With the Ravens snapping their three-game losing streak in a 34-17 victory against Dallas, below are a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. From the moment he scrambled for 10 yards on the second offensive snap, Lamar Jackson looked like himself in terms of speed and conditioning, a very welcome sight. He didn’t throw the ball well besides a pretty 20-yard touchdown in the third quarter, but that wasn’t a shock after the layoff.
2. The Cowboys run defense was every bit as poor as advertised with the Ravens doing exactly what they should have to get the win, rushing for the fourth-highest single-game total in franchise history. Baltimore will need to pass the ball better down the stretch, but that wasn’t necessary Tuesday.
3. If CeeDee Lamb reins in a very catchable Hail Mary and Greg Zuerlein makes a couple more field goals, we’re having a different conversation about a Ravens defense that’s been bending more in recent weeks. I expected Baltimore to dominate a Cowboys line that’s been utterly ravaged by injuries.
4. Brandon Williams made an impact with a tipped pass on Patrick Queen’s interception in the second quarter, but Calais Campbell labored through 23 snaps and wasn’t moving well. Whether his calf is still an issue or he’s feeling lingering effects from COVID-19, that’s something to monitor for the Cleveland game.
5. The Ravens didn’t get much pressure on Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton until late in the second half, but Jihad Ward made a statement in his first action since Week 6. The odd man out since the acquisition of Yannick Ngakoue, Ward had a sack and three other quarterback hits.
6. Marquise Brown did a nice job on the touchdown, but there have been too many recent examples of him getting only one hand on passes like the deflection leading to the interception in the first quarter. You don’t need a perfect ball for consistent effort and technique.
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7. The foul on Cowboys safety Xavier Woods was so blatant that it didn’t matter that Jackson’s throw to tight end Luke Willson probably would have been uncatchable if LeBron James had been the target. It’s crazy that a Ravens pass catcher hadn’t drawn a pass interference call all season.
8. Mark Ingram doesn’t need to be phased out entirely, but the veteran shouldn’t be touching the ball on two of the game’s first three offensive plays or getting a carry before J.K. Dobbins to start the second half. Dobbins and Gus Edwards should be dominating the workload.
9. Since the bye week, the Ravens have scored just once and committed four turnovers out of 12 possessions opening a half. That isn’t a good look for offensive coordinator Greg Roman and helps explain why they’re 2-4 over that time.
10. It was a rare off night for special teams as Baltimore gave up a 66-yard return and Justin Tucker missed a field goal of under 40 yards for the first time since 2016. His teammates immediately picked him up with an interception and a touchdown. He’s more than earned that.
11. The Ravens scoring 34 points against a team that entered Week 13 surrendering 32.6 per game doesn’t mean all is fine, but Sam Koch punting only once, a season low, speaks to moving the ball effectively. Koch had one or no punts in four different games last season.
12. Jackson has three touchdown runs of 37 or more yards this season with one apiece against Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington. The Ravens have to be grateful to be playing the lowly NFC East in 2020. Then again, that didn’t work out too well for Pittsburgh on Monday, did it?
