Bold Predictions

Will Dallas Beat Ravens for First Time?

by RSR Staff

November 18, 2016
5:37 pm

Reading Time: 6 minutes

RSR staff give our predictions for the Ravens at Dallas Cowboys game in Week 11. Can the Ravens halt Dallas’ long winning streak?

Tony Lombardi

Crazy things happen when the Ravens and the Cowboys play. Sunday won’t be any different!

THE GOOD

* Ravens hold Zeke Elliott to 65 yards on 21 carries
* Joe Flacco throws 2 TD passes (Perriman, Dixon)
* Justin Tucker connects from 56 yards out to end the first half

THE BAD

* Matt Judon registers the Ravens only sack

THE UGLY

* Jimmy Smith (if he plays) isn’t effective in coverage v. Dez who eclipses 100 yards receiving for 2 scores

THE MEGAN FOX

* Joe Flacco rises to the occasion and out-duels Dak Prescott 275 passing yards to 210.

PREDICTION

* The Tucker bomb at the end of the first half proves to be the difference. Ravens 23, Cowboys 20

Brian Bower

This game will be a lot closer than many people think. The Ravens, winners of two straight, take on the hottest team in the NFL on the road and have another chance to play spoiler in Texas.

On defense, Dean Pees and company manage to contain Ezekiel Elliot, holding him under 60 yards on the afternoon. We could even see a bit of organized chaos to throw rookie QB Dak Prescott of his game. Turnovers figure to be the key in this one and the secondary records at least two interceptions.

On offense we finally see a complete game from Joe Flacco and company. Flacco takes advantage of a spotty Cowboys passing defense, tossing two touchdowns and surprisingly no interceptions. Rookie RB Kenneth Dixon steals the spotlight in the run game with 140 total yards from scrimmage.

Ravens 24, Cowboys 23

Adam Bonaccorsi

The offense of the Ravens continues it’s strong play from last week, with Flacco throwing 2 TDs (Perriman, Wallace) and his weekly pair of picks as well. The running game will struggle against Dallas’ 3rd ranked run D, but Kenneth Dixon will end up with more yards in the passing game than on the ground.

Prescott will have himself a 2TD/2INT game to match Flacco, but the run game, just like the Ravens, will fail to really take off. Zeke will do his damage in the air with a pair of TD’s.

Ultimately, the Ravens fall behind 23-20 in the 4th, but take the lead 27-23 on a Perriman redemption TD just shy of the 2-minute warning. The Ravens D slams the door with a C.J. Mosley pick. Kneel x 3. Confidence booster. The shroud of darkness lifts from the city and fans rejoice.

BAL-27
DAL-23

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Derek Arnold

I’m really excited to watch this game as a football fan. Not necessarily because I think the Ravens will win (though I think they have a puncher’s chance), but because the trench warfare between the Dallas OL and the Ravens DL will be like watching old-school NFL games. Not this spread-em’-out, throw-a-hundred-times-a-game, what’s-a-catch, flag-on-every-incomplete-pass game of “football” that we’ve grown accustomed to lately.

On the other side, the Ravens have to strike an interesting balance – the offense proved (again) last week that they’re best in the up-tempo, no-huddle look when Joe Flacco can do more throwing and less thinking. However, quick three-and-outs will be a recipe for disaster as Zeke and that Dallas OL will just rack up more and more field time.

These teams both play close games – five of the nine Cowboys games this season have been of the one-score variety, and we all know the Ravens’ propensity for such contests. This will be another one.

Cowboys 24 Ravens 20

Brian McFarland

I don’t have a really good feeling about this game. The D has been playing great, but they’ve not really played an offense as good as Dallas, which seems to be playing at the top of its game right now. I think the D will play well enough, but will have trouble getting off the field on a couple too many plays, which will likely be the difference in the game.

On offense, I think the Ravens will continue to play better, but will again not take advantage of some opportunities presented by a rather poor Dallas defense.

Heart says:
Ravens 27, Dallas 23

Head says:
Dallas 23, Ravens 17

Mike Fast

Joe Flacco throws for 255 yards, 3 TD, and 0 INT, but it’s not enough.

