might not be able to escape.

All-Time Against Baltimore

It’s been 29 years since Art Modell packed up the original Cleveland Browns and moved the franchise to Baltimore to become the Ravens.

Since that time, the Cowboys have faced that franchise six times.

The Ravens are 5-1 in those games. The lone win came in 2016 at AT&T Stadium.

Baltimore is 4-0 at home against Dallas, dating back to a 27-0 shutout win in the first meeting between the franchises in 2000.

The Ravens doubled up Dallas 34-17 in the last meeting – also in Baltimore – in 2020. The first meeting between the clubs in Dallas was somewhat historic.

And not in a good way for Cowboys fans.

Quoth The Ravens, Nevermore

On December 20, 2008, the Dallas Cowboys were playing their last regular season home game ever in Texas Stadium.

A few miles south, in Arlington, the new Cowboys Stadium – now AT&T Stadium – was nearly ready to become the Cowboys’ new home.

On this night – in the next-to-last game of the regular season – the Cowboys were 9-5 and in the playoff hunt. They wanted to send Texas Stadium off with one final victory.

Dallas had won its first-ever game at Texas Stadium back in 1971 – defeating the AFC’s New England Patriots that day – and they were hoping to close it out with another victory over an AFC team.

They also wanted to make the playoffs. While a loss would not end those hopes, a win would send them to Philadelphia with much more confidence.

The Ravens had other ideas – they also were in a fight for the playoffs too.

Trailing 19-10 with 6:30 left, Tony Romo engineered two touchdown drives – one a TD pass to Terrell Owens, the other a TD pass to Jason Witten.

Unfortunately, the Cowboys’ defense engineered the Ole Defense. In just 18 seconds after both Romo touchdown passes, the Ravens answered with touchdowns of their own.

A 77-yard run by Willis MaGahee and an 82-yard run by Le’Ron McClain sealed a 33-24 Ravens’ victory that Saturday night.

The Cowboys would lose the following week at Philadelphia and miss the playoffs by half-a-game.

Dallas ended its Texas Stadium run with a 343-238 record (.590) with five Super Bowl wins in eight appearances. They were 80-71-6 at the Cotton Bowl.

Coming into today’s game they are 140-105 at AT&T Stadium.

All-Time In Third Week

The Cowboys are 35-24 all-time in games played in the third week of a season. They are 17-10 at home, leaving them with an 18-14 mark on the road.

Dallas has won its last three Week Three home games, dating back to a 2015 loss at AT&T Stadium to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Cowboys have lost three of the last four road games in the third week. Last year they were upset 28-16 by the Arizona Cardinals on the road.

The year before, Dallas defeated the Giants in New York in the season’s third week.

The Cowboys have had three bye weeks fall in the third week and lost two Week Three games to strikes in the 1980s.

While Dallas has never played the Ravens in a third week contest – nor the Bengals either – they are 1-2 against the AFC North all-time during this week.

The Cowboys are 1-1 against the Browns, losing in 1961 and winning in 1985. In 1964, Dallas lost to the Steelers in a Week Three contest.

ALL-TIME THIRD WEEK RECORD VS. OPPONENTS

Eagles (5-3)

Commanders (3-5)

Cardinals (4-3)

Giants (3-2)

Rams (3-2)

Buccaneers (3-0)

Bears (3-0)

Falcons (1-2)

Browns (1-1)

Lions (1-1)

Colts (1-1)

Packers (1-1)

Vikings (1-0)

Texans (1-0)

49ers (1-0)

Oilers/Titans (1-0)

Dolphins (1-0)

Patriots (1-0)

Steelers (0-1)

Seahawks (0-2)