Good, bad, and ugly from Ravens vs. Cowboys in Week 3

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The conversation around late-game collapses can sit on the shelf for at least a week. This time, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves on the right side of the drama, delivering the kind of late-game heroics that had been missing through the season's first two weeks.

Fans packed into Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were treated to an entertaining back-and-forth battle that ended with Baltimore escaping with a 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry led the charge. Jackson completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards, two touchdowns, and a 136.7 passer rating while adding 50 rushing yards.

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Henry powered his way to 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The Ravens showed signs of growth in several areas, particularly along the offensive line, but the performance was far from flawless. There was plenty to like, plenty to clean up, and a few moments Baltimore will want to leave in Brazil.

The good things we saw during the Ravens' win over the Cowboys

The Ravens needed playmakers to step up, and several answered. Zay Flowers looked healthy and explosive. His first catch went for 22 yards, and he consistently created problems for the Cowboys' secondary all night. Any concerns about his hamstring appeared to disappear quickly.

Baltimore's red-zone wildcat package remains one of the offense's most effective wrinkles. For the second straight week, Henry found the end zone after taking a direct snap. The formation keeps producing results and gives defenses another problem to solve near the goal line.

The defense also deserves credit for responding after adversity. Following Dallas' early success, Baltimore forced a quick punt and settled things down. Those answers kept the game from slipping away after the Ravens fell behind 10-0. Henry's second touchdown run was another significant moment. After the early deficit, Baltimore needed a spark, and the veteran running back provided it by helping erase the Cowboys' lead and putting the Ravens ahead 14-10.

Josh Cuevas also delivered one of the game's underrated highlights with a 13-yard catch-and-run. The Ravens have been searching for complementary contributors in the passing game, and plays like that matter.

Calais Campbell generated some welcome pressure on Dak Prescott late in the first half. The veteran hadn't consistently impacted opposing quarterbacks through the first two weeks, making his presence noticeable here. Special teams also produced positive moments. Tyler Loop connected on both of his field-goal attempts (more on that later), while Keondre Jackson broke through to block a long Brandon Aubrey field-goal try. In a four-point game (at the time), that sequence proved valuable.

There were injury scares as well. Kyle Hamilton briefly left to be evaluated for a concussion but returned. Mark Andrews also exited with an injury before re-entering and making a crucial catch during Baltimore's late-game drive. Thankfully, both returned and delivered big plays later.

The biggest highlights came late. Matthew Hibner caught his first career touchdown reception.

The bad news from the Ravens' win over Dallas

Not everything went according to plan. The Ravens entered the game hoping to tighten up against the run, but Dallas found room early. The Cowboys came into Week 3 with an 11-yard run as their longest rush of the season. On their opening drive, they ripped off a 17-yard gain on their third rushing attempt.

Special teams also flirted with disaster. Following an early Cowboys scoring drive, LaJohntay Wester mishandled a kickoff. Baltimore recovered the loose ball, but the sequence immediately put the offense behind schedule. Things got worse moments later. The Ravens failed on a fourth-and-1 attempt from their own 30-yard line, handing Dallas a short field. The Cowboys capitalized with a touchdown five plays later.

The Ravens also attempted an unnecessary trick play. Watching Henry hand the ball off to Jackson was certainly creative, but the play went nowhere and was further hurt by a penalty. Perhaps Baltimore is setting up a future counter off the look, but the initial result was not encouraging.

The defense created another opportunity early in the second half by forcing a fumble on Dallas' opening possession. Unfortunately, Baltimore failed to turn the takeaway into points. Missed opportunities like that can become costly against stronger opponents.

The downright ugly

The most concerning takeaway involved the line of scrimmage. Dallas entered the game with one of the league's most vulnerable run defenses and one of the most porous rushing defenses, yet the Cowboys repeatedly won critical situations. Henry was stopped on fourth down twice. He gained no yardage on three touches during the Ravens' second drive.

That second Henry stuff on fourth down concluded a goal-line stand by Dallas, one that ended a drive where the Ravens were moving the ball effectively down the field. The sequence became even more painful when the Cowboys followed a goal-line stand with a 96-yard touchdown drive. Momentum swung dramatically, and Baltimore suddenly found itself searching for answers.

The Ravens also hurt themselves with penalties at key moments. Nate Wiggins' pass interference call extended a Dallas drive and added to the frustration of a defense still searching for consistency over four quarters.

The encouraging part is that Baltimore found a way to overcome those mistakes. Earlier in the season, many of these same issues contributed to disappointing finishes. This time, the Ravens absorbed the setbacks, responded when they needed to, and left Brazil with a victory. The game-winner deserves another look.

Now, none of this means the concerns have disappeared. It does mean Baltimore now has an opportunity to address them while building momentum rather than searching for explanations after another heartbreaking loss. The challenge now is proving this performance was the start of progress, not simply a one-week escape.

Next up is a home game vs. the Tennessee Titans. That one kicks off at 1 p.m. EST, and Baltimore should be favored.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Good, bad, and ugly from Ravens vs. Cowboys in Week 3

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