Dallas Cowboys lose to Baltimore Ravens recap: Late heroics not enough, 28-25 final score
In many ways the final quarter of Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys loss to the Baltimore Ravens was emblematic of how they got to this point.
The game began with low enthusiasm surrounding the team, energy they matched as they fell into a 28-6 deficit. For 75% and change of the contest everything went Baltimore’s way, just how the Cowboys spent a majority of the offseason standing on the wall as opposed to being on the dance floor with all of the other would-be contenders in roster management.
But then the right song came on and everything clicked. The Cowboys scored, got a two-point conversion, scored again and missed some two-point conversions in the process. It wasn’t perfect, but it narrowed things to 28-25 on the positive side of the two-minute warning with the home team holding all of their timeouts. Much like how Dallas signed their superstars well after training camp took place, in addition to bringing in some contributors through signings and trade, the Cowboys made this interesting in the eleventh hour.
Ultimately the hours preceding that matter, though. You can’t make up for them all in the final moments. Baltimore was able to survive and pick up their first win of the season and now the Cowboys have a lot of questions to answer, but not much time to do so as they will visit the New York Giants on Thursday night.
Below you will find our recap of it all as it unfolded, re-ordered so that it can be read chronologically.
The Cowboys are now 1-2 for the first time since 2020 and only the 13th time overall as a franchise. Previously they made the playoffs 4 of the 12 times.
We will see how this year’s team manages.
1st Quarter
The Cowboys won the toss and elected to receive which was bold to say the least. But scared money doesn’t make money, as is often said.
Unfortunately no money was made as the Cowboys committed multiple penalties and punted before even reaching midfield.
The Ravens took over and cashed in very early. In just 5 plays Baltimore traveled 71 yards for an easy Lamar Jackson touchdown.
Things remained difficult for the Dallas offense, but they were at least able to make it past midfield a bit. Ultimately they stalled out, but Mike McCarthy elected to let Brandon Aubrey attempt a 65-yard field goal.
Money!
Whatever optimism this generated was short-lived.
The Ravens looked like the Cowboys may challenge them for a moment, but then Caelen Carson missed a tackle on Nelson Agholor and he was off to the races.
Derrick Henry punched it in two plays later.
As the quarter came to a close the offense began to put up a proper fight.
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2nd Quarter
As noted the offense began and was looking like they were about to stop the bleeding a bit. After a penalty from Tyler Smith on 1st and Goal, Dak Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb and it seemed for a moment like a touchdown was possible again.
But then all proverbial wind in the team’s sails dissipated as Lamb fumbled before he made it to the ground.
Thankfully this did not do any damage as the Cowboys were able to force a first half punt in their own building for the first time on the season.
But Dallas was unable to get anything going on offense themselves and punted it right back, narrowly avoiding a safety in the endzone as the lone positive note from the possession. This pattern repeated as the teams once again swapped punts.
The Ravens got to work with a mission to score before halftime. Given that they would get the ball after intermission, doing so would send quite the message.
Derrick Henry helped.
Lamar Jackson then finished the job.
The Cowboys tried to squeeze points out before the half, and Brandon Aubrey came through.
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3rd Quarter
With a 21-6 lead at their backs the Baltimore Ravens got the ball to start the second half. They decided, logically so, that feeding Derrick Henry would be a good idea.
Shortly after he danced in for his second touchdown on the day.
The story continued for the Cowboys on offense. Nothing to be found. Penalties. Sacks. Soon enough they punted.
Dallas held the ball as the quarter ended.
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4th Quarter
The Cowboys and Ravens likely only played the fourth quarter because it was necessary given that the game was well over at its beginning.
Justin Tucker attempted a field goal for the first time in this quarter as his offense took care of business in the action leading up to it. Amazingly, he missed it, which further cements the idea that Brandon Aubrey has surpassed him in NFL kicker hierarchy. Don’t act like the Cowboys didn’t win anything on Sunday!
Around the midpoint of the quarter the Cowboys finally got on the board as Dak Prescott put together a drive that he capped off himself with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. Dallas missed the two-point conversion after the fact because, duh.
Amazingly, the Cowboys followed that up with the first successful onside kick of the new era. Hang the banner, folks!
But things remained weird. Dak Prescott found Jalen Tolbert for another touchdown with over 7 minutes left. With the team missing the two-point conversion again this left Dallas down by 10 which called for another onside kick. The Cowboys were not so fortunate this time.
They forced Baltimore to punt, though! And then scored! With over 2 minutes left!
Ultimately the Ravens were able to ice the game, ruining any sort of comeback opportunity. Hello 1-2.
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