Ravens Beat Cowboys 34-31 in Brazil with 7-Second Game-Winning Drive
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 on Sunday during the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lamar Jackson engineered a rapid seven-second drive ending in Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal, lifting the Ravens to a 2-1 record in front of 72,792 fans at the Maracana.
Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers Execute Game-Winning Seven-Second Drive
Lamar Jackson orchestrated one of the shortest and most memorable drives in franchise history during the closing seconds at the Maracana. With the game tied at 31, Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and immediately called a timeout with one second remaining on the clock. That quick thinking set the stage for Tyler Loop to drill a 56-yard field goal through the uprights.
"Everyone was on the same timing," Lamar Jackson said of the final sequence. "The line provided solid blocking, Zay executed his pass pattern brilliantly and my job was simply to get him the ball. He caught it and as soon as he got down, I was like ‘Please see me ref!’"
Ravens coach Jesse Minter praised the execution under pressure. "Unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay," Jesse Minter said. "Heads up on the time. Players train for those exact scenarios, anticipate them happening and when the moment arrived today our team was prepared."
Late-Game Drama Sets Up Dramatic Brazil Finish
The wild finish materialized only after a chaotic final minute of regulation. Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins was penalized for pass interference with 23 seconds left when his arms locked with CeeDee Lamb, handing Dallas the ball at the Baltimore 2-yard line. Following an incomplete pass and a false start penalty that pushed the Cowboys back to the 7-yard line, Dallas settled for Brandon Aubrey’s 23-yard field goal. That kick tied the score at 31 with just seven seconds left on the clock, before Jackson and Flowers answered on the ensuing possession.
"I am hurting, they are hurting," Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said regarding the demanding travel and tough outcome. "It is a long trip (to Rio), but no one cares. We also have a long flight back."
Derrick Henry Reaches Career Rushing Milestone
Baltimore running back Derrick Henry paved the way offensively with 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Early in the second quarter, Henry recorded a 5-yard run that propelled him past Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson—who finished with 13,259 yards—moving Henry into ninth place on the NFL’s career rushing list.
Henry maintains a trajectory that could allow him to surpass Jerome Bettis (13,662 yards), LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684 yards), and Curtis Martin (14,101 yards) over the course of the season. Despite a dominant stretch that saw Baltimore claim a 24-13 lead in the third quarter, Dallas mounted a fierce comeback.
Cowboys Battle Back Behind Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb
Dallas erased a double-digit deficit in the second half. Dak Prescott connected with Jake Ferguson for a 19-yard touchdown, which atoned for an earlier turnover. A successful two-point conversion catch by CeeDee Lamb narrowed Baltimore’s lead to 24-21.
The Cowboys defense then stepped up when rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham penetrated the offensive line and stuffed Derrick Henry in the backfield on fourth-and-inches at the goal line. Capitalizing on that momentum, Dallas marched 96 yards, highlighted by a 49-yard reception from Lamb, culminating in a 9-yard touchdown run by KaVontae Turpin that gave the Cowboys a 28-24 advantage with under ten minutes remaining.
Baltimore responded late when Jackson hit rookie tight end Matt Hibner for a 2-yard touchdown to reclaim a 31-28 lead with 1:30 left, setting up the frantic final seconds.
International Field Conditions and Injury Updates
Concerns surrounded the natural grass playing surface at the Maracana heading into kickoff, following slippery turf issues during previous NFL games in Sao Paulo. However, the Rio de Janeiro grass appeared to hold up pretty well throughout the contest.
Both rosters sustained notable injuries during the physical matchup. Ravens tight end Mark Andrews exited in the first half with a hand injury but subsequently returned to action. For the Cowboys, safety Jalen Thompson departed in the second quarter due to a hamstring injury, while safety Markquese Bell left in the third quarter with dehydration before returning.
The Ravens (2-1) return home to host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday, while the Cowboys (1-2) travel to face the Houston Texans.