Wiggins, who missed week two, can and will help teammate Marlon Humphrey get rest on defensive possessions. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr should be mindful of Humphrey’s attrition and continue to delegate his reps covering the top opposing wide receiver with Wiggins.
The Dallas Cowboys scored 19 fourth-quarter points before running out of time in regulation. Ranking At No. 32 in the NFL in opponent’s passing yards, the Ravens’ secondary still allowed a laughable 379 pass yards in week 3.
Nevertheless, the Ravens will take this three-point victory and strategize on ways to improve the pass defense as the season continues. Lastly, having Wiggins back in the lineup didn’t just help; it rendered the turnover very well, saving the game.
Go inside the post-game locker room as Coach Harbaugh hands out the game balls❗️ pic.twitter.com/aoYgUh9bIZ
All-world running back Derrick Henry ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson logged a passing and rushing score, and the Baltimore Ravens held on for a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday after blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead.
Baltimore (1-2) scored touchdowns on their first two drives, while the Cowboys (1-2) have allowed 120 points in their past three home games.
With the final results, here are the top photos from Sunday’s massive win.
With the Ravens’ pass defense struggling, it’s time for Humphrey to have a statement game. Humphrey may get help from rookie Nate Wiggins, who is listed as questionable, but if not, Humphrey will need to step up big.
Fortunately for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, the front seven for the Ravens have been exceptional. With a healthy pass rush, there’s no reason why the Ravens’ secondary can’t elevate themselves and get the job done.
Humphrey did, however, record an interception last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was sinking into zone coverage disguisedly when he picked off quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Humphrey is far too talented a player to squander his career while chasing internet fame. Of course, ranking last in opponent pass yards allowed is embarrassing. However, it’s Humphrey’s lack of self-reflection that makes his online podcast feel like a real distraction.
The Cowboys finalize preparations for the Baltimore Ravens’ visit, here’s a look at both team’s health status. | From @KDDrummondNFL
The Dallas Cowboys are trending in the right direction when it comes to player availability for Sunday’s crucial early season contest. In danger of dropping to 1-2 on the young season, the Cowboys have a rather extensive injury report this week for having played just two games. Fortunately it looks like many of the players who have appeared on the reports throughout the week are preparing to play, including tight end Jake Ferguson who missed last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Dallas’ passing offense ground to a halt with only CeeDee Lamb giving the team much of anything until garbage time in the 44-19 blowout. Without Ferguson as a seam threat, the team bogged down once again, leading to four Brandon Aubrey field goals. Lamb missed practice earlier in the week, but it looks like both are going to be at Dak Prescott’s disposalagainst Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
In fact of the 14 players listed this week, 11 of them have No Game Designation, meaning they are completely good to go. The other three players are listed as questionable.
TE John Stephens (Hamstring): Questionable
Limited throughout the week
WR CeeDee Lamb (Ankle): No Designation
Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full
TE Jake Ferguson (Knee): No Designation
Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full
S Malik Hooker (Shoulder): No Designation
Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full
CB Trevon Diggs (Foot): No Designation
Wednesday: DNP | Thursday: Limited | Friday: Full
DE Marshawn Kneeland (Calf): No Designation
Practices in Full all week
RG Zack Martin (Knee): No Designation
Wednesday: Limited | Thursday: Full | Friday: Full
WR Brandin Cooks, LB Eric Kendricks, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DE Tyrus Wheat were all held out Wednesday for non-injury reasons
For the Baltimore Ravens, they will be without guard Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, who will be out for personal reasonss. WR Deonte Harty (Calf), OLB David Ojabo (Quad) and CB Nate Wiggins (Neck/Concussion) are all questionable.
A look at the latest injury news as the Cowboys finalize preparations for the Baltimore Ravens’ visit. | From @KDDrummondNFL
The Dallas Cowboys returned to the practice field Thursday, and they had a much higher participation rate than they did on Wednesday. Preparing for their matchup with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday afternoon, the club welcomed back some star power to the fold, even if a sizable portion didn’t fully participate.
