IRVING, Texas –The Cowboys are back on the field after a tough loss to the Bears, followed by a bye week. With a 2-2 record, the Cowboys now enter a difficult stretch of games that includes four of the next five on the road, starting this week against the Ravens.
The DallasCowboys.com writing staff shares its expectations for Sunday's game in Baltimore. Here is the gut feeling of Nick Eatman, Rowan Kavner, Jonathan Auping and Bryan Broaddus.
Nick: This season reminds me so much of last year. Both times they were 2-2 and coming off a very tough outing by Tony Romo that made the bye week seem extremely long. Last year, they went into New England after the bye and nearly won but lost in the end. I see something like that happening again this time in a tough place to play. I could see the Cowboys playing better offensively and getting the running game going a bit. But in the end, something tells me a big turnover will aid the Ravens in the second half. We know this will be a tough five-game stretch but there might not be a tougher game on the overall schedule than this one in Baltimore.
Bryan: Before the season I didn't have a great feeling about this game on the positive side for the Cowboys but after getting an opportunity to study the last four games for the Ravens, I feel like the Cowboys have a much better chance. The Ravens are not the same team on defense that we have all known from seasons past but that is not to say they still don't have talent. I feel like the injury to Terrell Suggs really hurts them and the Cowboys need to take advantage of that. Execution has been the major problem with this offense since the Giants game and to beat these Ravens you can't leave plays on the field.
Jonathan:For the first time perhaps ever Baltimore's defense might be just as much of a threat as their offense. The Cowboy defense will face as tough of a challenge as they've seen all year. With Joe Flacco airing it out I think the Cowboys' secondary will have the chance to make plays with perhaps Morris Claiborne or Brandon Carr getting their first interception of the season. But the secondary may well get plays made on them as well. Ultimately I think it will be up to the Cowboys' offense to execute and keep up with Baltimore because I see this game featuring scores in the thirties.
Rowan:One season with a respectable home record could be a fluke. Losing only one game at home since the start of the 2010 season is not. The Ravens are as beatable right now as they've been all season, and the Chiefs took them to the brink in Kansas City. If not for a couple turnovers and missed opportunities, the Chiefs would've won. But the Ravens aren't the same team at home. The Cowboys will keep it close, but a minus-seven turnover ratio for the season won't cut it in Baltimore.
