The Ravens are headed into Week 3 as three-point favorites over the Cowboys, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, but the setting makes this one feel anything but routine.
Baltimore’s trip to Brazil comes after a rough start at home, where a big opening expectation turned into a 24-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Dallas, meanwhile, arrives off a much cleaner performance, rolling past the Washington Commanders 34-17.
On paper, the Cowboys are the designated home team. In reality, both clubs are crossing an ocean to play in a foreign stadium, with Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro serving as the backdrop.
That wrinkle matters even more because Dallas may have the edge in the stands. The Cowboys’ global brand could put more of their fans in the building, but it remains to be seen whether that translates into anything resembling a true home-field advantage.
There’s also the field itself. Reports from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and A to Z Sports’ Mauricio Rodriguez raised concerns about the playing surface, and the NFL has pushed back on those worries. Still, both teams may hold off on final decisions for injured players until they see the field in person, particularly when lower-body issues are involved.
Baltimore’s injury situation already bears watching. Wide receiver Zay Flowers did not practice on Sunday because of a hamstring injury, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley left the game with a toe issue and did not return. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, dealing with a neck injury, and Teddye Buchanan, who is working through a knee injury, could also face a difficult assignment returning to action after months away, especially on a long international trip and a potentially shaky surface.
Dallas has been healthier overall, aside from left guard Tyler Smith, who landed on injured reserve with a thumb injury before the season really got rolling. But the Cowboys have already taken a hit in the secondary over the first two weeks.
Cornerback Cobie Durant is out with a hamstring injury, while safeties Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke are also sidelined, with arm and foot injuries respectively.
That leaves Dallas’ defensive backfield under pressure against a Ravens passing game that has been sharp early. Baltimore enters the matchup ranked third at 8.3 yards per play and ninth with +0.16 EPA/dropback, which puts plenty of stress on a Cowboys secondary already missing bodies.
In Other News...
Ravens Already Have A Passing Depth Concern Behind Mark Andrews
The passing game behind Mark Andrews is already looking thin after Week 2, when Baltimores rookie tight ends Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas finished with no receptions and no targets. Andrews did his part with six catches for 49 yards, but the bigger issue was the gap underneath him, especially with Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar no longer in those roles.
For a team that leans on tight ends as part of its passing structure, the early drop-off is hard to ignore. Late-round rookies are not expected to carry much of the load right away, but the Ravens need more from Hibner and Cuevas if they want the depth of that unit to match the rest of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Malaki Starks Is Giving Ravens A Defensive Problem They Can't Ignore
The early part of the 2026 season has put Malaki Starks in an uncomfortable spotlight for Baltimore, and not in the way the Ravens hoped when they turned to the second-year safety for a bigger defensive role. Starks has been on the field for every snap, but his recent play has not matched that workload, with coverage issues and missed tackles showing up again in the game against the Saints.
For a defense that has leaned on him to help steady the back end, the concern is no longer just about one rough outing. The Ravens now have to weigh whether they keep pushing forward with his current responsibilities or start adjusting the picture around him, because the gap between what he is being asked to do and what he has delivered is becoming too hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Secondary Suddenly Has A Problem Dallas Could Expose
The Ravens entered the season believing their secondary would help define the defense, but the first two weeks have raised some early questions in coverage. Recent issues against the Saints put a spotlight on a unit that was supposed to be a strength, and rookie head coach Jesse Minter has already emphasized the need for cleaner play on the back end as Baltimore tries to settle things down.
Malaki Starks is a big part of that picture in his second season, and the Ravens are counting on him to respond after a rough stretch. The concern is not just individual execution but how Baltimores frequent nickel and dime looks have held up against offenses willing to challenge them underneath and downfield, a problem that could matter in a hurry with the Cowboys next on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]