The Sports Xchange
Nov 20, 2016
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dak Prescott threw three touchdowns passes and the Dallas Cowboys own the longest winning streak in franchise history after upending the Baltimore Ravens 27-17 on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys have won nine in a row, and are 9-1 overall for the fourth time ever and first time since 2007. Dallas owns the best record in the NFL.
The record-setting start has come with Prescott at quarterback. Despite the return of longtime starter Tony Romo to the active roster, the Cowboys offense continues to click under the direction of the rookie fourth-round pick from Mississippi State.
Prescott completed 27 of 36 passes for 301 yards in another of a long line of efficient performances. Two touchdown passes to Dez Bryant and another to Cole Beasley did in the Ravens.
The other prized rookie in Dallas' offensive backfield, Ezekiel Elliott, added to his growing collection of team records. The NFL rushing leader broke the Cowboys' rookie rushing record of 1,007 yards set by Tony Dorsett in 1977.
Elliott ran for 97 yards on 25 carries against the NFL's top rushing defense, pushing his season total to 1,102 yards.
Baltimore (5-5) came in leading the AFC North, but lost its fifth non-division road game in a row. The Ravens were also beaten by Dallas for the first time in five all-time meetings.
Joe Flacco threw for 269 yards and ended a drought of 16 straight quarters on the road without a touchdown pass with a 5-yard scoring strike to Steve Smith Sr. in the fourth.
The Ravens were down only 24-17 with more than eight minutes left, but Dallas countered with a field-goal drive that took 6 1/2 minutes off the clock and iced the win.
Smith caught eight passes for 99 yards and became the 14th player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions. He needed three catches coming in.
Prescott picked apart Baltimore's secondary with two long drives in the second half to take a 24-10 lead. The Cowboys went 92 and 88 yards on successive possessions, both ending with scoring passes to Bryant.
Bryant's touchdown catches, covering 4 and 13 yards, gave him five for the season.
The Ravens took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter by gashing Dallas on the ground. The 90-yard drive needed just six plays, with Terrance West going the final 18 yards.
Dallas tied the game in the second period on Prescott's 3-yard touchdown pass to Beasley. A 41-yard bomb from Prescott to Bryce Butler down the sideline set up first-and-goal.
The teams traded field goals late in the second quarter to leave it 10-10 at halftime.
The Cowboys shoot for their 10th straight win Thanksgiving afternoon against NFC East rival Washington. Baltimore returns home to face division foe Cincinnati next week.
NOTES: Cowboys QB Tony Romo was active for the first time this season and backed up starter Dak Prescott. Romo missed the first nine games recovering from a back injury suffered in preseason. Romo last served as a backup in 2008 to Brad Johnson against the St. Louis Rams. ... Dallas LB Rolando McClain will be suspended for another year, per an ESPN report. McLain's current 10-game drug-related suspension was scheduled to end Monday. ... Ravens inactives: CB Jimmy Smith, CB Asa Jackson, RB Lorenzo Taliaferro, LB Elvis Dumervil, OL Ryan Jensen, OL Alex Lewis and TE Crockett Gillmore. ... Cowboys inactives: QB Mark Sanchez, RB Darius Jackson, OT Chaz Green, DE Benson Mayowa, LB Mark Nzeocha, CB Morris Claiborne and S Barry Church.