It took an extra five days, but the Dallas Cowboys finally visited the Baltimore Ravens for their Week 13 game of the 2020 season. COVID-19 wasn’t done with the affair, however. After positive tests pushed the Ravens’ previous game back three times, having a domino impact on this one, the virus reared it’s head once again during the pregame, stealing the main piece of joy fans were looking forward to.
Wide receiver Dez Bryant was pulled from warmups to be retested and came up positive, ending his reunion game before it got underway. Once the game got going, things seemed to go according to plans. The Ravens and reigning MVP Lamar Jackson ran over, through and around the Cowboys’ lackluster defense, storming to a three-score victory. If it looked like old school, or if it looked like a video game, or if it looked like both to you, you’re not alone.
Baltimore pulled away in the second half en route to a 34-17 victory. The loss dropped Dallas to 3-9 on the season.
Dallas tried to trade blows early, thanks to a tip-drill interception and a big kickoff return, but there weren’t enough bullets in their gun to go shot for shot with Jackson’s designed runs, scrambles and handoffs to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
The Ravens rushed for 294 yards, the third time on the season their porous defense allowed an opponent to top 250 ground yards.
On offense, Dallas wasn’t able to muster much, but they certainly weren’t aided by their special teams as kicker Greg Zuerlein missed three kicks which could have kept Dallas within striking distance. Quarterback Andy Dalton did pass for two touchdowns, finding Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper once in each half. After a strong start to the game, CeeDee Lamb all but disappeared and Ezekiel Elliott’s would-be-five-yard a carry average was stymied at the goal line on three straight plays in the fourth quarter.
Dallas has lost six of their last seven games and will have a day off before starting to prepare for the 2-9-1 Cincinnati Bengals. The teams which currently sit No. 3 and No. 4 in draft order will square off at noon in Week 14.
[vertical-gallery id=659633][listicle id=659627][lawrence-newsletter]