On Wednesday, the team hit the field without notable contributors such as WR CeeDee Lamb and CB Trevon Diggs, both missing Wednesday’s work with injuries suffered in their blowout loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Thursday saw their return, in a limited capacity. In addition, there was a step forward for some veterans who, thanks to a vet day off, got to heal some aches and nicks.
RG Zack Martin was among the group of four and the only one who also was listed with an injury. His NIR had a “knee” addendum, but he returned in full on Thursday.
TE Jake Ferguson, continued to be listed as limited as he tries to work back from his Week 1 MCL sprain. One of his backups, John Stephens, has been limited both days as he looks to make his 2024 season debut and is dealing with a hamstring injury.
The worst injury news is that DT Mazi Smith has been out both days dealing with a back injury. The team’s interior defenders got embarrassed against the Saints and really haven’t played well in either game. Jordan Phillips was moved to IR on Wednesday, amidst controversy that he doesn’t really have an injured wrist. The team signed former contributor Carlos Watkins in a corresponding move.
Here’s a look at the complete injury report from Thursday.
The Cowboys are doing a poor job of flowing through CeeDee Lamb this season. | From @ReidDHanson
It’s no secret the Cowboys offense runs through star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb these days. Dallas’ $136 million man boasts the NFL’s second-highest annual salary for a non-quarterback (tied with Joey Bosa) and is coming off an All-Pro season where he led the league in receptions (135).
Splitting time outside, inside and even out of the backfield, Lamb has been a weapon on short routes, deep routes and as a ball carrier. While he’s only run the ball three times for 25 yards, he’s managed two first downs, just one shy of running back Ezekiel Elliott’s first down total this season. As a pass catcher Lamb ranks 15th in the NFL with 151 receiving yards, and 28th with nine receptions. Those totals are certainly respectable through two weeks, but they are not what anyone has come to expect from the Cowboys’ top weapon.
sam hoppen
With a target share just under 23%, only seven teams have a No. 1 WR with a smaller share than Lamb’s. In fact, multiple teams have secondary WRs with larger target shares than Lamb and one team, the Jets, even has their No. 3, Allen Lazard, with a larger target share than Lamb.
Lamb’s modest target rate isn’t by design but likely an accidental byproduct of the intended design. The Cowboys want to target him a ton but unlike many top teams, Dallas doesn’t have a clear WR2 on their roster.
Brandin Cooks plays the role, but he’s struggled to live up to true No. 2 status since joining Dallas a season ago. There’s hope Jalen Tolbert can take the next step and lock down the WR3 spot, but his gains have been slow, and his snaps have been split up to this point.
The Cowboys don’t have a great secondary option and that’s allowing opponents to focus in on Lamb and force Dak Prescott to spread the ball elsewhere. So, the offense is designed to flow through Lamb but since not enough was done over the offseason to keep defenses honest, the Cowboys’ top-heavy WR corps is getting keyed on.
There’s still a lot of season left and plenty of time for players like Cooks and Tolbert to hit their stride as complementary WRs. Getting Jake Feguson back from injury will help as well since, in many ways, he’s the No. 3 option on offense and a player whose work underneath opens things up for Lamb over the top.
At this point it is just something to monitor. The Cowboys’ offense goes as Lamb goes so Lamb’s slow start somewhat explains Dallas’ 24th ranked offense (EPA) through two weeks.
The New Orleans Saints will have to stop the Dallas Cowboys passing attack without Marshon Lattimore this week. He wasn’t spotted warming up before the game, and NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that he will be inactive at kickoff.
The Saints lead corner went down with a hamstring injury versus the Panthers in Week 1. This injury left him unable to practice the entire week and being a game-time decision on Sunday.
Because of his absence, Kool-Aid McKinstry will join the starting secondary alongside Paulson Adebo and Alontae Taylor. This was the combination that saw the field when Lattimore departed Week 1.
The Saints have to deal with the elite connection of CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott.
Lamb works out of the slot frequently, so this will primarily be Taylor’s matchup. Taylor’s season debut wasn’t just great, it was historic. The day stood out because of his ability to rush the quarterback.
Taylor needs to have an equally strong performance against the Cowboys. This time he’ll need to do it coverage against Lamb and the rest of the receiving corps.
