The Cowboys are heading into Week 3 with a trip to Brazil that comes with no real comfort, even if this one is technically listed as a home game for Dallas. The bigger issue is what the setting could do to the football itself. With questionable field conditions in play, this matchup has the feel of a game where execution matters even more than usual.
And execution is going to be tested from the jump, because Baltimore brings a rushing attack that can stress Dallas in a hurry. The Cowboys tried to shore up their run defense this offseason by bringing in Christian Parker and outside players, but the results haven’t shown up yet.
Through two weeks, Dallas is still giving up 173.5 rushing yards per game, which ranks 30th in the league. That’s not the kind of number that makes you feel better about lining up against Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, who lead the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing attack and are averaging 83.5 rushing yards per game.
On the other side, CeeDee Lamb is coming off a huge game against the Commanders and will once again be a focal point. Baltimore saw him last time these teams met, when he finished with four catches for 67 yards, no touchdowns and a fumble.
This version of the matchup looks different, though, because the Ravens can’t load up all their attention on Lamb with George Pickens also needing to be accounted for. If Dallas moves Lamb around, that could open up cleaner looks for him or create isolated chances for Pickens.
That kind of flexibility could work in the Cowboys’ favor.
There’s also a path for Dallas to create pressure on Baltimore’s front. The Ravens are allowing a 44% pressure rate through the first two weeks, which ranks third-worst in the NFL, and their interior has been exposed after letting All-Pro C Tyler Linderbaum walk in free agency.
Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams haven’t played to their usual level so far, but this is the kind of matchup where both could make a real impact. And with Ronnie Stanley out, Donovan Ezeiruaku and Malachi Lawrence could also find some success off the edge.
In Other News...
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Dak Problem Before Rio Kickoff
The Cowboys are about to make history in Rio de Janeiro, but the buildup to their regular-season game at Maracan Stadium has already turned into a debate over more than just travel and logistics. Players have noted that the field was very soft, which is enough to make anyone around the team pay closer attention to how the surface will hold up once Dallas and Baltimore actually take the field.
Even before kickoff, though, Cowboys fans found another reason to grumble. Social media lit up after caricatures of Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson were displayed at the stadium, and plenty of viewers thought Prescotts version did him no favors. It is a small detail in a big international showcase, but for a fan base that already watches every Dak storyline closely, it was the kind of pregame image that got people talking fast. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Brazil Game Suddenly Comes With A Serious Field Concern
The Cowboys trip to Brazil for their upcoming game has picked up an unexpected wrinkle, and it has nothing to do with the opponent. NFLPA executive director JC Tretter raised concerns about the field quality at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, pointing to problems with traction and stability after recent heavy rainfall and a long soccer season have taken their toll on the surface.
Maracana is not an NFL facility, and the leagues previous games in Brazil were played at a different venue with a smaller capacity, which only sharpens the scrutiny on how this one will hold up. Experts have already recommended reinforced stitching and other measures to improve the field, but the real question now is whether those fixes will be enough before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Defense Faces Its Biggest Early Test Against Lamar Jackson
The Cowboys pass rush has been active enough to create disruption in the first two games of the 2026 season, but the finishing touch has not been there. Dallas has produced 31 pressures and 10 hits, yet only two sacks, and the early result has been a defense that has had trouble turning heat into clean stops. That has mattered even more because opposing quarterbacks have found space to run, with Dallas allowing 135 rushing yards to the position over those two games.
Now comes Baltimore and Lamar Jackson, the kind of matchup that can expose even small cracks in a front sevens discipline. Jacksons mobility and scrambling ability make him a difficult target for any defense, but especially one that has already shown some frustration getting quarterbacks to the ground. For Dallas, this looks like the first real stress test of how well its pass rush can hold up when the passer is also a threat to turn a broken play into a big gain. [Read more 🡒]