The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens are set to make history this weekend at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, but one of the first things fans noticed wasn’t the landmark setting or even the field conditions. It was the giant tifo inside the stadium, featuring caricatures of both starting quarterbacks - and Dak Prescott’s version did not exactly land softly.
The artwork was meant to hype up the NFL’s first regular-season game in Rio, but the reaction online quickly turned into a roast session. Lamar Jackson’s image drew attention too, though Prescott’s caricature took the biggest beating from Cowboys fans who felt he was portrayed especially harshly.
“They did both these QBs dirty,” Tom Downey wrote. “But especially big forehead Dak.”
That was the general vibe across social media, where fans kept circling back to Prescott’s exaggerated features. Some asked bluntly what the image was supposed to be, while another post flatly said, “That’s not Dak bro😭😭😭😭😭”
Others fixated on the details, from the oversized forehead to the bags under Prescott’s eyes, with one person joking that maybe the long trip had him looking a little jet-lagged. A few fans even said the caricature looked more like someone else entirely, including Carlos Boozer and Aaron Davis from Into The Spider-Verse.
Even with the jokes, the tifo was only part of the conversation heading into Sunday’s game. There have also been concerns about the field at Maracanã, which was described as being in rough shape before the weekend. The NFL brought in field experts, but players walking the surface Saturday reportedly found it incredibly soft, raising more questions about how the field will hold up.
The Cowboys and Ravens will kick off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. EST on CBS.
Both teams enter at 1-1. Dallas opened with a loss to the New York Giants before beating the Washington Commanders in Week 2.
Baltimore beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1, then dropped a close game to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
Baltimore is favored, but Prescott may have gotten a little extra motivation from the artwork that greeted him in Rio.
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Ravens Fans Have A Real Worry Before Lamar Jackson Takes The Field
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For Baltimore, the concern is obvious with Lamar Jackson set to take the field on a surface that has already raised alarms for players, fans and even local soccer athletes. It is the kind of pregame issue that can linger well beyond the opening whistle, especially in a game where footing and field quality could shape how both teams are able to play. [Read more 🡒]