The Dallas Cowboys' Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens was circled the second the schedule was released. Not just because the game will be played in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but because the Ravens are one of the better teams in the AFC.
You could certainly draw up better matchups than two-time MVP Lamar Jackson for a defense that is still finding its footing. If the short-handed Cowboys find a way to down Baltimore, we'll be talking about them as a team that needs to be taken seriously in the NFC.
Dallas has touched down in Rio and will have a literal walkthrough around the Maracaña Stadium on Saturday as part of their final preparation. Let's do our own version of a final prep for the game and get into the latest happenings of America's Team.
- Zay Flowers officially questionable for Sunday
- Quick slants
- Must-see Cowboys quotes
- Cowboys stories from around the web
- This day in Cowboys history
Zay Flowers officially questionable for Sunday
Despite not practicing on Wednesday or Thursday, Flowers made the trip to Brazil and got in a limited session on Friday. He is officially questionable.
Flowers led Ravens WRs in individual drills, but Friday's practice was only a walkthrough. The fact that he was limited means he has a real shot at playing, but this will likely go right up until Sunday morning after his pregame workout.
Ravens reporter Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner said on Friday that it "still seems unlikely" that Flowers plays.
The Cowboys should be more concerned about Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson beating them with their legs than Baltimore's passing attack, but Flowers is far and away Jackson's top receiver. The Ravens are also without No. 2 wideout Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist).
Missing Flowers would be a big deal, and even if he gets the green light, that hammy won't be at 100percent. Unfortunately, Cowboys fans will have to wait another 24 hours for a final decision.
Quick slants
Your late-week dose of Cowboys news, injury updates, and other notable developments.
The Cowboys rule out four players
This isn't exactly a surprise, but that doesn't make it any less notable. On Thursday, the Cowboys ruled out four players: DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), Malik Hooker (forearm), Cobie Durant (hamstring), and P.J. Locke (foot). None of them made the trip to Rio, so they can hang back in Frisco and continue recovering.
If there's a silver lining here, it's that Locke was not placed on injured reserve after tearing his plantar fascia. The veteran safety has already shed his walking boot as well; two potential signals that he could return sooner than later.
In the meantime, look for Jaishawn Barham, Shavon Revel, Markquese Bell, and potentially Ameer Speed, who was the second CB off the bench behind Revel in Week 2, to see an uptick in snaps.
Ravens rule out left tackle Ronnie Stanley
While we await a verdict on Zay Flowers, Stanley did not participate in Friday's walkthrough and was swiftly ruled out. A two-time Pro Bowler, Stanley has been Baltimore's starting left tackle since he was drafted in 2016 and has protected Lamar Jackson's blindside since 2018.
That kind of continuity breeds trust, especially at left tackle, and Jackson won't have that same familiarity protecting his blindside on Sunday.
Starting in Stanley's stead will be 2025 fifth-round pick Carson Vinson, who's only played a handful of snaps in his young career and will be making his first career start at left tackle. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Vinson has only played 27 offensive snaps in nine cameos.
The young OT will likely double that on Sunday, and that's good news for Dallas, as Saints edge rusher Chase Young had his way with Vinson last week. He allowed two pressures on just 13 pass-block snaps, per PFF.
We've seen Lamar Jackson get rattled when defenses consistently put him under duress. If there were ever a week for Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence to bring their A-game, it's Sunday.
Must-see Cowboys quotes
Brian Schottenheimer on struggling run game:
"When you talk about our run game right now, we're not doing a great job blocking. I'm not calling a lot of runs. Well, when you don't run the ball well, gues what? You don't look at your runs and go, 'Oh let me pound my head into a wall again.' So we have to execute better. We have to block better, get more movement. ..."
This is not a scheme issue, and it's not a Javonte Williams issue. The Cowboys' offensive line has simply not got the job done at the point of attack. And the Week 1 struggles look even worse after the Rams ran all over the Giants on Monday night.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 164 rushing yards on 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Dallas' running backs combined for 55 rushing yards on 3.9 yards per carry.
