The Dallas Cowboys are heading to Brazil for a difficult Week 3 matchup, and owner Jerry Jones isn’t hiding from the challenge.
Speaking Friday morning on 105.3 The Fan, Jones acknowledged that the Baltimore Ravens present a difficult matchup for Dallas.
“That’s a bad matchup. We got our work cut out for us. It’s a rough one,” Jones said, per Jon Machota of The Athletic. “We’ll be ready for them, but they’re a handful.”
The Cowboys and Ravens enter Sunday’s matchup at 1-1, but Dallas has a particularly difficult challenge waiting in Brazil.
Cowboys run defense faces major test
The biggest concern for Dallas is obvious: stopping the run.
Through two, the Cowboys are allowing 173.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks third-worst in the NFL. The problem extends beyond opposing running backs, as mobile quarterbacks have also found plenty of room to run against Dallas.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries in Week 1, while Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels added 69 yards on seven carries in Week 2.
That is a troubling trend when you’re about to play Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore is averaging 155 rushing yards per game through two weeks, while Derrick Henry gives the Ravens another powerful weapon in the backfield.
Dallas defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has already emphasized the importance of fixing the team’s issues against the run, particularly along the interior.
Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry create unique challenge
The Cowboys aren’t dealing with just one dangerous runner.
Henry gives Baltimore a physical presence between the tackles, while Jackson can punish defenses that lose contain or fail to account for him as a runner.
That combination creates a difficult assignment for a Dallas defense that has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks early this season.
The last time these teams met in 2024, Henry rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson added 87 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jackson only threw for 182 yards in that game, showing that Baltimore didn’t need a huge passing performance to give Dallas problems.
For the Cowboys, limiting explosive runs and keeping Jackson contained will be critical.
Injuries add to Cowboys defensive concerns
Dallas will also have to deal with several improtant absences in the secondary as well.
Cornerback Cobie Durant, linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safeties P.J. Locke and Malik Hooker have all been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup.
That leaves the Cowbosy relying on their defensive depth against an offense capable of attack defenses in multiple ways.
Dallas did show improvement in its Week 2 victory over Washington, but the Ravens represent a different challenge. Baltimore has both the personnel and offensive identity to attack the Cowboys’ biggest weakness.
Jones knows what’s coming.
“They’re a handful,” Jones said.
Now Dallas to prove it can handle them.
