The Cowboys came out of Brazil with a loss, but their defense did enough to keep the game from tilting even further out of reach.
That’s the part worth separating from the frustration. Dallas was beaten by the Baltimore Ravens in plenty of ways, and the defense was not average by any clean definition.
There were stretches where it was well below that. Still, the unit made enough plays to matter, and in a game like this, that counts for something.
Baltimore’s first two drives ended without points. The opening series stalled with a three-and-out, and the next one was stopped on fourth down, giving Dallas the ball at the Baltimore 30-yard line. The Cowboys turned that short field into a touchdown.
Later, the defense came through again on fourth down, this time with far more on the line. Dallas stopped Baltimore from its own one-yard line with a three-yard TFL, and that stop also set up a Cowboys touchdown. That’s the kind of sequence that usually puts a team in position to win.
Instead, the game swung the other way, and the defense is going to take heat for it. Fair enough.
Injuries were part of the picture, and the field was clearly a problem for everybody involved. Baltimore still got into field goal range with seven seconds left and won it there.
But laying the loss entirely at the feet of the defense misses what actually happened. The unit produced two fourth-down stops that the offense converted into touchdowns.
It also forced a second three-and-out after Dallas took a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter, handing the offense the ball with a chance to protect that margin. Dallas then went three and out, and Baltimore answered with a touchdown.
That’s the frustrating part for the Cowboys. The defense bent, and at times it broke, but when it needed to make stops, it did.
Twice. For a team that has said all along it only needs its defense to be average, that was at least a step in the right direction.
It wasn’t a perfect night in Brazil. It didn’t have to be.
It was enough. And after a loss like this, that’s one of the few encouraging signs Dallas can take with it.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Capitalized On A Cowboys Mistake Ravens Fans Wont Forget
The Cowboys decision-making on the final kickoff in Brazil became one of the biggest talking points from their loss to the Ravens, and not because of a missed tackle or a blown coverage. With the game hanging in the balance, Dallas chose to take the touchback instead of squibbing the kickoff, a move that left Baltimore with every second still available and gave Lamar Jackson the opening he needed to go right back to work.
For a team that prides itself on situational football, it was a costly choice from Brian Schottenheimers staff, including special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen, and it quickly drew criticism after the game. The sequence turned into a reminder that the smallest decisions can carry the biggest consequences, especially against a quarterback and offense built to take advantage when the door is left open. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Humiliated On Global Stage As Ravens Celebration Sparks Backlash
The Cowboys opened their season in a spotlight they could not escape, losing 34-31 to the Ravens in the NFLs first game at Rio de Janeiros Maracan stadium. Baltimore finished the job with Tyler Loops 56-yard field goal as time expired, while Derrick Henry powered the offense with two touchdowns and climbed into ninth place on the NFLs all-time rushing yards list.
Afterward, the Ravens added a little theater to the moment, celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldos signature Siuuu in front of a crowd that clearly enjoyed the gesture. It was the kind of global-stage scene the league had hoped for in Brazil, but for Dallas it only deepened an already bitter night and left the Cowboys looking for answers after a finish that played out in front of the whole world. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Let A Winnable Game Slip As New Concerns Keep Growing
A winnable game slipped away for the Cowboys on a last-second play against Baltimore, and the bigger frustration was how many chances they had to make it matter before that finish. The offense never quite found a steady rhythm, and the play-calling decisions from Brian Schottenheimer will be a talking point after missed scoring opportunities kept Dallas from putting real pressure on the Ravens.
On the other side of the ball, the defense had its own issues to sort through, with injuries continuing to complicate the picture. Baltimore also got important contributions from rookie defenders Jaishawn Barham and Caleb Downs, a reminder that while the Cowboys were trying to hold on in a tight game, the problems around them kept piling up. [Read more 🡒]