NFL in Rio: Ravens Edge Cowboys 34-31 in Front of 72,792 Fans
The NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro came down to its final play, and the Baltimore Ravens made the most of it.
Tyler Loop drilled a 56-yard field goal as time expired Sunday to give the Ravens a 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Maracanã Stadium. The victory lifted Baltimore to 2-1 and dropped Dallas to 1-2 in a back-and-forth game that featured three lead changes in the final two minutes.
A 7-Second Drive for the Win
After Dallas tied the game with seven seconds left, the Ravens had almost no time to work with. Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers and alertly called a timeout with 1 second remaining, setting up Loop's game-winner. It capped a stunning 7-second drive, one of the shortest and most memorable in franchise history.
"Zay ran a great route and I just had to deliver the baby," Jackson said after the game.
Loop, a product of Dallas-area Lovejoy High School, was swarmed by teammates in a wild celebration on the Maracanã field. The finish also made history: it was the first game of the Super Bowl era in which both teams kicked field goals in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter, according to ESPN Research.
Dallas Came Up Just Short
The Cowboys nearly won it in regulation. Jackson had given Baltimore a 31-28 lead with a 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Matt Hibner with 1:30 remaining, but that left Dak Prescott enough time for one more drive.
The biggest play of that drive was a controversial one. With 23 seconds left, Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins appeared to be in position for an interception, but his arms tangled with CeeDee Lamb's. Officials flagged Wiggins for pass interference, even though the CBS broadcast crew argued it should have been offensive pass interference on Lamb.
The penalty gave Dallas the ball at the Baltimore 2, but a false start on tight end Luke Schoonmaker backed the Cowboys up, and they settled for Brandon Aubrey's 23-yard field goal to tie it at 31.
How the Game Swung Before the Finish
Dallas raced out to a 10-0 lead after first-round rookie safety Caleb Downs stuffed Derrick Henry on a fourth-and-1, and Javonte Williams powered into the end zone after the turnover on downs. Henry answered with two rushing touchdowns on Baltimore's next two drives, and the Ravens led 17-13 at halftime.
Baltimore pushed its lead to 24-13 in the third quarter before Dallas rallied. Prescott found Jake Ferguson for a 19-yard touchdown, and Lamb made a nice catch on the two-point conversion to cut the gap to 24-21.
The Ravens then had a chance to go back up by 10, but rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham knifed through the line and stopped Henry for no gain on fourth-and-inches at the goal line. Dallas followed with a 96-yard drive that included a 49-yard pass to Lamb, and KaVontae Turpin's 9-yard touchdown run gave the Cowboys the lead before Baltimore's late answer.
Jackson finished 15 of 20 for 186 yards and two touchdowns and added 50 rushing yards. Henry ran for 89 yards and two scores on 26 carries. For Dallas, Prescott threw for 276 yards and a touchdown, Lamb caught seven passes for 112 yards and Williams rushed for 98 yards and a score. The Cowboys outgained the Ravens 415 to 378, but a blocked field goal and a controversial lost fumble proved costly.
A Historic Night at the Maracanã
The game drew an announced crowd of 72,792 to one of soccer's most iconic venues, which has hosted multiple men's World Cup finals. It was the NFL's third game in Brazil, following games in São Paulo in 2024 and 2025, and the first ever played in Rio.
Pop star Ricky Martin performed the halftime show, adding to the event atmosphere. The Cowboys served as the home team, playing their first international game since 2014, while the Ravens made their first trip outside London.
Brazil is home to more than 36 million NFL fans, and the league has committed to bringing at least three regular-season games to Rio over the next five years. When the matchup was announced, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said South America is home to some of the world's most passionate sports fans.
Sunday's finish gave those fans plenty to cheer about, and a strong case for bringing the NFL back.
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