It’s a tall task for Dallas from a travel standpoint, and that’s before you even consider the challenge the Cowboys’ opponent presents. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry combine for one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in the sport, which could be a large mismatch for a Cowboys defense that has struggled to stop the run so far this year.
With the Ravens coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Saints, it’s a battle of 1-1 squads looking to get above .500 in the early stages of the 2026 season.
The Dallas Morning News’ columnists and beat writers gave their predictions for Sunday’s game in Rio de Janeiro below.
Never a good time to have three members of the secondary fighting injuries and missing practice. A week that involves chasing Lamar Jackson and tackling Derrick Henry after he gets through the first wave seems particularly troubling. On the other hand, if Dak Prescott and the Cowboys receivers can’t do what Tyler Shough, Chris Olave and the Saints did in Baltimore last Sunday, what is Dallas paying them for? A breakout game from Pickens saves the day.
This just isn’t a great matchup for the Cowboys. Running quarterbacks have been a thorn in the side of the defense so far. And if Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels were thorns, then Lamar Jackson is a crown of them. Speaking of crowns: King Henry won’t be easy, either. If the Cowboys win it’ll be impressive.
The Cowboys are at their best in the controlled environment of AT&T Stadium. The game in Rio de Janeiro, with questions about the grass playing surface at Maracaña Stadium, is anything but a controlled environment. The Cowboys’ defense continues to struggle against strong running teams, especially mobile quarterbacks. That’s the Ravens’ bread and butter. It’s just difficult to see how the Cowboys bring a victory home.
More than 5,000 miles and 10 hours in the air to reach Rio de Janeiro will be an endurance test for the Cowboys, who will arrive in Brazil as the designated home team. The Ravens’ tough defense has always been their trademark, and they enter the game ranked as the league’s seventh-best defensive unit, allowing just 274 yards per game. Dak Prescott is playing at an elite level and will find a way to make the long flight back to Dallas a pleasant one.
Particularly under the watchful gaze of Christ the Redeemer, there is no hiding the fact that the Cowboys can’t run the ball or stop the run. And that is a bad identity when you play a physical team like the Ravens, built by the guy who just rebuilt the Giants. Christian Parker might think about a spy on Lamar Jackson, too.
You can change the venue but it won’t change what the Cowboys’ defense has dealt with in the early stages of the season: inconsistency. The defense is getting better but its problems stopping the run, getting sacks and getting teams off the field on third downs will continue. This game might be high-scoring just because of the strong Cowboys passing game. Yet, the Ravens are just better, at least on this day.