Handling the press coverage coming off a sloppy, 9-6 win at the Kansas City Chiefs is one thing for the Ravens.
Handling the press coverage from opposing cornerbacks is another.
Is too much being made of the receivers' inability to handle the physical, bump-and-run play of secondaries such as the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles before that?
Both used a Cover 1 scheme in which cornerbacks hug the line of scrimmage and attempt to knock receivers off route within the five-yard area. Those teams only use one safety over the top to cover the deep zone in case a receiver gets by.
In the last six quarters on the road -- and against the Cover 1 -- the Ravens have failed to score a touchdown.
Sunday, they'll face the Dallas Cowboys at M&T Bank Stadium, where the Ravens have won an NFL-high 13 games in a row. The Ravens (4-1) average more than 30 points per game in three home dates this season.
"I look at each game for what it is. We're going to win some games that way," Ravens receiver Torrey Smith said of the three field goals in Kansas City. "We're not going to be able to play good all the time.
"There's nothing we need to do (different). It's really about completing plays. Everybody keeps talking about press coverage, but if we would've made a few more plays last week it would be a different game and we wouldn't be talking about it. We make some plays and we're alright. It's a collective effort."
Dallas has young, physical corners, too, in rookie Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr.
"We've been open in every game we've gone against press and man," said Smith, who had only three catches for 38 yards against the Chiefs and two catches for 51 yards in the 24-23 loss to Philadelphia in Week 2. "Now press does make it a lot tougher. The quarterback's window is smaller, but also if you beat them it's definitely a lot easier."
The Cowboys mix up their packages, but when they're in a Cover 1 it's not quite the same look.
"They do play a lot of single high (one safety over top), but they help their guys. With guys that athletic that does make it tough on receivers," Smith said. "They're going to be more aggressive and use their natural ability."
Fortunately for Smith, he had good tutelage at the University of Maryland and credits former coach Ralph Friedgen.
"We ran a pro-style offense so therefore we had to understand to read and react to defenses. Defenses don't change much. It's nothing that I haven't seen in college," said Smith, who played four seasons at Maryland and was drafted by the Ravens in 2011. "It's really about understanding and reacting.
"Whenever I got pressed in college I'd burn them. They wouldn't really have safety help. ... Corners now get paid to stay in front of you. They're overall better. They're able to be more aggressive with certain schemes. They're going to win some, they're going to lose some."
