The Ravens’ secondary doesn’t need a reminder of what a rough Sunday looks like. Week 2 already delivered that lesson, and it was ugly enough to linger: Baltimore kept bending, kept bending, and eventually broke. The biggest problem came on the back end, where the defense struggled to erase explosive plays and failed to close out drives.
Now comes a far tougher test. Dallas brings a passing game that can punish even the smallest mistake, and Baltimore is walking into it after allowing Tyler Shough to throw for 252 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side, Dak Prescott was sharp last week against Washington, piling up 279 passing yards and four touchdowns. That’s not the kind of setup a shaky secondary wants to see.
The good news for Baltimore is that the talent is there. Nate Wiggins, Marlon Humphrey, and Kyle Hamilton have all started the 2026 season on the right foot.
The bigger issue has been the safety play from Malaki Starks and Jaylinn Hawkins, the two defenders New Orleans repeatedly went after with success in Week 2. That’s the kind of vulnerability Dallas will happily attack with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens on the other end.
This is also a new coaching staff, and that matters. Even for a defense loaded with ability, some players are still adjusting to fresh systems, and the Saints made that obvious. The next step is simple enough to say and harder to pull off: communicate cleaner and play with more trust.
Kyle Hamilton said as much Wednesday.
“It’s just little communication things we can do better as a team, and just playing confident,” Hamilton said. “You can communicate perfectly, but if you don’t execute the right way, communication doesn’t really matter. It’s all of that combined into one.”
That confidence piece looms large here. Prescott, Lamb, and Pickens don’t need much encouragement to press an advantage. If Baltimore looks hesitant or disjointed, Dallas can turn that into a long afternoon in a hurry.
The Cowboys’ passing talent was on full display in 2025, when Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns. Pickens topped the receiver group with 93 catches for 1,429 yards, while Lamb added 75 receptions and 1,077 yards.
Baltimore probably won’t shut that trio down. But it can make life harder on them. If the Ravens clean up the communication, eliminate the indecision, and get the secondary back in sync, they give themselves a real shot to leave with a winning record.
In Other News...
Ravens Brazil Game Just Got An Unexpected Halftime Twist
The Ravens trip to Brazil is getting a bigger spotlight than just the football itself, with Ricky Martin set to headline the halftime show when Baltimore faces the Cowboys. Hell be joined onstage by Brazilian funk star Pedro Sampaio, adding a local flavor to a matchup already notable as part of the NFLs push into an international market.
For Baltimore, its another reminder that this game is being staged as more than a regular-season date on the schedule. Martin brings worldwide recognition and prior NFL halftime experience, while Sampaio gives the event a distinctly Brazilian edge, making the midgame break one more part of a night designed to feel like a showcase. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Dak Problem Before Rio Kickoff
The NFLs first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro is already drawing attention before kickoff, with the Cowboys and Ravens set to meet at Maracan Stadium in a showcase that feels as much about the setting as the matchup. Players who saw the field came away saying it was very soft, adding an immediate layer of uncertainty to a trip that was supposed to spotlight two of the leagues biggest brands on an international stage.
Off the field, the pregame presentation has also stirred conversation, especially among Cowboys fans who took issue with the caricatures of Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson displayed around the stadium. Prescotts likeness in particular drew plenty of criticism online for how unflattering it looked, giving Dallas supporters something else to gripe about before the football even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Week 1 Opener Suddenly Has A Serious Brazil Problem
The Ravens Week 1 trip to Brazil is drawing some unexpected attention before either team takes the field, and it has nothing to do with travel or atmosphere. The Cowboys-Ravens matchup at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium has sparked concerns about the condition of the playing surface, with league and union officials already weighing in on the work being done to improve traction and stability.
NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter and NFL field director Nick Pappas have both addressed the efforts underway to get the surface ready, underscoring just how closely this one is being watched. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has said he feels confident about playing there, but for Baltimore, the bigger question is whether the field is going to be in acceptable shape by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]