The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was thoroughly exposed by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, with their inability to stop the run glaringly evident.
After allowing a staggering 190 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in a brutal 44-19 defeat, the Cowboys now face an even more daunting challenge in Week 3 as they prepare to host the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL legend Emmitt Smith isn’t confident that Cowboys fans won’t witness a repeat of last week’s defensive shortcomings.
The Saints dominated on the ground, leaving Dallas reeling, and with the intimidating combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry awaiting them in Baltimore, Smith has warned the Cowboys they need to play with renewed aggression if they are to stand any chance.
Speaking on the Up & Adams Show, Smith laid out the challenge facing the Cowboys.
“It’s not going to be easy going up against Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry coming to town. Derrick Henry is probably licking his chops right about now with what we gave up last week,” Smith said.
“We’re going to have to get our pride back. The Saints came in and took something from us. Now we got to fight like hell to get it back.”
Smith believes the Cowboys’ defensive woes stem from their lack of discipline and failure to stick to basic fundamentals.
“We got to get back to the basics. Defense has to stay in the gaps, you cannot open up run lanes like you did last week against the Saints,” Smith continued.
“You got to do exactly what coaches have taught you to do. Secondary guys do not want to tackle Henry by themselves.”
The Cowboys now rank 20th in rushing defense, conceding an average of 141.5 yards per game, a stark contrast to their performance last season when they ranked 16th, allowing 112.4 yards per game.
While one bad game won’t define the Cowboys’ season, there is no denying that they need to turn things around quickly if they are to string wins together and stay competitive in a tough NFC.
Cowboys face an explosive Ravens rushing attack
Unfortunately for Dallas, things do not get easier. Coming off the back of their poor showing against the Saints, they now face the Baltimore Ravens, a team with one of the most formidable rushing attacks in the league.
The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 156.5 yards per game, making them the worst possible opponent for a Cowboys defense that is still licking its wounds.
Lamar Jackson, known for his dual-threat capabilities, ranks 10th in the league with an average of 167 yards per game, while Derrick Henry isn’t far behind at 19th with 130 rushing yards. This potent duo will undoubtedly be relishing the prospect of facing a Cowboys defense that was torn apart last week.
As Smith pointed out, “Derrick Henry is probably licking his chops.”
The Ravens, like the Cowboys, are coming off a difficult start to the season, sitting at 0-2 after a surprising loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. With both teams desperate to turn their fortunes around, the Week 3 clash is likely to be a fiercely contested affair.
For Dallas, the key will undoubtedly be how their defense handles the Ravens’ ground game. Even without the statistics, it’s no secret that Baltimore boasts one of the best rushing units in the league.
After the debacle against the Saints, Dallas simply cannot afford to let their run defense falter again. A strong showing against the Ravens would go a long way towards restoring confidence in a unit that is quickly becoming a cause for concern.
As Smith put it, “We’re going to have to get our pride back,” and there would be no better way to do so than by stopping one of the league’s most feared rushing attacks.