Texas's Arlington (AP) It was the first 0-2 start for the Baltimore Ravens since before Lamar Jackson became their starting quarterback, but they responded forcefully and quickly.
The two-time MVP added a few crucial plays in the closing minutes as the Ravens threatened to blow a sizable fourth-quarter advantage.
In Sunday's 28-25 win against the Dallas Cowboys, Derrick Henry rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Jalen Jackson scored two touchdowns as well.
The Ravens (1-2) led 28-6 after scoring touchdowns on their first two drives. However, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys mounted a late, valiant comeback, aided by an uncommon onside kick recovery.
Jackson's crucial pass to Zay Flowers put Baltimore one play away from needing to turn the ball over to the Cowboys (1-2), who were up by only three points.
Jackson ended the game with 274 yards running after a brilliant fake to set up a 10-yard run. It's the most Dallas has given up since 2020, when, with one of the worst defenses in team history, they conceded at least 294 times.
The Ravens were 0-2 for the first time since 2015—three years prior to drafting Jackson—following their journey to the AFC championship game, when they were defeated by Super Bowl winner Kansas City. After beginning 0-3, just one club has advanced to the postseason since 2000.
We're trying to make progress, so every game is important to us," Jackson said. "We need to win these games in order to go to the Super Bowl and the playoffs. However, it begins with the game that is now in progress.
Dallas' 16-game winning run at AT&T Stadium came to an end in January when they lost to Green Bay 48-32 in a wild-card game. The Cowboys have given up 120 points in their last three home games.
For the Cowboys, Brandon Aubrey made a 65-yard field goal, falling just short of the NFL record set by Justin Tucker of Baltimore in 2021.
The Cowboys' vulnerable defense meant they needed more than field goals to win, much as they did in their 44-19 defeat to New Orleans last week.
Eventually, Dallas started to score touchdowns. They were just a few minutes late.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Prescott scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. C.J. Griffin recovered the onside kick, and Jalen Tolbert made a 15-yard touchdown reception to make the score 28-18. The Cowboys then failed on their second straight attempt at a two-point conversion.
After missing the initial onside kick, Flowers recovered Dallas' second one, but the Ravens went three-and-out.
After KaVontae Turpin's 16-yard touchdown reception trimmed the lead to three, the Cowboys kicked deep. Jackson then completed a 9-yard pass to Flowers on third-and-6, and the keeper completed the final 2:53 of play.
John Harbaugh, the coach of the Ravens, described Lamar as just amazing. "We didn't really want to be in that situation, but we managed to get out of it."
Dallas suffered their first home loss in a regular season since 2020 when Prescott suffered a horrific ankle injury that ended his season in Week 5 of a 6-10 campaign.
Prescott remarked, "Make sure guys don't dwell," as he emerged from the tense, silent locker room. "They might have negative feelings tonight, but in the morning, it will be done. You won't get ready immediately soon if you're thinking about it. You will always be thinking back on things you ought to have done or could have done.
Henry's first score, a 1-yard plunge that gave the team a 14-3 lead, was set up by a 56-yard catch-and-run by Nelson Agholor.
The Ravens started the game with a five-play, 71-yard drive that was completed off by Jackson's uncontested 9-yard dash to the pylon. He found tight end Charlie Kolar for a 30-yard pass on his opening pass of the game.
Henry became the first Baltimore back to score at least one touchdown in each of his first three games with the team. Henry averaged six yards on twenty-five touches. Plus a 23-yard reception.
In his eight seasons at Tennessee, Henry was a two-time running champion. On the first drive of the second half, he ran 26 yards for a score and a 28-6 advantage.
Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman who was alone in the end zone. He also gained 87 yards on the ground.
Even before the score spiraled out of control, the late Dallas push placed Prescott at 28 of 51 for 379 yards and two touchdowns, but once again, he was not assisted by a strong rushing game. Dallas's carry average was 3.2 yards.
In the end, the Cowboys fell too far behind a team that prioritizes running the ball and defense.
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said, "You definitely want to get in front of that team." That group of players plays to their advantages and strengths. We weren't tidy enough to win this time.
Cowboys S Markquese Bell did not return after suffering an ankle injury in the first half. CB Jalyn Armour-Davis of the Ravens had a hamstring injury and was sidelined.
