Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens quickly responded to their first 0-2 start since he became their franchise quarterback .
The two – time MVP made some big plays late in the game when the Ravens were in danger of losing a key lead in the quarterfinals .
Derrick Henry rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns , while Jackson scored two points , leading the Ravens to a 28-25 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday .
The Ravens (1-2 ) scored touchdowns on their first two drives and led 28-6 before Dak Prescott and the Cowboys mounted a powerful comeback at the end , helped by a rare kickoff recovery on the ground .
Baltimore was almost forced to give the ball back to the Cowboys (1-2 ) with a three – point lead when Jackson made a crucial completion to Zay Flowers .
Jackson closed the game with a nifty fake , leading to a 10 – yard run , as the Ravens finished with 274 yards rushing . That ‘s the most Dallas has allowed since giving up at least 294 yards twice during one of the most defensive seasons in franchise history in 2020 .
The Ravens , who had recently played in the AFC Championship Game and lost to Super Bowl champion Kansas City , were facing an 0-2 record for the first time since 2015 , three years before they hired Jackson . In 2000 , only one team made the playoffs after starting 0-3 .
“Every game is a major challenge for us because we’re looking to accomplish a goal,” Jackson said . ” We have to win these games to get to the playoffs, and we have to get to the Super Bowl. But it starts with the game that’s in front of us .”
In their last three home games , the Cowboys have given up 120 points, including a 48-32 wild -card loss to Green Bay in January that snapped Dallas ‘ 16-game winning streak at AT&T Stadium.
Brandon Aubrey kicks a 65- yard field goal for the Cowboys , just 1 yard shy of the NFL record set in 2021 by Baltimore ‘s Justin Tucker .
As they did last week in their 44-19 loss to New Orleans , the Cowboys need more than just field goals because of their weak defense .
Finally, the touchdowns came for Dallas, but they were a little too late.
Prescott scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak midway through the fourth quarter, and C.J. Griffin recovered the kickoff. Jalen Tolbert then intercepted a 15- yard pass , making the score 28-18 , but the Cowboys failed on their second 2 – point conversion attempt .
Flowers recovered Dallas’ second onside kick after missing the first , but the Ravens fell three times.
The Cowboys pushed deep after KaVontae Turpin intercepted a 16 – yard touchdown pass , cutting the lead to three. On third-and-6, Jackson completed a 9- yard TD pass to Flowers, followed by a run that took up the final 2:53 of the game.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Lamar was just incredible . They did n’t really want to be in that situation , but we did it .
Dallas lost back – to – back regular – season games for the first time since 2020 after Prescott suffered a serious groin injury in Week 5 of a 6-10 season .
Prescott said after leaving a gym feeling quiet and frustrated. They may experience pain that night, but in the morning , it ‘s over .
If you rely on this , you will fail to prepare properly . You will continue to think about things you could have , should have done .
Nelson Agholor made a 56 -yard catch – and -run for Henry’s first touchdown , a 1-yard dive that gave the Ravens a 14-3 lead .
The Ravens opened with a five – play , 71 – yard drive that ended with Jackson ‘s 9 – yard , untouched run to the pedestal . He threw his first pass of the game 30 yards to tight end Charlie Kolar .
Henry, with a 6- yard average on 25 passes , became the first Baltimore running back to score at least one touchdown in his first three games with the franchise . He also added a 23- yard field goal .
Henry, a two- time rushing champion in his eight seasons with Tennessee , scored on a 26 -yard run to make it 28-6 on the first drive of the second quarter.
Jackson completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards, including a 13- yard touchdown to Rashod Bateman , who was wide open in the end zone . He also ran for 87 yards .
Dallas ‘ late rally had Prescott 28 of 51 for 379 yards and two touchdowns , but again he had no support from the weak traffic , averaging 3.2 yards per carry .
The Cowboys found themselves too far behind against a team that focuses on defense and playmaking .
” You definitely want to be on top of this team,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said . ” This is a team that plays to their strengths and their profile. We weren’t clean enough to get the win today . ”