It’ll be interesting if the Cowboys change tendencies because there’s a rookie on the outside. McKinstry’s inexperience could lead to the Cowboys targeting him with their best wideout.
McKinstry was drafted for this exact situation. The Saints knew he may have to step in for someone, and that is already true after the first game. This provides a huge opportunity for McKinstry to get game reps and show he’s prepared to take this job on next year.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) is pushing to play against the Cowboys in Week 2:
It doesn’t sound like the New Orleans Saints plan on Marshon Lattimore playing against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but never say never. And if it were up to Lattimore he’d be out there.
That’s what NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported overnight, saying that Lattimore is “pushing to play, but it’s a long season and him being healthy is paramount. He’ll workout this morning to see.”
The Saints traded up to pick Kool-Aid McKinstry in this year’s NFL draft because of Lattimore’s injury history. And then he pulled his hamstring last week against the Carolina Panthers after missing most of training camp with a hip flexor injury.
There aren’t many tougher assignments a rookie could ask for than being thrown into a game with CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and the rest of the Cowboys receiving corps, but a trial by fire would tell the coaches what they have in McKinstry.
And it’s worth remembering the other corners on the 53-man roster include a rising star in Paulson Adebo and Defensive Player of the Week snub Alontae Taylor, as well as preseason fan-favorite Rico Payton. They have quality depth at the position. If giving Lattimore another week to rest his injuries helps him endure the next 15 games, going without him in Dallas might be worth it. But we won’t know if he’s able to go for sure until he tests his leg in pregame warmups.
Marshon Lattimore is currently nursing a hamstring injury, and will be a game-time decision on Sunday against the Cowboys:
Marshon Lattimore left the New Orleans Saints season opener with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of practice leading up to the game versus the Dallas Cowboys. Right now, he’s a game-time decision.
Dennis Allen has his vision of how things will go this week with his star cornerback. Allen’s vision: “Lattimore’s on the trip. We’ll see where he’s at on game day. If we feel like he’s appropriate to play, he’ll be out there.”
Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are on the other side. You’d like a world where Alontae Taylor, Paulson Adebo and Lattimore are on the field to stop Lamb and company. Former Saint Brandin Cooks doesn’t receive the headlines, but he’s continued to be a solid wide receiver through his tenure.
Being down Lattimore, would push Kool-Aid McKinstry into the starting lineup. This would be the definition of baptism by fire. They’d likely look to test him specifically with Lamb in order to see how the rookie responds.
Lattimore making the trip keeps the optimism alive and all parties involved will know if he can play a couple hours before kickoff.
One Cowboys star has some words of advice on the whole Ja’Marr Chase contract situation with the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ended up playing in Week 1 after there were doubts that he would since he held out of training camp.
Another receiver who held out this preseason, Dallas Cowboys CeeDee Lamb – who signed a four-year, $136 million extension before the season began – went on Kay Adams’ show, “Up & Adams,” where he revealed his thoughts on his counterpart’s situation.
“I feel like he’s playing it right. He’s doing it right. All it’s going to take is one big game for him to show his worth,” Lamb said. “Obviously, Week 1 is tough for us because we’ve been holding out, but once we get acclimated and our bodies start getting back into the grind of things, it’s going to pop off. I have no doubt that he’s going to have a great year this year.”
Though they were in different situations before the season, Chase with two years left on his deal, and Lamb headed into the final year of his before he signed the extension, Lamb still had some advice for the Bengals pass catcher.
“I know for him it’s a very difficult situation mentally,” Lamb said. “Obviously, physically, he’s been playing ball his whole life, so I’m not really worried about him being ready. But mentally, just be locked in. Stay true to yourself and always just stay true to what you believe in… Keep working, keep grinding bro. I can’t tell him anything that he doesn’t know already. You’re going to get what you’re worth.”
Chase’s contract situation rolls on, and likely will for a while now that he has officially decided to play without a new contract. But if it doesn’t get figured out before next season, it could be a completely different story for the Bengals.
Chase finished Week 1 with six catches for 62 yards in what was an underwhelming performance for the entire Bengals squad at home against the New England Patriots.
