OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens have had success running the football against the Dallas Cowboys.
Baltimore has recorded more than 250 yards rushing three times in six games against the Cowboys. No team in NFL history has more games with at least 250 rushing yards when facing a single non-conference opponent than Baltimore against Dallas.
Heading into the Week 3 matchup against Dallas, the Ravens are ranked No. 7 in the NFL with 168.0 yards rushing per game. Dallas allowed 190 yards on the ground last week to the New Orleans Saints, but the Ravens are still searching for their offensive “identity” after starting the season with two straight losses.
“I doubt any team would tell you that they’ve established their identity yet after two weeks, but that’s something that we need to do,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said. “Yes, you want to have an identity; you want to be known for something. What are you good at? What do they need to stop? What are they saying that they have to defend against you for your offense?
“At the same time, you don’t want them to line up and know what you’re doing every single play. Both of those values are important. I don’t think they contradict each other; I think those are things you have to find.”
Historically, the Ravens have dominated the Cowboys on the ground.
Here’s a look at their three biggest games:
- December 8th, 2020: Rushing yards: 294; Leading rusher: Gus Edwards (7, carries 101 yards)
- December 20th, 2008: Rushing yards: 265; Leading rushers: Le’Ron McClain (22, carries 139 yards, 1 touchdown); Willis McGahee (8 carries 108 yards, 1 touchdown)
- November 19th, 2000: Rushing yards: 250; Leading rusher: Jamal Lewis (28, carries 187 yards)
The addition of three-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry is expected to give the Ravens an even more formidable ground attack. In two games, Henry is second on the team with 130 yards rushing on 31 carries with two touchdowns.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is still Baltimore’s biggest threat running the ball and has 167 yards in on the ground on 21 carries. Jackson’s main focus this week will be getting the Ravens’ offense in sync. That means cutting down on penalties and finishing strong in the fourth quarter after blowing a 10-point lead against the Raiders with 12:11 left in the game last Sunday.
Since 2007, the Ravens have had 10 losses when leading by seven or more points in the fourth quarter — the most by any NFL team.
“We’re starting the season off slow, but I believe the guys in the locker room, we know what we want to do when we go out there Sunday, and we know we’ve been busting our behinds each and every game,” Jackson said. “It’s like we’re coming up short, but I feel like at the end of the day, we’re beating ourselves, somewhat, because its penalties killing us and the M.E.’s [mental errors] we’re doing.
“Even me, making the missed throws, we just have to fix those little things, and I feel like we’re going to win our games like we’re supposed to.”
