Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Expected to Start VS Dallas Cowboys
Well, the Dallas Cowboys might've gotten an answer on which quarterback they'll be facing on Tuesday night when they square off against the Baltimore Ravens. The two alternatives were pretty different. One option was 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson while the second option was sixth-round draft pick Trace McSorley. But the Cowboys weren't lucky enough to […]
Well, the Dallas Cowboys might've gotten an answer on which quarterback they'll be facing on Tuesday night when they square off against the Baltimore Ravens. The two alternatives were pretty different. One option was 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson while the second option was sixth-round draft pick Trace McSorley.
But the Cowboys weren't lucky enough to hear it'd be McSorley. According to multiple reports, Jackson will be activated on time from the Reserve/COVID-19 list to face America's Team.
As injuries continue to pile up for the Dallas Cowboys, it'll be tough for them to get a win against a Lamar Jackson-led Ravens. However, make no mistake about it. This isn't the same Ravens team we witnessed last season.
Their offense has struggled in getting the passing game going which has caused them to drop to third place in the AFC North with a 6-5 record. Entering Week 13, they ranked 22nd in offense DVOA. To put it into perspective, they finished the 2019 season ranked first in the NFL.
The Cowboys' defense has improved, but they're still a vulnerable unit. Particularly on the defensive backfield. Anthony Brown has been limited on practice with a ribs injury and is questionable to play. Meanwhile, Safety Donovan Wilson hasn't been able to practice at all and is also questionable to play.
That means the Dallas Cowboys will need to need something they don't have: depth in the defensive backfield. In recent games, we've had to witness Savion Smith, Rashard Robinson among other players that clearly shouldn't be out there on game days. In particular, fans have wondered about the fact that Reggie Robinson hasn't made his NFL debut. The fourth-round draft pick was expected to have a role in 2020 yet he's been a healthy scratch every single week. If Donovan Wilson doesn't suit up, perhaps he finally ends up in the active roster on Tuesday.
Still, the Cowboys might have a tough time trying to slow down the Ravens. Although they haven't been passing the ball well, they're still efficient running it. Even without Jackson, Robert Griffin III looked solid running the ball last week. Greg Roman's running game is still difficult to game plan for, no matter who's in at QB.
Meanwhile, Dallas has had plenty of issues holding their own in the trenches, specifically up the middle. Through 12 weeks, they rank 29th in rush defense according to DVOA. In a more traditional stat, they rank 31st in yards per carry allowed.
A win over the Ravens would keep the Dallas Cowboys alive in 2020 even though the fans' focus seems to be in the NFL Draft now. We'll see what we're thinking about on Tuesday night when it's all said and done.
Featured Image Via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
