The Cowboys’ trip to Rio comes with a pretty clear blueprint for both sides: if Dallas can’t slow down the Ravens on the ground, the rest of the game may never really matter.
That starts with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, a nasty one-two punch that has already given the Cowboys’ defense problems. Dallas has spent the first two weeks getting gashed by mobile quarterbacks, with Jaxson Dart doing damage in Week 1 and Jayden Daniels running for 69 yards by halftime before his injury. Now comes Jackson, who has already added 74 rushing yards on 11 carries, alongside Henry, who has piled up 212 yards and four touchdowns over the opening two weeks.
That’s where this game tilts for Dallas. The “home” team in Rio has to keep Henry from building momentum and force Jackson into a more controlled game.
The Cowboys will likely need Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark to attack more vertically instead of sitting in the gap-and-a-half scheme they’ve been using. Henry is the kind of runner who punishes hesitation, and Baltimore should have no trouble trying to feed him off tackle to get him rolling.
Dallas has to hit him early, ideally before he gets three yards downfield.
Jackson is a different challenge, but the same issue applies. When he breaks structure, he usually wants to get outside and race away rather than run through traffic.
That means Dallas’ edge defenders have to stay disciplined and keep him contained. After what the Cowboys have already endured against mobile passers, the Ravens may be eager to get Jackson involved with more designed runs than they’ve used so far.
If Dallas is going to have a shot, the run defense has to tighten up immediately against the best rushing attack it has seen this season.
The other big issue is getting off the field on third down, but the real trouble for Dallas has been setting itself up for those third downs in the first place. The numbers last week against Washington told the story.
When it was third-and-four or longer, Dallas held up fairly well, allowing conversions at a 37.5% clip. When the Commanders faced third-and-short, though, the defense got buried, giving up an 83.3% conversion rate.
That fits the bigger pattern. Dallas has actually been decent on first down, ranking eighth in the NFL at -0.08 EPA/play allowed according to SumerSports.
Second down has been the disaster zone. There, the Cowboys fall all the way to 32nd at 0.35 EPA/play allowed.
So the task is simple, even if the execution won’t be. If Dallas can win on second down and force Jackson to throw on time in obvious passing situations, the defense’s chances improve fast. Let Baltimore live in third-and-short, and the Ravens can keep dictating the pace.
Special teams could also swing this one in a hurry. The hidden yards matter here, especially with the long trip, concerns about Maracanã’s grass field, and injuries on both teams. Baltimore’s kickoff unit ranks 29th, giving up 32 yards per return attempt through two weeks, which opens the door for KaVontae Turpin to use his speed and maybe flip field position for Dallas.
The Cowboys have the edge on the other side of the kicking game, too. Their kickoff unit ranks second in the NFL, allowing just 20.56 yards per return.
Brandon Aubrey’s “dirty ball” kickoff has already caused problems for return men, with the ball hitting the ground on multiple kick return attempts last week. Aubrey plans to keep using that approach, and it was a real factor against Washington.
In a game like this, the cleanest team may be the one that wins. Penalties, missed assignments, and self-inflicted mistakes could decide it. And if Dallas can steal enough hidden yards while keeping Henry and Jackson from taking over on the ground, it gives the Cowboys a path out of Rio with a win.
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 🡒]