If you’re looking for the game that should get the biggest national spotlight in Week 3, the answer jumps off the page: Ravens-Cowboys in Rio.
Baltimore and Dallas are set to meet Sunday, Sept. 27 at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and it has the kind of star power that travels anywhere. Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott headline the matchup, while Derrick Henry, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens add even more juice for the international crowd.
Both teams come in at 1-1, but they’ve gotten there in different ways. The Ravens are trying to recover from a surprising home loss to the New Orleans Saints, while the Cowboys are fresh off an NFC East win over the Washington Commanders.
Baltimore’s offense has been rolling early behind Henry and Jackson, and Henry recently climbed to third on the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdowns list, trailing only Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson. The Ravens are also hoping for help at receiver soon after Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane sat out Week 2.
Dallas has been able to score, too. Prescott and the Cowboys have put up 57 points through two games, so the issue isn’t getting on the board. The bigger question is how the Cowboys’ reworked defense handles Jackson’s dual-threat ability.
There are other games worth circling in Week 3, starting with Bills-Chargers. That AFC matchup pits Josh Allen and Buffalo, which is unbeaten through two weeks, against Justin Herbert and the 0-2 Chargers.
The Jets-Lions game, Patriots-Jaguars, and Raiders-Saints also offer plenty of intrigue, but Ravens-Cowboys feels like the clear centerpiece of the weekend.
In Other News...
Bills Rookie Skyler Bell Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Matter
With D.J. Moore and Keon Coleman both dealing with injuries heading into Week 3 against the Chargers, a door has opened for Skyler Bell that did not exist when the season began. The fourth-round pick was a healthy scratch for Buffalos first two games, but the Bills now appear likely to have him active, giving the rookie his first real chance to get onto the field and show why the team spent a draft pick on him.
Bells opportunity comes at a time when Buffalo needs answers at receiver, and it puts a spotlight on what he can offer beyond just filling a uniform spot. The Bills have spent two weeks without seeing him in game action, so this could become more than a routine activation if he can carve out a role while the receiver group is thin. [Read more 🡒]
Bills May Be Watching A Year Two Breakout Up Front
Deone Walker has wasted little time making his presence felt through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, giving Buffalo another interior defender who can change a game in a hurry. The second-year defensive tackle has already logged a sack, nine quarterback pressures, four tackles and three batted passes, a disruptive start that stands out even for a Bills front trying to build consistency up front.
Joe Brady has noticed the jump, praising Walkers progress and the way he fits into the defensive scheme after what was already an encouraging rookie year. A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Walker earned All-Rookie honors last season, and now he looks like a player the Bills may be counting on for more than just depth as the year unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Receiver Move Suddenly Matters More Than Fans Realized
The Bills made a quiet but meaningful roster tweak by signing Greg Dortch to the 53-man roster after elevating him from the practice squad. On the surface, it is the kind of move that can get buried in the shuffle of a long season, but it comes at a time when Buffalo is dealing with uncertainty at receiver and trying to keep its passing game stocked for the next stretch.
Keon Coleman and DJ Moore are both questionable for the upcoming game because of injuries, which gives Dortch a chance to matter sooner rather than later. The Bills also placed defensive back Jordan Hancock on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, so this is a week where the roster has already been forced to absorb some hits and adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]