Nikhil Rajawat
Texas's Arlington (AP) It was the first 0-2 start for the Baltimore Ravens since before Lamar Jackson became their starting quarterback, but they responded forcefully and quickly.
The two-time MVP added a few crucial plays in the closing minutes as the Ravens threatened to blow a sizable fourth-quarter advantage.
In Sunday's 28-25 win against the Dallas Cowboys, Derrick Henry rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Jalen Jackson scored two touchdowns as well.
The Ravens (1-2) led 28-6 after scoring touchdowns on their first two drives. However, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys mounted a late, valiant comeback, aided by an uncommon onside kick recovery.
Jackson's crucial pass to Zay Flowers put Baltimore one play away from needing to turn the ball over to the Cowboys (1-2), who were up by only three points.
Jackson ended the game with 274 yards running after a brilliant fake to set up a 10-yard run. It's the most Dallas has given up since 2020, when, with one of the worst defenses in team history, they conceded at least 294 times.
The Ravens were 0-2 for the first time since 2015—three years prior to drafting Jackson—following their journey to the AFC championship game, when they were defeated by Super Bowl winner Kansas City. After beginning 0-3, just one club has advanced to the postseason since 2000.
We're trying to make progress, so every game is important to us," Jackson said. "We need to win these games in order to go to the Super Bowl and the playoffs. However, it begins with the game that is now in progress.
Dallas' 16-game winning run at AT&T Stadium came to an end in January when they lost to Green Bay 48-32 in a wild-card game. The Cowboys have given up 120 points in their last three home games.
For the Cowboys, Brandon Aubrey made a 65-yard field goal, falling just short of the NFL record set by Justin Tucker of Baltimore in 2021.
The Cowboys' vulnerable defense meant they needed more than field goals to win, much as they did in their 44-19 defeat to New Orleans last week.
Eventually, Dallas started to score touchdowns. They were just a few minutes late.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Prescott scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. C.J. Griffin recovered the onside kick, and Jalen Tolbert made a 15-yard touchdown reception to make the score 28-18. The Cowboys then failed on their second straight attempt at a two-point conversion.
After missing the initial onside kick, Flowers recovered Dallas' second one, but the Ravens went three-and-out.
After KaVontae Turpin's 16-yard touchdown reception trimmed the lead to three, the Cowboys kicked deep. Jackson then completed a 9-yard pass to Flowers on third-and-6, and the keeper completed the final 2:53 of play.
John Harbaugh, the coach of the Ravens, described Lamar as just amazing. "We didn't really want to be in that situation, but we managed to get out of it."
Dallas suffered their first home loss in a regular season since 2020 when Prescott suffered a horrific ankle injury that ended his season in Week 5 of a 6-10 campaign.
Prescott remarked, "Make sure guys don't dwell," as he emerged from the tense, silent locker room. "They might have negative feelings tonight, but in the morning, it will be done. You won't get ready immediately soon if you're thinking about it. You will always be thinking back on things you ought to have done or could have done.
Henry's first score, a 1-yard plunge that gave the team a 14-3 lead, was set up by a 56-yard catch-and-run by Nelson Agholor.
The Ravens started the game with a five-play, 71-yard drive that was completed off by Jackson's uncontested 9-yard dash to the pylon. He found tight end Charlie Kolar for a 30-yard pass on his opening pass of the game.
Henry became the first Baltimore back to score at least one touchdown in each of his first three games with the team. Henry averaged six yards on twenty-five touches. Plus a 23-yard reception.
In his eight seasons at Tennessee, Henry was a two-time running champion. On the first drive of the second half, he ran 26 yards for a score and a 28-6 advantage.
Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman who was alone in the end zone. He also gained 87 yards on the ground.
Even before the score spiraled out of control, the late Dallas push placed Prescott at 28 of 51 for 379 yards and two touchdowns, but once again, he was not assisted by a strong rushing game. Dallas's carry average was 3.2 yards.
In the end, the Cowboys fell too far behind a team that prioritizes running the ball and defense.
Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said, "You definitely want to get in front of that team." That group of players plays to their advantages and strengths. We weren't tidy enough to win this time.
Cowboys S Markquese Bell did not return after suffering an ankle injury in the first half. CB Jalyn Armour-Davis of the Ravens had a hamstring injury and was sidelined.