Dallas, TX
3 Things to Watch in Ravens vs. Cowboys
It’s a must-win game for the Baltimore Ravens when they face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
Baltimore enters the matchup still searching for its first win of the season after a pair of narrow losses, including a 26-23 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Dallas is looking to bounce back after its 16-game winning streak at home in the regular season was snapped in a blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints 44-19.
Desperation is in the air for both teams, though, a Ravens loss could put them in a potentially insurmountable hole for their playoff hopes. Here are three things to watch in Ravens vs. Cowboys when they square off on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
How does the offensive line line up?
The offensive line for the Ravens were their biggest question mark entering this season and through two weeks, it isn’t difficult to figure out why.
Through two weeks, Baltimore’s offensive line has allowed 20 pressures. It especially struggled against Raiders outside linebacker Maxx Crosby, who had two sacks, two quarterback hits and four tackles for loss en route to earning the AFC Player of the Week. The right side of the offensive line with right guard Daniel Faalele and right tackle Patrick Mekari has been particularly worrisome in the first two games.
With their struggles, head coach John Harbaugh hinted there could be changes along the front-five on offensive.
“I believe our offensive line is going to play great – you have to believe that and feel that way, and I’m looking forward to it,” Harbaugh said on Friday. “And you probably will see some different guys in spots, so that’s just part of it.”
If one had to guess, those changes would likely be rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten seeing more playing time or even starting in place of Mekari. Ben Cleveland seeing playing time in place of Faalele likely isn’t out of the question either.
Regardless of how they line up, Baltimore’s offensive line needs to improve, especially given how good the Cowboys pass rush is when they’re firing on all cylinders, which leads us to our next point.
Can Baltimore slow down Micah Parsons?
Baltimore will quickly find out if it can improve in its pass protection with pass rush extraordinaire Micah Parsons lining up on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
Parsons has been one of the league’s elite outside linebackers at getting after the quarterback since entering the league in 2021. Parsons has wracked up 41.5 sacks and 94 quarterback hits in three-plus seasons en route to being a First-Team All-Pro two times and making the Second-Team All-Pro Team once.
Parsons abused the Cleveland Browns offensive line in Week 1 with one sack and five quarterback hits, though, the New Orleans Saints were able to limit him to three tackles and four pressures.
Crosby was able to wreck the game against the Ravens offense. Whether they’re able to learn from that and adjust against the Cowboys may be the difference between a win or a loss.
Can the Ravens slow down the Cowboys passing attack?
The Ravens defense is still trying to find their form, and they’ll have the difficult task of trying to find their footing against a Cowboys offense that has been one of the league’s best passing units in recent years.
Baltimore’s defense has allowed 257 passing yards, the most in the league through two weeks. Now, they’ll have to slow down All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb has yet to have a breakout game, as he has nine catches for 151 yards and a touchdown this season. Lamb set career highs last season with 135 catches for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Slowing down quarterback Dak Prescott is also of utmost importance and goes hand in hand with keeping Lamb from going off against the Ravens’ secondary.
Whether it’s double-teaming Lamb or bringing the pressure against a Cowboys offensive line that has allowed six sacks so far this season, the Ravens defense needs to improve and force the issue. If it can’t get a couple sacks or force turnovers, they could be in for a long afternoon.
Make sure you bookmark Baltimore Ravens on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Behold the 2026 Dallas Cowboys schedule.
We knew coming into Thursday that the Cowboys would be on the road to take on the New York Giants in the season opener on Sunday Night Football, that Dallas is “hosting” the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil in Week 3, and that the Philadelphia Eagles would be in town for Thanksgiving Day. Now we know it all.
Among the first things that jump to mind is that bye week is late. Dallas isn’t on bye until Week 14, the Sunday of that week is December 13th for full perspective.
The Cowboys also only play twice in their own building, thanks to the Brazil game, before November. Sometimes those weird quirks show up in schedules and this is certainly one of them.
It is interesting to see that the NFL gave Dallas the longest amount of rest possible after their Thanksgiving tilt. It hasn’t been uncommon for the league to have the Cowboys play on consecutive Thursdays, but perhaps that is a thing of the past.
Flashit Photography
On Wednesday, the Dallas City Council approved funding that will replace highway exit signs and road signs marking Lamar Street with new signage honoring Botham Jean, the 26-year-old Dallas accountant who was fatally shot in his own apartment by an off-duty Dallas police officer in 2018.
The $180,500 in funding for 13 signs to be installed by the Texas Department of Transportation is the final step in the street renaming that was unanimously approved by the council in 2021. The new signs will be placed at exits along Interstate 45, State Highway 310 and U.S. Highway 175.
Already, Botham Jean Boulevard signs run along the road in the Cedars, where Jean lived before he was killed.
“This street on which he chose to live and the street on which he died can serve as a lasting memory of the upstanding resident who loved Dallas so much,” his mother, Allison Jean, told the council in 2021.
Jean was shot by Amber Guyger, a Dallas police officer, after she entered his apartment believing it was her own. A Dallas jury found Guyger guilty of murder in 2019 and sentenced her to 10 years in prison. She has also been ordered to pay the Jean family nearly $100 million in a civil trial, which accused her of using excessive force.
The Jean family is seeking restitution from the city of Dallas because they argue that Dallas, as Guyger’s former employer, had a duty to defend Guyger and pay out claims brought against her. The Jean family filed suit against the city in April of this year.
On Wednesday, city council member Adam Bazaldua stated that the continued remembrance of Jean’s name is a reminder that “no one is above the law.”
“This has never simply been about changing street signs; it has always been about commemorating a life that was taken too soon,” said Bazaldua. “When driving down Botham Jean Boulevard, we are reminded of the thousands of lives lost across the country each year to senseless gun violence.”
Bazaldua said that once city leaders were made aware that some signs from the initial 2021 street name change had not materialized, the horseshoe took steps to correct the oversight “somewhat promptly.” But he acknowledged that Wednesday’s funding came on the heels of community advocacy urging the project’s completion.
Community leader Yafeuh Balogun said his organization, Community Movement Builders, began asking the city for the updated signs in September 2025. Addressing the council ahead of Wednesday’s vote, Balogun encouraged the horseshoe to vote in favor of the funds because it “would make no sense” to not follow through with the street renaming approved years ago.
“I think this is very powerful simply because driving here today, I still saw the Lamar Street Signs,” Balogun said. “I remember how powerful it was back in 2021 when the city council voted to rename Lamar Street to Botham Jean. I’d like to keep that legacy going.”
We’re less than a month out from the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and North Texans volunteering in the event have received their uniforms. FOX 4’s Peyton Yager has more on that and the new hospitality tickets released today.
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