Three Keys for the 2026 Ravens to Take Down the Cowboys in Rio
The Baltimore Ravens are heading south to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to square off for a Week Three matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams enter the game with a 1-1 record. However, the Cowboys are coming off a victory over the Washington Commanders, while the Ravens are coming off a loss to the New Orleans Saints in their home opener, where they had to play without one of their key offensive weapons, receiver Zay Flowers, due to a nagging hamstring injury. The loss also saw Baltimore blow another fourth-quarter lead after leading 17-9 entering the final quarter last week. As a result, first-year head coach Jesse Minter and his coaching staff enter the game against Dallas with an extra level of pressure to get off the schneid and prove that Week Two’s loss against the Saints, and the way it happened, wasn’t a continued trend from past seasons, but simply a blip on the radar for the new era of Ravens football. If Baltimore has aspirations of having a happy flight home come Sunday night, three keys will go a long way toward determining whether they can come out on top against ‘America’s Team.’
Unleash Derrick Henry and Establish the Run Game
It might be an obvious note, but getting the run game going with veteran running back Derrick Henry and continuing to feed the beast for all four quarters without letting up will be crucial, especially after offensive coordinator Declan Doyle received criticism for moving away from the run game in last week’s loss against New Orleans. The biggest concern from last week was the fact that Baltimore moved away from the run game too early, with Henry only receiving the ball five times for 17 yards in the second half, following a first half where “King Henry” was productive with 11 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. Thus, getting the run game established against a vulnerable Cowboys defensive front, which has allowed a staggering 173.5 rushing yards through two weeks, will be key. The 32-year-old back can also get excited by the fact that the last time these two teams matched up, back in 2024, he dominated Dallas’ defense, going for 151 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-25 Ravens win. If Baltimore can stick with the rushing attack this time, they put themselves in a better position to emerge with the win, given the possible continued absence of Flowers due to his hamstring injury.
Limit Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ Passing Attack
The Baltimore secondary comes into this week’s matchup under immense pressure as they prepare to go up against a talented and explosive Cowboys passing game. Following a letdown in performance against the Saints, where second-year starter and former first-round pick Malaki Starks and Jaylin Hawkins were two of the weakest links, the Saints’ offense, led by quarterback Tyler Shough and receivers Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson, went off, scoring 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against the Ravens’ defense. Now, against the Cowboys, with receiver CeeDee Lamb and quarterback Dak Prescott leading the way, Baltimore’s defense will have a tough task going up against a Dallas offense that ranks first in third-down conversion percentage and scoring percentage per drive, along with being eighth in points per game at 28.5 through two weeks. If Baltimore can’t figure out an answer for the Cowboys’ passing game, it could be a long day at the office for the safeties and cornerbacks in Rio.
Handle the Historic Travel and Environment
An under-the-radar factor that could play a role in which team wins in Brazil is the historic travel schedule and environment of playing down in Rio de Janeiro. Both teams are facing a grueling cross-hemisphere trip, with Baltimore logging nearly 4,800 miles. Even though it’s only a one-hour time difference, the travel can still take a toll on the body as the players get used to a new environment, especially an international one, with the Ravens having left on Thursday for Brazil. Meanwhile, questionable field conditions that have popped up over the past week at the historic Maracanã Stadium have raised concerns about player safety and whether the game should still be played there. Given the amount of money that’s been poured into the game and advertising by the NFL, however, the possibility of moving the game to a neutral site or the Cowboys’ stadium in Dallas was unlikely. Thus, whichever team can handle the on-field conditions and hyped atmosphere the best could play an important role in determining which team’s focus is at its best come game time.
