The Cowboys had the game where they wanted it, tied at 31 with only seven seconds left, and still walked out of Brazil with a loss.
Baltimore didn’t need much. Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers on one pass, Tyler Loop followed with a 56-yard field goal, and the Ravens escaped Rio with the win. What made it possible was a decision Dallas didn’t have to make.
Instead of squibbing the kickoff and forcing the Ravens to burn precious time bringing it back, the Cowboys chose to send Brandon Aubrey’s kick into the end zone. That touchback gave Baltimore every second back, and with only seven seconds on the clock, that was enough.
Zay Flowers caught the ball and Lamar Jackson called a timeout with one second remaining. It was so close it needed a review. If the Ravens even had to field a squib kick, they wouldn't have had that opportunity.
Brian Schottenheimer is the head coach. Nick Sorensen is the special teams coordinator. One of them made the decision not to squib the ball.
It’s the kind of choice that looks bad in real time and looks even worse after the result. The Cowboys had the chance to take time off the clock and didn’t do it. Baltimore got the cleanest possible setup, and Lamar made them pay.
The finish also echoed another late-game blunder fans know too well. It’s also the same decision Sean McDermott did when the Bills allowed Mahomes and the Chiefs to set up a field goal with 13 seconds to go.
Mahomes in 13 seconds. Lamar in 7 seconds. And two head coaches who made the wrong decision.
In Other News...
Ravens Survived Absolute Chaos And Still Closed It Out
The Ravens opened the season with plenty of drama, then found a way to leave Rio de Janeiro with a win. Baltimore outlasted the Cowboys 34-31 in the NFLs first game in the city, and it took a late Lamar Jackson connection with Zay Flowers to put the game in position for Tyler Loops 56-yard field goal as time expired.
For a game that featured big moments from Jackson, Derrick Henry and Dak Prescott, the finish still belonged to Baltimores composure. The Ravens were in a see-saw night from the start, but when the pressure spiked late, Jackson found Flowers for 27 yards and Loop delivered the kick that turned a wild international showcase into a season-opening escape. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Escape Brought Back The Late-Game Anxiety Fans Know Too Well
For much of Sunday, the Ravens looked like a team still trying to sort out the rough edges that showed up early in the season. Baltimore found enough offense to stay in front, but the game never felt fully settled, especially with the offensive line under pressure and Dallas finding openings against a defense that could not quite put the clamps on the Cowboys.
By the fourth quarter, the familiar tension had returned, with Dallas mounting a late push and forcing Baltimore into another high-wire finish. Tyler Loop bailed out the Ravens with a 56-yard field goal to seal the 34-31 win, a result that preserved the victory but also left plenty for the staff to study after another game that asked a little too much of everyone in purple. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Safety Plans Suddenly Feel Less Settled For Week 3
The Ravens added KVon Wallace from the practice squad ahead of their Week 3 matchup with the Cowboys, a move that underlines how quickly the safety picture can change in Baltimore. On paper, the position group is one of the deeper spots on the roster, but injuries and some early performance concerns have pushed the team to reinforce it with another experienced body.
Jesse Minter still has flexibility with how he deploys the safeties, and that could make Wallace more than just emergency insurance if the game demands it. His role will likely depend on the flow against Dallas, but the fact Baltimore felt the need to elevate him suggests the plan back there is a little less settled than it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]