Four key matchups to watch for in Ravens v Cowboys

The Baltimore Ravens took the previously undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers to the brink with a skeleton crew of backups and reserves elevated from the practice squad in Week 12 and now will face a sputtering Dallas Cowboys team on Tuesday night at almost full strength.

This game was originally slated to kick off Week 13 but had to be postponed due to the Ravens’ outbreak of COVID-19. They have several starters returning this week, including the reigning league MVP.

Even though the Ravens are favored at home, this primetime interconference matchup could still come down to one or several pivotal matchups between individual players or whole units on the opposing side of the ball.

Here are four key matchups that could determine the outcome of this game:

QB Lamar Jackson v LB Jaylon Smith

With only a few days of practice which mostly consisted of walk-throughs, the Ravens game plan will likely keep the ball on the ground more against the league’s worst rush defense. That means that the reigning league MVP and the Cowboys’ star linebacker will be meeting in open space early and often.

Smith leads Dallas in tackles by a wide margin with 100 in total including five for loss but getting the electric and elusive Jackson down on the ground is easier said than done. As athletic as Smith is, Jackson is even more dynamic with the way he can extend and create plays with his legs.

He will likely be the spy on Jackson every time he drops back to pass to read his eyes in the passing game as well as preventing or at least limiting the yards he will inevitably pick up when he escapes the pocket and takes off to run.

Ravens secondary v Cowboys WRs

The Cowboys may be lacking at several positions on both sides of the ball but on offense, wide receiver isn’t one. They have a talented trio of wideouts consisting of four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper, third-year pro Michael Gallup, and rookie CeeDee Lamb.

All three players have over 530 yards receiving this season but will be facing off with a stacked Ravens secondary that featured a pair of First-Team All-Pros at cornerback in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey and some studs behind them in Jimmy Smith, Tramon Williams, Anthony Averett, and now Davontae Harris who made plays on both defense and special teams in his debut last week.

If Dallas has any hopes of pulling off an upset this week, they will need to have extraordinary games from their top three wideouts but the odds of them prevailing are not in favor against a Baltimore defensive backfield that just held an equally talented Steelers receiver group under wraps with none recording more than 52 yards individually.

Ravens pass rush v Cowboys O-Line

It will be difficult for Cowboys veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to distribute the ball to his talented group of pass-catchers this week from his back because that is where he will be spending a lot of time behind an offensive line that is shambles going up against a Ravens pass rush that is locked and loaded even without outside linebacker Matthew Judon who is still on the reserve list.

The Cowboys placed four-time All-Pro right gaud Zack Martin, who had been playing tackle as of late, on injured reserve on Monday, and starting left tackle Cam Erving has been declared out as well.

In a preview of this game, I named outside linebacker Yannick Ngakoue as the defensive ‘X’ factor for this game and predicted that he will have his best game as a Raven to date.

However, this could turn into a sack party where everybody will likely get in on the action including the depth guys that rotate in because Cowboys will likely fall behind early, be forced to abandon the run, and have to attempt to throw themselves back into the game.

WR Dez Bryant v any Cowboys DB

The veteran wide receiver spent the first eight years of his career with Dallas after getting drafted in the first round out of Oklahoma State in 2010.

During his time with the Cowboys he became a perennial Pro Bowler and at one point was in the conversation for the best player in the game at his position.

For all the accolades he accomplished, Bryant was unceremoniously released in the spring of 2018. On Tuesday his comeback story will come full circle when the Ravens welcome his former franchise to town to close out Week 13.

While Bryant told the media leading up to this game that he harbors no ill will towards his former employers, there is no doubt that he will be playing with a little more edge and motivation in this contest.

He has only recorded four catches for 28 yards on seven targets in three games with the Ravens and while he still isn’t favored to lead the team in any major statically categories, he is still a solid possession receiver and made some clutch plays late against the Titans.

With both of Jackson’s security blankets in the passing game, Willie Snead and Mark Andrews, still on the COVID-19 list, Bryant will be a nightmare for any Cowboys defensive backs in contested catch and jump ball situations, especially in the red zone and on third down.