Baltimore Ravens: This really is a must win game vs. Cowboys

Ravens to start final push with a convincing win over Dallas

Every game on a schedule is mathematically as important as any other, in regards to the infamous “Big Picture.” Oh, division games and bouts against other playoff contenders can come back in a tie-breaker scenario, but, in the most basic of concepts, a win is a win is a win is a win.

But go ahead and circle this one. The Baltimore Ravens absolutely must beat the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday night if they are to have any chance of competing for a playoff spot — and they need to continue to stack wins like this one if they truly want to show that they belong in a coveted playoff spot, to begin with.

The Cowboys, in a word, stink. They stink on defense, surrendering a league-worst 32.6 points and 156.4 yards on the ground per game. They have the second-worst turnover margin in the league at -13, and they only score 22.8 points per game, tied with the Patriots for ninth-worst in the league, despite being stacked at the skill positions. They stink, folks.

On ice. However, you quantify “stink.” That’s your 2020 Dallas Cowboys.

So, yes, the Ravens need this win. They honestly need to win four out of their last five games to finish 10-6 and have a decent chance at securing a playoff spot, and this needs to be one of those four. With Lamar Jackson reportedly coming back to play, along with designated Ezekiel Elliott stoppers in Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell, there are no excuses. The Ravens need to win this game, and they need to use it as a springboard going forward.

Have I mentioned that Dallas stinks? How bad, you might ask? Well, they lost on Thanksgiving to the Washington Whatchamacallits, another team that qualifies in the “stink” tier of NFL teams. And Dallas lost 41-16.

They stink.

So, how do the Ravens get back in the win column and walk away with an important seventh win of the season? For starters, the defense must play like we all expect them to play. That means limiting Andy Dalton (a limited quarterback, by birth), tackling Elliott, and holding them to under 25 points. With the Ravens’ defensive backs, and their propensity to make plays, this should happen fairly easily.

But the Ravens also want to see some of their magic return on offense. Seemingly a gear behind all season, there are some adjustments the Ravens can make on the fly to get Jackson back to dancing, and the offense putting up points. For instance, it would make sense with their depleted offensive line to get some of those quick throws off to Dez Bryant and Marquise Brown that can turn into bigger plays. It’s also important to let rookie back J.K. Dobbins get into the game as a pass-catcher — if the Ravens can emphasize those short passes, the deep play-action game that they used so well last year can actually work again.

Let’s take a look at the crystal ball…

Bold predictions

• Marcus Peters snags two interceptions off a flustered Dalton — part of a four-turnover game by the defense.

• Jackson throws for 200-plus yards, runs for 60-plus yards and the Ravens go over 425 yards for the game.

• Yannick Ngakoue tallies two sacks, as Campbell and Derek Wolfe repeatedly crash the pocket and make Dalton move.

Final score

Ravens 34 Cowboys 20