Cowboys Schedule: Predicting the Cowboys' First Four Games in September

Week 3: Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens

This will be the first major test for the Cowboys in 2024. Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy each enter the season without any job security and they do so for the same reason — team owner Jerry Jones isn’t convinced they can win the big one.

Sure, McCarthy won a title with the Green Bay Packers but that was in 2010. We're now a decade-and-a-half removed from his glory days.

As for Prescott, he’s won a whole lot in the regular season but has had issues in the playoffs. He’s also had his share of forgettable moments against elite teams in the regular season (see their outing against San Francisco and Buffalo from 2023 as examples).

This game allows them to silence many of the critics. Like Dallas, Baltimore is an elite team in the regular season and even though Lamar Jackson has a similar playoff record as Dak, they’re seen as one of the premier teams.

Dallas would do themselves a huge favor by pulling off a win in this one but unfortunately, this feels like a letdown in front of the home crowd. Even with Mike Zimmer coaching the defense, the Cowboys' issues against the run historically will crop up in this one. Especially since the Ravens signed Derrick Henry who apparently had his eyes on the Dallas.

With extra motivation in his corner, the bruising back runs all over them in this prediction as the Cowboys fall to 2-1.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Cowboys 16
Cowboys Record: 2-1