Ravens-Cowboys Key Factor: Offensive Line vs. Front 7

 

Photo From USA Today Sports

One of the most surprising stories of this young 2024 NFL season is that the Baltimore Ravens are still looking for their first win of the year as we enter Week 3.

While there are a few areas of concern for the Ravens, this team could easily be 2-0, not 0-2.

They suffered a heartbreaking season opener loss when a potential game-tying touchdown, scored as time expired, was called back after Isaiah Likely's foot barely grazed out of bounds in the back of the end zone.

Last week, the Ravens were up 10 points with 12:41 left to play in the 4th quarter. The Ravens defense collapsed, allowing the Raiders to score three unanswered times, including a field goal with 27 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a three-point victory.

This week, the Ravens have a major matchup in the late afternoon slate of games as they head to AT&T Stadium to take on the Dallas Cowboys (1-1). Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25pm ET.

The Cowboys looked awesome during the opening week as they cruised past the Cleveland Browns 33-17. Although the headline of this game was not how well the Cowboys played, it was how awful Deshaun Watson and Co. looked on the field.

In Week 2, the Cowboys took the most surprising beating of the week, as the red-hot New Orleans Saints made a mockery of the Cowboys, defeating them by a final score of 44-19.

This game is essentially a pick-'em, as Vegas currently has the Ravens as a one-point favorite entering this contest.

I believe the outcome of this game will be decided by one key matchup: the battle between the Ravens' offensive line and the Cowboys' front seven

The glaring hole in the Ravens' game through two weeks is the play of their offensive line. This makes sense, as the Ravens lost three starting offensive linemen this past offseason, including guards Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson, and tackle Morgan Moses.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys have one of the most menacing defensive fronts in football, including 4x Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence and 3x Pro Bowler Micah Parsons, who many consider to be the best linebacker in the entire league. Lawrence already has two sacks and a forced fumble this season. Parsons has accumulated seven tackles and one sack so far.

A possible solution to the Ravens' line struggles was addressed this week. Todd Monken, the Ravens' offensive coordinator, suggested during Thursday's press conference that the Ravens might start using a six-man offensive line set moving forward. This approach could give second-string players more opportunities to get on the field as additional blockers.

While I believe the Ravens' offensive line will struggle at times during this game, I think this unit will show signs of improvement in their third week playing together. Parsons and Lawrence will make their impact known, as they do against every offensive line in the league, but if the Ravens do change to a six-man front on the line, I think that gives quarterback Lamar Jackson enough time to make plays on offense.

Also, given the circumstances of how the Ravens lost their initial two games of the season, I think they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder in Dallas as the Ravens look to avoid their first 0-3 start since the 2015 season.

Who do you have winning this game? Comment below.