Williams has been just fine. He's Pro Football Focus' fifth-highest-graded RB with a 78.3 rushing grade. He's forced four missed tackles and 58 of his 71 yards have come after contact.
As Schotty said, it starts and ends with the blocking. And the Ravens will welcome back star defensive tackle Nmadi Madubuike, who'll play in his first game in over a year after recovering from a neck injury.
George Pickens unfazed by his slow start:
"I'd definitely say team for me, I feel like I've been doing great. As far as the team, like my whole game. Some people just look at certain parts of my game, my whole game I feel like has been great."
At this point, Cowboys fans can expect Pickens to say the right things. He's been a team-first guy from the moment he arrived in Dallas. And as far as his slow start, that can be attributed to the Giants and Commanders game planning to not letting Pickens beat them.
It's no surprise that Pickens is receiving increased attention coming off an All-Pro season. But it's not like he's been invisible.
Pickens would've had a big Week 1 if not for two drops and then caught six of eight targets for 40 yards in Week 2. Six of his nine catches have moved the chains, so his production has been valuable, even if he hasn't produced any fireworks yet.
Donovan Ezeiruaku on turning pressures into sacks:
"It's very frustrating, especially being my hardest critic. That's just something that was emphasized especially this week. Even today in practice, that was the biggest emphasis for me as well as the rest of the outside linebacker."
One of the biggest storylines following the Week 2 win was the defense's inability to convert pressures into sacks. Ezeiruaku, in particular, missed three sack opportunites on one play.
According to Next Gen Stats, Ezeiruaku has nine pressures. Pro Football Focus only credits him with five pressures, but if you've watched both games you know the second-year pro has been in the backfield fairly consistently.
Ezeiruaku will l likely fare better against more stoic QBs, but winning the rep is only part of the equation. Having the discipline to bring down a quarterback who can escape the pocket is just as important.
Cowboys stories from around the web
- Science Lab: What's halting the Cowboys rushing attack? (DallasCowboys.com)
Cowboys reporter Patrik Walker dove into the film to pinpoint the crux of the issue with Dallas' run game. Through two weeks, the Cowboys are 13th in rushing success rate, 26th in yards per attempt, and 30th in rushing yards per game. That needs to get fixed if this team has any hope of challening the Eagles in the NFC East.
- 4 emergency Cowboys trades to jumpstart the defense amid injuries (FanSided)
Jerry Jones is very willing to make a trade to improve the defense. The trade deadline is still six weeks away, but it's never too early to speculate on potential targets. Wynston Wilcox of FanSided got in the lab and pinpointed four players that would give Dallas' defense a boost.
- 3 reasons to love the Cowboys' Week 3 matchup against the Ravens (Cowboys Wire)
It's very easy to argue that the Ravens are the most difficult matchup on Dallas' schedule just because of the threat Lamar Jackson poses as a passer and runner. However, Ben Grimaldi of Cowboys Wire believes America's Team has three key advantages over Baltimore.
This day in Cowboys history
September 27, 2022: The Cooper-Rush-led Cowboys defeated the 2-0 New York Giants at MetLife Stadium with the entire country watching on Monday Night Football.
Dak Prescott was on the mend from surgery on his right thumb. He fractured it in the season opener when it slammed off the helmet of Buccaneers pass rusher Shaq Barrett on a pass attempt. It was a freak injury that thrust Cooper Rush into a massive spot.
The Cowboys had just defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 to get back on track, but the Giants were feeling great about themselves amid a 2-0 start. This was another back-and-forth NFC East battle that Dallas ultimately took control of in the fourth quarter.
With the score tied at 13-13, CeeDee Lamb decided to take over, coming up with three huge plays that culminated in a one-handed grab on a fade pattern in the end zone to give Dallas a 20-13 lead.
Before that, Lamb moved the chains with a four-yard catch on 4th-and-4 before a 26-yard snag that gave the offense 1st-and-goal.
Lamb finished with eight catches for 87 yards and the go-ahead touchdown that proved to be the difference. He tilted the game when the Cowboys needed him most, and they went on to win 23-16.
Some things never change.
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