Who’s ready for some noon football? Yeah, I know. Noon games are a little weird for me too. I don’t know why. But it’s what we’ve got as the Dallas Cowboys host the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium, and the Cowboys’ week 11 opponent is set to follow the week 10 struggle against the Steelers with another whopper.
It’s tough to know exactly what the Ravens defense has in store for the ‘Boys because they haven’t faced a rushing attack quite like Dallas’, but they’re pretty stout. And they can cover a bit too. When it’s all said and done we might see another ugly outing for Dak Prescott.
Let’s face it, it was an ugly game for Prescott last week. He had his moments, but from the first drive, when he fumbled the ball to an unnoticed rusher, it wasn’t pretty.
But much like the trip to Pittsburgh, this hometown match-up against Baltimore could leave us all cheering Dak Prescott as the hero of the day. Ugly or not, a win is a win, and he found a way to do what was needed when it mattered most. That’s all that matters. And with Ezekiel Elliott and that line at his side (figuratively speaking, of course), it’s always possible.
With temperatures trending toward the mid to upper 50s, this will be the fifth meeting between the Cowboys and Ravens, and only the second time the Ravens have traveled to the Lone Star State. You might remember the first time the ravens were in town. It was 2008 and the final Cowboys game to played at the storied Texas Stadium in Irving, TX.
Talk about ugly…
I can still remember the stream of profanity pouring out of my mouth watching then-safety Ken Hamlin whiff on a tackle that wound up a 90-ish yard touchdown run. And then it happened again; almost the exact same play, the same whiff, same distance, same six points. It was just a different runner.
Anyway, enough of the (not so) glory days. Let’s check out this team’s outlook for the day.
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Brian Martin | @Bmart0204
This might be the toughest run defense the Dallas Cowboys have faced all season, but there’s not much else about the Baltimore Ravens that suggests this should be a tough game.
I think the Cowboys will completely dominate this game from start to finish.
Cowboys 31 – Ravens 17
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Kevin Brady | @Kevinbrady88
[get_helmet team=”dal” face=”l” align=”right” size=”md”]
Sooner or later they have to lose again, right? Well, after predicting it to happen last week, I think I’m done expecting a loss.
Baltimore is a pretty good football team with a strong defense, but I think the Cowboys’ run game will prove to be too much. Joe Flacco gives our defense one, Dak Prescott doesn’t, and that ends up being the difference in the game.
Cowboys 26 – Ravens 21
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Justin Grohowski | @Grohowknowhow
[get_helmet team=”dal” face=”l” align=”right” size=”md”]
All of the attention for this game has centered around the elite Dallas rushing attack versus the league’s best rush defense. I, however, expect the Cowboys to win this one through the air. Dak and Dez Bryant appear to have hit their stride and that will continue.
Jimmy Smith is doubtful to play as well, which hurts Baltimore in the secondary. I expect Dallas to hit a few big plays through the air, get the lead, and ride that running game in the second half.
Until a team proves they can slow down Zeke Elliott, I’ll bet on him and that offensive line all day long. The pedestrian Ravens offense won’t be able to keep pace.
Cowboys 27 – Ravens 17
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Ian Koplowitz | @BleedingTheStar
[get_helmet team=”bal” face=”l” align=”right” size=”md”]
Man, I’ve got a bad feeling about this one. The Ravens are a team that truly has our kryptonite: stopping the run. I think they’re going to sell out to stop the run and leave the game in the hands of their secondary to stop Dak Prescott. I’m just not sure he’s going to be able to consistently beat them to pull out the win.
I think our defense is going to have to slow them down. If we can keep them out of the end zone one too many times, we’ll pull it out. Just not sure about this one. Side note: I think this is a game Tony Romo would easily win. Just saying. 🙂
Cowboys 17 – Ravens 20
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Sean Martin | @ShoreSportsNJ
The Ravens defense certainly worries me, not because I expect the Cowboys offensive line to lose their match-ups across the board, but because of their ability to force tight throws. Dak Prescott will have to be as sharp as we’ve seen, and I think he will be.
The offense does just enough, and DeMarcus Lawrence records two sacks to help the defense.
Cowboys 24 – Ravens 20
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
John Williams | @John9williams
This week the Dallas Cowboys will match their running game strength against a team who looks to play the part of a shut down defense, the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens have played three teams a good to very good running team, but with mixed results against the likes of the Buffalo Bills (65 rushing yards), the New York Jets (155), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (36).
The Dallas Cowboys bring a more physical style of running than any of those teams, which to me will be the difference in the football game. The Cowboys will be the first NFC team since the 2003 St. Louis Rams to go 4-0 against the AFC North with a decisive double-digit win.
Cowboys 24 – Ravens 14
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
RJ Ochoa | @RJOchoa
[get_helmet team=”dal” face=”l” align=”right” size=”md”]
The Ravens Defense isn’t the dominant force people are purporting, but it’s a little stingy.
The Cowboys will break away in the second half, and a garbage-time Baltimore score will make things look closer than they really were. Cowboys win. 9-1. Huzzah.
Cowboys 27 – Ravens 17
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
Bryson Treece | @BrysonTreece
About the only thing that’s certain this year is a team’s potential to be better than those before them. After facing and defeating the Bengals, Packers, Eagles, and Steelers, with the special successes each have had thus far, the Cowboys continue to prove their potential is too much to handle.
I was nervous about last week and wound up sitting in agony on the edge of my seat for three hours, but the Steelers fell in the end. I’m nervous about the Ravens as well, but it’s as much about the fear of eight in a row distracting some of the younger players than the Ravens.
The Cowboys will come out swinging in this one. Dak Prescott is gaining more confidence each week in his arm and his receivers and that’ll show today. Combined with Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL-best rushing attack, the ‘Boys top the Ravens by two scores and ride Elliott through the fourth quarter.
Cowboys 24 – Ravens 14
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
These Cowboys keep knocking them down as if they’re not the best team in football and that’s exactly what needs to happen today. Play like the record is 0-9 and that elusive 9-1 will come.
It’s almost Thanksgiving and that means we get some more NFC East rivalry, good food, and Thursday football for the next two weeks. So enjoy the last Sunday of Cowboys football until December 11.
