Sunday’s Week 3 matchup between Baltimore and Dallas already had game-of-the-year implications before both clubs got off to sluggish and disappointing starts. The heavyweight matchup has some urgency, with both teams coming off losses in Week 2.
There’s star power on both rosters, and we’re looking at ten crucial players to watch.
Dak Prescott's Slow Start
After signing his massive contract extension, Prescott is off to a slow start, passing for 472 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 43.5 QBR. He'll need to find a way to get back on track against a stingy Ravens defense, especially as they've allowed the most passing yards per game thus far (257.0) in 2024. Dallas will have to rely on its top receiver, CeeDee Lamb, to exploit the Baltimore secondary. Lamb, who signed a four-year, $136 million extension in August, caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown against New Orleans. Third year receiver Jalen Tolbert (6-82-0 last week) and veteran Brandin Cooks (2-19-0) must make plays for opposing defenses such as Baltimore's not to focus as much on Lamb. The potential return of tight end Jake Ferguson would also be a big help for Dallas' potent passing attack. See which team to pick here.
Lamar Jackson's Streaking For Success
Jackson was 21-34 passing, for 247 yards (7.3 avg), one passing touchdown, and one interception in the Week 2 loss to the Raiders. He'll be looking to avoid an 0-3 start and continue his streak of never losing three straight games. Jackson had four carries for 20 yards and will look to outplay Dak Prescott.
Derrick Henry: A Signature Game Awaits?
Henry has 31 carries for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and he’ll face a Cowboys team fresh off allowing Alvin Kamara four total touchdowns in a 44-19 Saints win. Henry is looking for a signature game with the Ravens, and Sunday provides the perfect backdrop. Baltimore came so close to the game tying touchdown in Week 1 at Kansas City before blowing a 10 point fourth quarter lead in a stunning defeat against Las Vegas last week. In two games, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson has thrown for 520 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 167 more yards. His play isn't the reason for the team's 0-2 record. Baltimore's defense, however, has surrendered 53 points despite only giving up 306 yards per game. They will need to hold the Cowboys' potent offense down as New Orleans did last week in order to secure the road victory as a slight favorite. See which team to pick here.
CeeDee Lamb: A Target for Attention
Lamb has nine catches for 151 yards and one touchdown, and he’s looking for a big game after two subpar performances to open up the season. The Cowboys have to be better on defense than they were last week against New Orleans, giving up six touchdowns to the Saints on their first six possessions. On offense, Dallas had to abandon the rushing attack and pass often after the second quarter in catch-up mode. Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 293 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions in the defeat. He faces a stingy Ravens unit this week, although Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards per game thus far (257.0) in 2024.
Offensive Line Showdown: Rosengarten vs. Parsons & Lawrence
Rosengarten will be a player to watch on Sunday against the Cowboys pass rush duo of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence.
Micah Parsons: A Pass Rush Threat
Parsons had 36 solo tackles, 28 assists, 14.0 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 17 games in 2023, earning his third Pro Bowl nomination and being named an All-Pro. Parsons has five tackles, one sack, and 14 QB pressures through two games. Although his gamesmanship can be appreciated, he’ll be used primarily as a pass rusher after Dallas coaches watched Maxx Crosby dominate the Baltimore offensive line.
Trevon Diggs: Back After Injury
Diggs is back after missing last season with a torn ACL, and he’ll be a player to watch on the outside against Rashod Bateman.
Jourdan Lewis: Slot Coverage Expert
Lewis has logged over 50 tackles in his other five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys that he wasn’t injured, and he’ll play a major role against Zay Flowers when he’s in the slot.
Baltimore's Secondary Needs Improvement
Baltimore has allowed more passing yards than any team in the NFL – 257 yards per game heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. That’s on Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens to increase their productivity against CeeDee Lamb, one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The model has simulated Ravens vs. Cowboys 10,000 times and the results are in. It is leaning Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread hits over 50% of the time. You can only see the model's Ravens vs. Cowboys pick at SportsLine.
Madubuike's Impact
Madubuike recorded a career-high 13 sacks — doubling his total from 2022 — and signed for four years, $98 million this offseason. The talented defensive tackle has just one quarterback hit and one hurry in two games. There may be no such thing as must-win games in Week 3 but this is fairly close for the Ravens. For a team that easily could be 2-0, starting 0-3 and being potentially three games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North would be crushing to their division title hopes. So who wins Dallas vs. Baltimore on Sunday, and which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine right now to see which side of the Ravens vs. Cowboys spread you should be all over Sunday, all from the model on a 187-130 roll on its top-rated NFL picks, and find out.
Final Thoughts
This matchup is a battle between two of the best offenses in the NFL, and the team that can establish the run and control the clock will likely come out on top. Both teams have questions on defense, so the offensive playmakers will be key to determining the outcome. This is a must-watch game for any NFL fan, and the outcome could have significant implications for the rest of the season. The Ravens and Cowboys are both talented teams with the potential to make a deep playoff run. But this weekend, they will be fighting for their season, and the pressure will be on.
