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Baltimore Ravens smash Cowboys: 3 positives, 3 negatives

By Chris Schisler

Dec 8, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the tackle of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the tackle of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Ravens
Dec 8, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) avoids the tackle of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-17. Here are three positives and 3 negatives:

Positive 1: The Baltimore Ravens run game came alive:

The Baltimore Ravens run game came alive. By coming alive, I don’t mean it got better. I mean to say that the run game looked like it did last season when the team was on a roll. This makes it a very encouraging sign as the team needs to find another magical stretch to accomplish its mission of winning it all.

Gus Edwards didn’t look like a bus on Tuesday night. That’s a compliment, he looked like a sports car. Something about the way he hit the holes in the run game was different. Whether it’s confidence or something else, he looked swifter than his normal rumble and tumble self.

Lamar Jackson found his run game. This is the key to finding himself back at his best. His long touchdown on a fourth-down attempt was beautifully fun. Perfect blocking, a perfect call, and the Ravens made it look easy as if it was 2019 again. That’s the overarching positive here, this felt like a 2019 Ravens game. It didn’t have as many of the frustrating stumbles as 2020 has usually featured.

Edwards picked up 101 yards on seven rushing attempts. Jackson had 94 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Then to add insult to injury for the Cowboys defense, J.K. Dobbins rampaged his way to 71 yards on 11 rushing attempts.

Negative 1: The Dallas Cowboys got too much ground on offense:

The Cowboys got too much on the ground in this game. Ezekiel Elliott, who is as good a running back to face in order to get ready for Nick Chubb as any, rushed for 77 yards. The Cowboys picked up 29 first downs, possessed the ball for about five more minutes than the Ravens, and had 388 yards overall. The defense should receive praise for only allowing 17 points. Though the Ravens got lucky that Greg Zuerlein missed three field goals.

This type of defensive performance won’t fly against the Browns. It was an uneven performance. They got the result but the process was frustrating.

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