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Tony Romo and the ‘Boys are coming off a bye week, but their third rated offense has been abysmal this season in terms of points per game.
The Cowboys rank the third to worst in football (30th) averaging just 16.2 PPG, and Romo has taken all of the blame (deservedly so).
To throw for 5 TD and 8 INT at any point during the season for America’s team is a joke, and this Dallas offense needs to find a lot more running room.
DeMarco Murray has just 237 yards in four games with just 1 TD, and there is nobody else that Dallas can rely on to move the chains.
The short passing game has evolved into a running game with tight end Jason Witten hauling in 21 passes for 188 yards and a TD.
Whether it has been Dez Bryant dropping home run passes or not adjusting to the hot routes for a young pup, the Cowboys still have the talent to give the Ravens major issues in the passing game.
Baltimore’s pass defense is 22nd against the pass allowing 261.4 yards per game, which means Miles Austin, Bryant and Witten will need to draw separation for Romo.
The Dallas offensive line has struggled miserably in the vital games, and a solid performance would change everything.
The NFC East is simply a crap shoot these days with the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants beating each other up.
The next five games for Dallas will be tough to come out victorious. After Baltimore (and awful Carolina), the ‘Boys have the G-men, Atlanta and Philadelphia.
If they come out of those games below .500, it might be tough to get a crack at the postseason after sitting home for the playoffs last year. Dallas still has to deal with the Bengals and the Steelers down the road as well, which means every game is truly starting to become playoff-like matchups.
Joe Flacco has not exactly put it together either as he struggled miserably last week against the Chiefs. His overall numbers are surely better than Romo, with 7 TD and 4 INT. Plus, he has 1,456 yards while completing 61.2 (that isn’t good) percent of his passes.
Every virtuoso performance that Flacco puts together (see Bengals, Patriots) he seemingly always has a clunker or two (Kansas City).
If the passing game struggles again, Dallas will send their rabid wolverines after the Baltimore signal-caller.
DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer are a fierce duo, but Baltimore’s defense is still legit with Haloti Ngata, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Featuring an upper-tier player at each level of the defense is something that has given the Ravens a chance to perform well under the limelight.
The matchup of the game will be Ladarius Webb and Cary Williams in coverage against Dez Bryant and Miles Austin.
Both teams will not allow the opposing quarterbacks to set their feet and have all day to throw, so bank on pressure from both defenses.
Romo against Flacco is a solid matchup and this has ‘Game of the Week’ written all over it with future playoff implications on the line.
Dallas has their backs against the wall and they come through with finally a virtuoso performance from Mr. Romo.
Network: FOX (704)
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern
Experts Pick: Ravens by 3.5
Danny V’s Pick: Cowboys 24, Ravens 20
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