Can the real Dallas Cowboys please stand up?

After a convincing season-opening win in Cleveland, the Cowboys lost at home to New Orleans. What will happen next when reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens come to town?

How it works The Dallas Morning News‘ Columnists and sports journalists see how the game continues:

Tim Cowlishaw

It’s awfully early to think the loser is in trouble, but… the loser is in trouble. In the Ravens’ case, they’d be 0-3. In the Cowboys’ case, two straight home losses would shake the foundation. I can’t imagine the Ravens not being able to get their running game with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry going against this defense, but if Dak scores 300 points for the first time as a $60 million man, Dallas could win by a hair. Unlikely, though.

Ravens 30, Cowboys 26

Damon Marx

Conventional wisdom says the Cowboys, unable to run the ball or stop the run, are in trouble against a run-oriented Ravens team led by league MVP Lamar Jackson. Well, nothing about the modern NFL is conventional. After two drastically different efforts, it’s time for the real Cowboys to step up. Under Mike McCarthy and Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have only lost two games in a row twice since 2021. If it happens this time, the head coach is officially on the hot seat.

Cowboys 30, Ravens 23

David Moore

Those looking for reasons to believe the Cowboys can rebound from their brutal loss to New Orleans don’t have to look far. Dallas is 12-2 after a loss since the start of the 2021 season, tied with Buffalo for the best win rate in the league in that regard. It’s part of their DNA under Mike McCarthy. Feel better? Do it at your own risk. The Cowboys face a winless Baltimore team that is even more desperate than they are right now, and an offense that Dallas can barely stop.

Ravens 30, Cowboys 24

Abraham Nudelstejer

It’s only the third game of the NFL season, but the tension is already in the air for both teams. Two straight home losses would be a huge emotional blow for the Cowboys. Three losses to open the season would force the Ravens to mount an epic comeback to live up to the high expectations they created before the season. Dallas will have a tough time running the ball against the league’s best run defense. Baltimore has allowed an average of 49.5 yards per game and 2.7 yards per carry. Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott have each rushed for 56 yards in two games — that won’t be enough to help Dak Prescott and the passing attack. The Ravens will win their first game of the season.

Ravens 20, Cowboys 17

Kevin Sherrington

The only reason to pick the Cowboys over the Ravens this week is that Baltimore’s offense and quarterback look more like Cleveland and less like the Shanahan system that’s been causing problems for the Cowboys’ defense. Yes, Lamar Jackson is better than Deshaun Watson. Pretty much everyone is. But the Cowboys showed against the Browns that they can use DeMarvion Overshown or Micah Parsons as spies, which should theoretically limit Jackson’s effectiveness. Maybe.

Cowboys 24, Ravens 21

Calvin Watkins

It’s desperation time for the Ravens. The Cowboys, too. A Ravens loss puts them out of contention for the AFC title. A Cowboys loss doesn’t put them out of contention for the NFC East title. It just gives the media fodder for Thursday night’s game in New York. So we think the Ravens’ running game will take over in the second half. The Cowboys are still working on some things.

Ravens 27, Cowboys 20

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