4 issues the Ravens must correct before facing Cowboys in Brazil

Though it may seem like the sky is falling, it isn't. The Baltimore Ravens are 1-1, not 0-2. There is no reason for panic after one disappointing Sunday afternoon.

At the same time, several lessons can be taken from their Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints . The frustrating part for Baltimore is that many of the mistakes were self-inflicted.

The Ravens led 17-9 entering the fourth quarter. They had opportunities to extend the lead. They had opportunities to put the game away. Instead, New Orleans left Baltimore with a 24-17 victory . With a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil ahead, here are four issues the Ravens must correct before Week 3.

Tyler Loop can't be a roller-coaster ride.

No, Tyler Loop hasn't been awful. Yes, there is a reasonable argument that his missed field goal against New Orleans would have been good if it hadn't been tipped at the line of scrimmage. Sometimes special teams plays don't go your way.

Still, a miss is a miss, and questions remain. The simplest way to measure confidence in a kicker is to ask one question: If the Ravens need a field goal to win in the final seconds against Dallas, how comfortable are you with Loop jogging onto the field?

The answer probably differs depending on who you ask, but Baltimore needs that answer to become unanimous sooner rather than later. The Ravens have been spoiled by elite kicking for years. Whether fair or unfair, every kick will be evaluated through that lens.

Ravens can't travel into Cowboys territory and come away with no points

This might have been Baltimore's most frustrating issue against New Orleans. The Ravens had multiple opportunities to add points and failed to capitalize. On their final possession, the Ravens reached the Saints ' 37-yard line before Lamar Jackson 's deep pass was intercepted by Julian Blackmon with 13 seconds remaining.

Earlier, Baltimore forced a three-and-out while holding a 17-9 lead. Sacks by Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green led to a bad punt, one that gave the Ravens the ball at the New Orleans 49-yard line late in the third quarter.

It felt like a perfect opportunity to create separation. Instead, a pre-snap penalty helped derail the drive. Baltimore went backward, and the possession ended with a punt.

Three drives that either started in or crossed into Saints territory produced zero points. Dallas has allowed opponents to move the football through two weeks. The Ravens will likely have scoring opportunities in Brazil. They cannot leave points on the field.

Ravens can't extend drives or give Cowboys extra opportunities

The penalty count wasn't outrageous against New Orleans. The timing, however, was devastating. After Chris Olave 's touchdown cut Baltimore's lead to two points, the Ravens appeared to stop the Saints on a two-point conversion attempt.

Then came a penalty that moved the ball closer to the goal line. New Orleans attempted the two-point conversion again and scored on the second opportunity. Travis Etienne Jr. tied the game at 17.

Those are the types of mistakes that swing momentum and change outcomes. Dallas has too many offensive weapons to be gifted additional chances. If Baltimore gets the Cowboys off the field, it has to stay that way.

Derrick Henry can't be given 16 carries in a close game.

Sixteen carries for 68 yards is a respectable afternoon for most running backs. Derrick Henry is not most running backs. Baltimore handed him the ball 16 times in a game that remained competitive throughout. Even more surprising was the decision to have him watch a critical short-yardage situation from the sideline. The Ravens ran the football only 22 times as a team.

Against an explosive Cowboys offense, ball control may become one of Baltimore's greatest weapons. Sustaining drives keeps Lamar Jackson on the field and limits opportunities for Dak Prescott and Dallas' playmakers. That starts with Henry.

Nobody is asking Baltimore to force-feed the future Hall of Famer. At the same time, it is hard to imagine many Ravens fans complaining if Henry gets 20 or more carries in Brazil. When one of the NFL's most physical runners is on your roster, close games should generally include a healthy dose of No. 22.

The Ravens don't need to reinvent themselves after one loss. They do, however, need to clean up the mistakes that helped turn a winnable game into a frustrating defeat. If they can accomplish that, Week 2 may ultimately serve as a valuable lesson rather than the beginning of a troubling trend.