Honestly, if you turned off the TV at the end of the third quarter, nobody would’ve blamed you. It looked like a total funeral in Arlington. The Dallas Cowboys were getting absolutely bullied in their own house by a Baltimore Ravens team that desperately needed a win to avoid an 0-3 disaster. But the final cowboys vs ravens score of 28-25 doesn't even begin to tell the story of how weird and chaotic those last fifteen minutes actually were.
It was a game of two completely different worlds. For three quarters, it was the Derrick Henry show. Then, suddenly, Dak Prescott decided to turn into a superhero, and we almost saw one of the biggest collapses in Ravens history.
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The Brutal Reality of the 28-25 Finish
When the clock hit zero, the scoreboard read Ravens 28, Cowboys 25. For Baltimore, it was a sigh of relief. For Dallas, it was a "too little, too late" disaster that left fans wondering why the team waited until they were down 28-6 to start playing football.
Breaking Down the Scoring by Quarter
The flow of this game was jagged. Look at how the points actually hit the board:
- 1st Quarter: Ravens 14, Cowboys 3
- 2nd Quarter: Ravens 7, Cowboys 3
- 3rd Quarter: Ravens 7, Cowboys 0
- 4th Quarter: Ravens 0, Cowboys 19
Baltimore came out swinging. Lamar Jackson marched them down for a 9-yard touchdown run like it was practice. Dallas answered with a 65-yard bomb of a field goal from Brandon Aubrey—which is just insane, by the way—but that was basically all the juice the Cowboys had for a long time. Derrick Henry rumbled in for a 1-yard score before the first quarter even ended. By the time Rashod Bateman caught a 13-yard TD pass just before halftime, it felt over.
Derrick Henry’s "Happy Homecoming"
You’ve gotta remember that Derrick Henry lives in Dallas during the offseason. He treated AT&T Stadium like his personal backyard. He was a human wrecking ball, racking up 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys’ defense looked like they were trying to tackle a runaway freight train with wet pool noodles.
Every time Henry touched the ball, he was falling forward for six yards. He had a 26-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that felt like the final nail in the coffin. Baltimore’s offensive line, which had been criticized all season, finally woke up and paved the way for a staggering 274 total rushing yards.
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The Fourth Quarter Chaos No One Saw Coming
This is where the cowboys vs ravens score gets interesting. Most teams down by 22 points in the fourth quarter just pack it in. Not Dallas. Dak Prescott started throwing haymakers.
First, Dak punched it in himself on a 1-yard sneak. They missed the two-point conversion (which would come back to haunt them), making it 28-12. Then, the Cowboys did the unthinkable: they recovered an onside kick. C.J. Goodwin hopped on the ball, and suddenly the stadium had life.
The Comeback Sequence:
- Dak Prescott 1-yard TD run (Failed 2-pt conversion)
- Successful Onside Kick recovery
- Jalen Tolbert 15-yard TD catch (Another failed 2-pt conversion)
- KaVontae Turpin 16-yard TD catch (Extra point is good)
In a span of about six minutes, the Cowboys turned a blowout into a 28-25 nail-biter. Dak finished with 379 passing yards, which looks great on paper, but a lot of that came against a Ravens defense that went into a "prevent" shell and almost prevented themselves from winning.
Why the Ravens Actually Won
Despite the late-game heroics from Dallas, Baltimore held on because of one man: Lamar Jackson. With the Cowboys breathing down their necks and the momentum shifted entirely, the Ravens faced a 3rd-and-6 with under three minutes left. If they don't convert there, they have to punt the ball back to a red-hot Dak Prescott.
Lamar didn't panic. He delivered a strike to Zay Flowers for the first down. Then, he sealed the deal with a 10-yard keeper where he faked out the entire Dallas defense. It was a masterclass in "closing time."
The Problems Dallas Can't Ignore
While the comeback was fun for the highlight reels, it highlighted some massive issues for the Cowboys. Their run defense is, quite frankly, a sieve. You can't let a team run for nearly 300 yards and expect to be a serious contender.
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Also, the running game for Dallas was non-existent. Rico Dowdle led the team with only 32 yards. When your quarterback has to throw the ball 51 times just to keep you in the game, it’s a recipe for disaster. The frustration was visible, especially with CeeDee Lamb, who had a rough afternoon with only four catches and a lost fumble in the red zone.
What This Score Means for the Rest of the Season
For Baltimore, this was a season-saver. Going 0-3 is usually a death sentence for playoff hopes. They found their identity again—run the ball, use Lamar’s gravity to open up lanes, and let the defense hang on for dear life.
For Dallas, the 1-2 start was a wake-up call. It led to a lot of soul-searching in the locker room and eventually contributed to the coaching shifts we saw later in the year. You can’t play one good quarter of football and expect to beat elite teams.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Watch the Trenches: If you’re betting on or analyzing the Cowboys, look at their defensive tackle play. Until they fix the interior, big backs like Henry will continue to feast.
- The Aubrey Factor: Brandon Aubrey is a legitimate weapon. In a tight game, his ability to hit from 60+ yards changes how Mike McCarthy (or any coach) manages the clock.
- Ravens' Fourth Quarter Woes: This wasn't a one-time thing for Baltimore. They have a habit of letting teams back into games. Keep an eye on their defensive rotations late in games.
Next time these two meet, don't trust the score until the clock hits zero. Whether it’s a blowout or a shootout, the history between these two franchises usually involves some level of heart-stopping drama.
Next Steps for You:
Check the current NFL injury report to see if the Cowboys' defensive line depth has improved since this matchup. You should also look up the "Ravens 4th quarter lead" statistics to see if John Harbaugh's squad has tightened up their late-game execution in recent weeks.