The Ravens will look to avoid an 0-3 start when they visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday for their Week 3 showdown. Baltimore blew two double-digit leads in a 26-23 home loss to the Raiders in Week 2.
The Cowboys also suffered a home defeat: They lost 44:19 against the Saints.
Therefore, there is a lot at stake for both teams as the offense fights for redemption on Sunday afternoon.
Odds for Ravens vs. Cowboys
| team | Money line | Spread | In total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | -112 | -1.5 (-102) | o47.5 (-105) |
| Cowboys | -106 | +1.5 (-120) | u47.5 (-115) |
Ravens Analysis
There is a scenario where the Ravens could have a 2-0 record this season.
They narrowly missed a touchdown on the final play of their loss to the Chiefs in Week 1.
If Baltimore tight end Isaiah Likely’s shoes had been a few sizes smaller, his catch probably would have been counted as a touchdown even after reviewing the slow motion replay.
Baltimore has already signaled a two-point conversion, which is the right decision in the game against the Chiefs, as they want to decide the game whenever possible.
We also mentioned that the Ravens lost from a winning position in Week 2.
It’s notable that Baltimore is the only winless team in the top 10 of For The Numbers’ Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric, ranking ninth in the league.
On offense, Baltimore managed to move the ball far down the field and ranked sixth in yards per game (6.1).
The Ravens are one of only five teams in the league with a success rate of 50% or more.
We’ll come back to why their ability to run the ball could help them create valuable scoring opportunities against the Cowboys.
Cowboys Analysis
In Week 2, we saw the Cowboys get pounded on the ground by the Saints. New Orleans managed 190 yards on the ground at 4.9 yards per carry.
Even in the Cowboys’ Week 1 win (33-17) against Cleveland, they still allowed 4.9 yards per carry.
Dallas’ defense now ranks 31st in Run DVOA. This is certainly not the start that new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer would have hoped for.
He took over a defense led by Dan Quinn that ranked fifth in DVOA against the run last season.
However, we must remember that the Cowboys also struggled with the running game in their 48-32 wild-card loss to the Packers last season, allowing 143 yards.
As a result, the Cowboys struggled to stop the run for three straight games.
Dallas will have to pay particular attention to Baltimore’s dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson has already achieved 167 rushing yards after two games and is averaging eight yards per run.
If Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson averages 7.8 yards per carry against the Cowboys, Jackson’s chances of even higher numbers are good.
Ravens vs. Cowboys tip
Given the confrontation between the Ravens’ running offense and the Cowboys’ running defense, this duel seems tailor-made for scoring points.
One aspect we haven’t touched on yet is the Cowboys’ passing offense against the Ravens’ secondary.
Dallas had major problems with the running ball and finished 27th with 3.7 yards per carry.
Betting on the NFL?
The good news is that Baltimore is extraordinarily vulnerable in the passing game, ranking last in the league at 257 yards per game.
For Dallas to have a chance, quarterback Dak Prescott must put in a strong performance.
If both teams can operate from a position of strength, with Baltimore on the ground and Dallas in the air, we should be in for a high-scoring game.
Best bet: Over 47.5 points (-105, FanDuel)
Why you can bet on the New York Post
Michael Arinze handicaps most major sports for the New York Post. In his betting career, he has won two 15-leg teasers and a 12-leg parlay that covered eight games of the Little League World Series. More recently, he has accurately picked the finalists for the 2024 Euros and the Copa America.
