Dak Prescott had reason to think Dallas had it sealed. Instead, the moment he was caught talking trash about the Ravens turned into the kind of ending quarterbacks don’t forget.
In a wild 34-31 loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro, the Cowboys and Ravens turned Maracanã Stadium into a full-blown shootout. The game swung back and forth all night, with neither defense able to really shut the other down, and for a stretch it looked like Dallas might leave with a big win in front of 72,792 fans.
Prescott was right in the middle of the comeback. He completed 25 of 40 passes for 276 yards and threw a late touchdown to Jake Ferguson as the Cowboys battled back in the second half. Then Brandon Aubrey appeared to push the game toward overtime when he nailed a 23-yard field goal with seven seconds left.
That’s when the Ravens flipped the script.
Prescott had drawn attention for what he said late in the game after spotting a breakdown in Baltimore’s defensive communication. He told his teammates the Ravens desperately needed to stop the clock.
But Baltimore answered immediately. Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers on a deep 27-yard throw over the middle, giving the Ravens a chance to use their final timeout with one second remaining.
From there, Tyler Loop came on for the game-winning kick attempt, and Prescott’s words suddenly had a very different feel to them. What looked like a Dallas edge turned into a Ravens escape, with Baltimore using that timeout to finish the job.
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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 🡒]