Cowboys host Ravens in final game at Texas Stadium

'Boys look to make final playoff push

Coming off perhaps their biggest win of the season against the New York Giants, the Cowboys will host the Baltimore Ravens in the final game ever to be played at Texas Stadium. And like many games from the past that have been played in the stadium with its signature “hole in the roof” this one will have meaning. The Cowboys record stands at 9-5, but they are still a long way from clinching a playoff birth. The Ravens are also in the hunt and looking to move closer to locking up a spot, which should make for a very competitive affair in Dallas on Saturday night.

The Ravens will pose an arduous challenge for the Cowboys, and this game is likely to be a defensive struggle. Both teams have played extraordinary defense this season with the Cowboys coming on strong more recently. Dallas’s defense was on full display last Sunday night against the Giants, especially in the pass rush where they sacked Eli Manning seven times and dominated New York’s offensive line. The Cowboys now lead the NFL in sacks with 53 and have registered 24 sacks in the last four games. The latter numbers coincide with the time that Wade Phillips took control of the defensive play calling and it has made all the difference.

Throughout the years Baltimore has built up a reputation as a defensive minded team with the all-pro linebacker Ray Lewis serving as the cornerstone. This year the Ravens are still one of the best and come into the Dallas game as the league’s second ranked defense. They do all the things one would expect a stellar defense to do, pressure the quarterback, create turnovers, and shut down the running game. So far this season the Ravens have only allowed one team to rush for over 100 yards. This could mean big trouble for the Cowboys whose main guy, Marion Barber, is still hampered by a toe injury. However, Tashard Choice has played well filling in for Barber and is coming off a strong performance against the Giants.

Tony Romo is also coming off a solid outing from last week’s game in which he threw for over 240 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. He is said to still be sore from the beating he took by the Giants pass rush, but will play against Baltimore. Terrell Owens had a quiet game last week with only three catches while Jason Witten faired a little better and came up with a crucial reception for a third down conversion late in the game. All hands will be on deck for Dallas as they will surely need to make some plays through the air to have success against the Ravens, and won’t be able to rely solely on the running backs.

> Find a great selection of Dallas Cowboys hats & apparel online through Pro Football Fans or apply online for a Cowboys credit card!

The real key for Dallas in getting a win will be how well their defense plays. In the past Baltimore has always had a tough defense but an anemic offense. That is not the case this season as the Ravens offense has been very productive. Rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has put together an impressive first year in becoming a leader for his offensive unit. The Cowboys will have to continue to do what they’ve been doing and get pressure on the young QB with the hopes of forcing him to make mistakes.

The Cowboys control their own destiny heading into this week 16 match up with the Ravens, but it will be a difficult destiny to control. The game with the Ravens is likely to be a tight low scoring contest that will probably come down to who makes the big play near the end of the game. These are still the types of games that the Cowboys have almost always found a way to lose. Last week Tony Romo showed his toughness, playing through serious pain to help his team win. There is a good chance he’ll have to play through some more and also show that he can make the plays when it matters most. And the Cowboys are going to need it.

By Steven Mondelli
ProFootball-fans.com Dallas Cowboys Correspondent