Cowboys vs. Ravens: Recap of Every Possession
The Dallas Cowboys are playing today against the Baltimore Ravens.
Possession 1 , Ravens
Oct 14, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) passes in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at M
The Baltimore Ravens started on their own 20. NT Jay Ratliff started. After a stuffed sun and short completion. The Ravens had 3rd and 9. DC Rob Ryan was predicatable with this blitz, sending ILB Sean Lee on a delayed blitz up the middle. Despite the pressure from an unblocked Sean Lee, Raven QB Joe Flacco still delivered a strike to WR Jacoby Jones for the first down. Two runs by RB Ray Rice brought up 3rd and short. Ray Rice powered through the right side for 6 or 7 yards on 3rd. On 1st down, the Ravens ran a draw from the shotgun for 3 yards. On 2nd down the Ravens threw to Jacoby again for 12 yards and then began to increase the speed of their ‘no-huddle’ offense, which lead to an 8 yard completion to he TE and a short run by Ray Rice for a new set of downs. A short run and short completion brought up an important 3rd and 2 on the Cowboys 20. Backup ILB ALex Albright made a huge play to get in the backfield and slow up Ray Ray; he end up short of the first down. Ravens settle for FG.
Cowboys 0 – Raven 3
Possession 2, Cowboys
After the kick sailed through the endzone, the Cowboys started on their 20. They opened with a 5 yard run by the DMM Express straight up the middle. QB Tony Romo then hot FB Lawrence Vickers out of the backkfield for 11. The Cowboys then went ‘no-huddle’. Two runs by RB DeMarco Murray brought up 3rd and 4. Tony Romo, operating from the shotgun, looked for WR Dez Bryant all the way, but completed for the conversion. On 2nd down, the DMM Express displayed his power by blowing up a tackler and then rumbling for 28 yards. RB Felix Jones carried for 6 yards in replacement, but it was negated by yet another holding penalty by RT Doug Free. It left the Cowboys facing 1st and 20 on the Ravens 22. Felix Jones then outdide Murray by showcasing burst, speed, power, and moves to get the Cowboys to the 1 yardline.
Despite having 1st and goal from the one yardline, Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett challenged the ruling that Jones was our of bounds at the 1.
The play was ruled a TD, but one has to wonder why Jason Garrett would “waste” a challenge rather than just punch it in from the 1.
The Cowboys had 61 rushing yards on the 80 yard drive. Both the DMM Express and Felix Jones had runs of over 20 yards.
Garrett’s decision to go no-huddle in a loud staduim on the road, with an offense that has a history of false start penal;ties and delay of game penalties, was a surpsing one.
Cowboys 7 – Ravens 3.
Possession 3, Ravens
Baltimore began their 2nd drive on their own 20 after a touchback. On 3rd down, after a failed screen and a throw away by Flacco because of pressure from Sean Lee, the Ravens punted. Dez Bryant fair caught the punt at the a the Dallas 20.
Possession 4, Cowboys
After starting their 2nd drive at their own 20, the Dallas Cowboys used play-action and it finally worked because of the rushing on the previous drive: complete to Bryant at the 37. Two runs by the DMM Express, the 2nd one was which was long, got the Cowboys inside Ravens territory to the 44. Garrett continues to feed Murray and he rushed for another 6 up the middle. On the last play of the 1st quarter, the DMM Express ran, on 2nd and 4, for another 8 yards, giving him a total of 72 rushing yards in the 1st quarter.
Looks like Jason Garrett is willing to be balanced when the running game is effective.
The Cowboys continued to run the ball with Murray and then with Felix Jones occasionally. Both had success. Even on 3rd and short, Garrett went with a run to the right side with Murray. And again on 1st down, a delayed draw to Murray for 6 yards. On the first pass attempt by Romo in what seemed like ages, a blitzer came free and Romo wisely threw the ball away. On 3rd and 4 from inside the Baltimore Ravens’ 15, the Cowboys went 3 wide, but still ran the ball up the middle and were successful, but were penalized for an illegal shirt (2 WRs in motion at the4 same time). On 3rd and 9, they lost yards on a WR screen to Bryant, but there was also a penalty for an illigeal shift again (declined). FG was from 42 yards, Dan Bailey is still money.
Cowboys 10 – Ravens 3.
Is this Cowboys rushing attack because the offensive line has improved, or is the Ravens defense just that bad?
When was the last time the Cowboys were winning a game and they had more rushing yards than passing yards?
Possession 5, Ravens.
October 14, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) runs for a second quarter touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys at M
They started from their 20, and Ray Rice finally broke loose for 12 yards. The Ravens tried to go right back to Rice, but DE Kenyon Coleman and ILB Dan Connor combined to stop Rice after 2 yards. Flacco, on 3rd down and after a nice play by CB Mike Jenkins to force 3rd and long, hit Ray Rice for a 5 yard pass that became a 40+ yard gain. RB Pierce busted through an arm tackle by Victor Butler for a long run to get the Ravens inside the 5. Danny McCray had a chance to sack Flacco but appeared to hold up which allowed the QB to throw the ball away. On 3rd and goal from the Cowboys 2, Flaco through an incomplete, but Kenyon Coleman was called for illegal hands to the face. Ray Rice scored on a short run.
Ray Rice had 5 of the 8 touches of the drive, and most of the yards.
Cowboys 10- Ravens 10
Possession 6, Cowboys.
October 14, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) warms up prior to their game against the Baltimore Ravens at M
The Cowboys began their 3rd drive on their own 20. After a short run by Murray, Romo finally threw to WR Miles Austin; the complete was for about 12 yards. On first down, Romo had a ton of time; he found Miles Austin again for a big gain over the middle to take them into Ravens territory. Garrett went back to Murray on first down for a short gain, and then a completion to Bryant left the Cowboys in 3rd and 2. The Cowboys did not run on 3rd down; Romo hit Bryant for a new set of downs. The DMM Express looked excited; he was looking to lower his shoulder and hit defenders. Tyron Smith negated a great rub by Murray with a holding penalty. Instead of 1st and 10, it was 2nd and 15 at the Ravens 40. After an incomplete, on 3rd down, the Ravens committed a penalty to make it 3rd and 10. QB Tony Romo, despite knowing that they were pretty close to being in FG range, threw the ball downfield in the middle and it was intercepted.
Possession 7, Ravens.
After Romo’s pick, the Ravens took over on their 20. After an incomplete on 1st down, the Ravens called a draw to Rice out of the shotgun to bring up 3rd and 8. Two minute Warning. WR Boldin committed a false start to make it 3rd and 14. The Cowboys sent CB Brandon Carr on a blitz, Flacco went to the the other side to Boldin (ILB Bruce Carter was in coverage) for a 1st down, and the he completed another 10+ yard catch to Boldin. On the 3rd consecutive play, Boldin caught a pass to get the Ravens near the Cowboys 30. The Cowboys pass-rush continued to be almost non-existent. Flacco completed what looked like a TD after CB MOrris Claiborne appeared to get tangled up with the receiver. Claiborne was injured on the play. Despite the contact, the play was not ruled defensive pass-interference, but Claiborne was called for holding, and the Cowboys were also called for having too many men on the field.
Cowboys 10 – Ravens 17
Possession 8, Cowboys
Vickers returned the kickoff outside the 30 with 35 seconds remaining in the half. The Cowboys are content to let the clock run out.
NOTE: This was published at halftime – please forgive the typos.
For a recap of the 2nd Half possessions, please click here.