The first really good game Flacco has this season results in a Ravens loss, as Baltimore is unable to get off the field defensively on 3rd downs. Elliott is held under 100 total yards, but scores twice, and Dez Bryant adds another.

Dan Bailey ices the game in Dallas’ 4-minute drill. Then, Baltimore’s offensive line breaks down against Dallas’ pass rush at the end of the game, resulting in a Flacco sack on 4th down.

The Cowboys continue to roll, albeit in a much close game than many expected.

Dallas 24, Baltimore 21

Ryan Jones

The Ravens will face their stiffest test of the season as they travel to the house that Jerry built this Sunday. Prescott has played so well that Tony Romo held a press conference to say he deserves the starting gig and Elliot is well on his way to breaking the rookie rushing record. This will be a little more difficult than the Browns at home. I like the Ravens in this game though and here’s why.

The Jimmy Smith absence from practice is concerning but assuming he can play, he has the ability to at the very least limit Dez Bryant. Prescott won’t be able to pick on the other side of the field either because Tavon Young has been a revelation and is playing with a lot of confidence. Elliott will get his yards but I think he has his welcome to the NFL moment when he tries to run through Michael Pierce and Brandon Williams. And the possible return of Elvis Dumervil could make an already great defense even better.

As far as the offense goes, I know they were playing the Browns last week but they may have figured something out in the second half. Flacco has always been at his best in a hurry up, backyard style of football. This offense has too many weapons to not eventually figure it out and I think they’ll build off of their momentum from last week. Breshad Perriman has 5+ catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. Dak gets rattled early as he gets knocked around by a relentless pass rush. The Ravens pull the upset and start to get looked at as legitimate contenders.

Ravens 28
Cowboys 24

Cole Jackson

I am expecting a very frustrating game to watch as a Ravens fan.

I think the defense does what they do best and slows down Elliott and the run game. We have the ability to shut down their strength and force them to go through the air. We also match up well against their WRs. I think we slow them down, but the problem will be, as usual, our offense.

After last week we saw what Joe can do in the second half. It’s not so much about his stats, it’s more about the style of play and the play calling. However, I think they’re going to go back to the old gameplan. Trying to force the run, short passes, silly screens, etc. The Cowboys will force 3 and outs and our defense will wear down over the course of the game.

Cowboys 27 Ravens 13

I don’t often predict Baltimore to get blown out because it is quite rare, but I have a feeling this is going to be an ugly game that shines light on Harbs’ inability to prepare for his opponents. He saw firsthand last week when they need to do with this offense. However, the stubbornness is there. Hope I’m wrong.

Tyler Lombardi

The game will start off in the Ravens’ favor. They’ll jump to a 13-0 lead off of three red zone trips, but those failed scores will come back to haunt them. Dallas will end up with a 14-13 lead by the middle of the third quarter, and they won’t relinquish it. The game ends in crushing defeat after a Flacco pass goes through the hands of Perriman on 4th down.

Dallas wins 24-20

Some stats predictions:

Zeke Elliott will be held under 70 yards of rushing, but will scorch the Ravens for 80+ yards receiving.

Perriman will make a catch of more than 40 yards.

Wallace will be held to under 60 yards and fewer than 5 receptions.

Joe Polek

The Cowboys are 8-1. The Ravens are 5-4. On paper, should this game even be close? Does that mean there is no pressure on the Ravens?

The Ravens have old always liked being the underdog and maybe this team will also. But remember, rookie quarterbacks have lost five straight games to the Ravens. The last rookie to beat the Ravens was E.J. Manuel in 2013. So the Ravens do well against young quarterbacks, and one of the reason is because they get good pressure.

The Ravens will continue to struggle on offense in the first half, but their defense keeps them in the game. Steve Smith Sr. goes off on the team in the locker room at halftime and they come out fired up (just like last week). Flacco goes keep to Wallace in the 3rd quarter for a 40+ yard TD. Smith knocks someone out going across the middle, but doesn’t make that catch and that costs the Ravens the go-ahead score. .

I want them to win 27-24, but I’m going to have to go with Cowboys 28-14.