Cowboys at Ravens -- Week 6

Where: M&T Bank Stadium (turf, outdoors), Baltimore, Md.

When: Sunday, Oct. 14, 1 p.m. (Fox)

Spread: Ravens by 3

Forecast: Outdoors (clear, temperatures in the low 70’s)

2012 records – Cowboys (2-2); Ravens (4-1)

Past results: Two most recent meetings – Dec. 20, 2008: Ravens 33, Cowboys 24; Nov. 21, 2004: Ravens 30, Cowboys 10.

Series record: Ravens hold a 3-0 edge.

What matters: The Cowboys are looking to simplify things on offense more for Tony Romo. After his five-interception game against Chicago before the bye week, Romo admitted he’s trying to do too much and not trusting his teammates to take care of their own responsibilities. That being said, look for the Cowboys to focus more on running the ball with DeMarco Murray, who has just 108 rushing yards in three games after getting 131 against the Giants in the season opener. Romo can also rely more on TE Jason Witten, who caught 13 passes last week and appears to be back to his old self after two struggling performances against Seattle and Tampa Bay when he was still recovering from a spleen injury.

Who matters: Cornerback Brandon Carr was signed in the offseason from Kansas City to bring a physical presence in the secondary. But his AFC experience has also been utilized already when he faced Vincent Jackson and Brandon Marshall. Now he goes up against a Baltimore squad with familiar foe Anquan Boldin, another strong receiver who will likely see a heavy dose of Carr this week.

Key matchups: The Cowboys expecting to have center Phil Costa back in the lineup this week after missing three full games and most of the opener with a back injury. Fill-in backup Ryan Cook is also banged up with a hamstring injury, making the decision somewhat easier to insert Costa back into the lineup. But he’ll have his hands full with Ravens’ defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, a Pro Bowler with massive size and strength. Costa isn’t considered the biggest or most powerful center so that interior battle will likely set the tone for what both sides of the ball can do.

Injuries of note: Even coming off the bye week, the Cowboys still have some injury issues, especially at punter, where both Chris Jones (knee) and Brian Moorman (groin) have been hurt. Jones might have the better shot to play although he likely won’t be 100 percent. OLB Anthony Spencer (shoulder/pectoral) will likely be a game-time decision. The club will get back DT Jay Ratliff (high-ankle sprain) and DE Kenyon Coleman (knee) this week.

Inside stuff: Something has to give this week when the Cowboys run the football this week against the Ravens, who rank 24th in the NFL against the rush. Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles went for 140 yards last week against Baltimore. The Cowboys rank 29th in running as DeMarco Murray hasn’t rushed for more than 44 yards in a game in the last three contests.

Stat you should know: The Ravens aren’t just a tough team at home, but they thrive against NFC opponents. Since 2008, the Ravens are 8-0 against the NFC teams at home and 24-5-1 overall against the NFC in franchise history. The Cowboys are 0-3 lifetime against the Ravens, including two empty trips to Baltimore in 2000 and 2004.

Looking ahead: This game starts a brutal stretch for the Cowboys, who will be on the road four games in a five-week span. After Baltimore, it’s on the road to Carolina, back home against the Giants before going to Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Prediction: Ravens 24, Cowboys 16

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