Micah Parsons picked a bad opponent to promise a good game.
Dismayed by his team’s performance in last week’s 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints, the Dallas Cowboys’ star linebacker is declaring Sunday a “prove it” game. But, historically speaking, the Baltimore Ravens are the Cowboys’ toughest opponent.
In their 64-year history, the Cowboys have the fewest victories (1) and worst winning percentage (1.67) against the Ravens than other NFL team. And it’s not even close.
Dallas is only 1-5 against Baltimore. Their second-fewest wins (4) have come against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Denver Broncos; their second-worst win percentage (.308) against the Broncos.
The Cowboys’ only victory over the Ravens came in 2016, when then-rookie quarterback Dak Prescott hit Dez Bryant with two second-half touchdown touchdown passes at AT&T Stadium. The most memorable loss was a historic one on Dec. 20, 2008.
In front of a sellout crowd and a host of past players and dignitaries gathered for the final game at Texas Stadium, the Cowboys’ defense collapsed in the final minutes of a disheartening 33-24 loss on a frigid Saturday night. Needing a win to keep pace with the Philadelphia Eagles atop the NFC East in Week 15 of a 16-game schedule, they engaged in a wild fourth quarter that saw four touchdowns in the final 3:50.
The lasting images of the grand old stadium: Long touchdown runs by Ravens’ running backs Willis McGahee (77) and La’Ron McClain (82).
The next week the Cowboys were trounced, 44-6, in Philly to lose the division and miss the playoffs at 9-7.
The stakes won’t be nearly as high Sunday afternoon in Arlington. But the Cowboys’ “prove it” opponents might be as difficult as always.