A bizarre season took another strange turn about 30 minutes prior to the Ravens’ kick-off against the Dallas Cowboys.
Baltimore wide receiver Dez Bryant was on the field almost three hours prior to the game catching passes and greeting some former Cowboys’ teammates.
Then, the night took an unexpected turn.
Bryant posted on Twitter that he tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the game was about to begin. He immediately went into a wide range of emotions, questioning the timing of the test, threatening to quit the game, and finally deciding to drink some wine and perhaps provide some information on his latest business venture (seriously).
I’m not drunk yet.. I only had one glass of wine… I’m getting my business stuff together to share with you all lol
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 9, 2020
“That was a big challenge,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “The timing of this thing, it’s a crazy kind of a deal. But we had already turned in our inactives, and then we were informed. [Executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] came down and told me that Dez [Bryant] had an inconclusive test, and they were retesting with one of the quick tests they have, the Mesa test. We had to wait on that.
“In the meantime, the League told us we would not be allowed to bring a different player up if he tested positive, but if he tested positive, he wasn’t going to be allowed to play.”
Another positive COVID-19 test was the last challenge the Ravens needed after 17 players missed the previous game against the Steelers because of the virus.
There was talk that Bryant’s test was a false positive, but the NFL is obviously not going to be happy about this latest issue with the Ravens, especially during a nationally televised game that had already been pushed back five days.
The Ravens did manage to pick up a key 34-17 victory that could set the table for a playoff run. The Cowboys have the league’s worst rushing defense and Baltimore took advantage by pounding the ball for 294 yards on 37 carries.
[Related: A Convincing Win…Sort Of]
“It was a must-win,” Harbaugh said. “We went out there and got it against a very determined team, a very talented team and a well-coached team who played really hard. I thought we made plays when we had to make plays.”
Gus Edwards finished with a team-high 101 yards on just seven carries. Baltimore has run for 100 yards or more in 35 straight games — the third-longest streak in NFL history.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was back in the lineup after missing the previous game against the Steelers with COVID-19. He started off shaky with an interception on the Ravens’ first possession, but eventually settled down and played mostly efficiently.
Jackson showed flashes of his old self, running for 94 yards rushing on 13 carries, including a 37-yard score that provided a 7-3 lead after the interception. He also completed 12 of 17 pass attempts for 107 yards with touchdown passes to seldom-used Miles Boykin and Hollywood Brown, who caught a deft pass in the back of the end zone.
When the Ravens can run the ball effectively, they can wear down their opponents late in the game. Rookie J.K. Dobbins flashed again with 71 yards on 11 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown that provided the 34-17 lead.
The running game also takes some of the pressure off Jackson, who is still trying to find more consistency.
The Ravens improved to 6-5 and have a huge Monday night showdown with Cleveland that is ostensibly a playoff game. The Browns are 9-3 and occupy the fifth spot in the seven-team AFC playoff race. Cleveland is playing with confidence and has its sights on overtaking first-place Pittsburgh.
“Just keep building [and] staying focused on our craft,” Jackson said. “Everyone just has to do their assignments. I feel we could pull it off. We’ve got the Browns right now – a great time. We’ve got to come to play. We’re going to Cleveland, [and] we’ve just got to be ready to play football.”
While the Ravens can’t catch the Steelers, a victory over the Browns would be a huge boost to their playoff hopes.
Buckle up because the season is about to get even more exciting.
