Dallas Cowboys fell 34 to 31 in Rio
The Dallas Cowboys lost 34 to 31 to the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 27, 2026. The game was played at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. It was the NFL’s third game in Brazil and first in Rio.
Baltimore improved to 2-1 while Dallas fell to 1-2. Tyler Loop kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired. The announced crowd was 72,792.
NFL fans urged Cowboys and Ravens to boycott
Fans on X urged Cowboys and Ravens players to refuse to play because of concerns about the Maracanã Stadium field. Some called for a boycott before Sunday’s game. However, neither team had plans to boycott.
Dr. Jesse Morse called the field a major problem and warned about possible injuries. He said one bad move could cause a season-ending injury. The game remained scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.
NFLPA said the Rio field needed traction
NFLPA executive director JC Tretter raised concerns about the Maracanã Stadium field on Sept. 25. He said loose and patchy grass could cause excessive slipping. He described it mainly as a playability and performance issue.
Union experts recommended reinforced stitching to improve traction and stability. Equipment was brought in to reinforce as much of the field as possible. Tretter said growth alone cannot be the goal for international games.
NFL says Maracanã field passed its tests
NFL field director Nick Pappas said on Sept. 26 that the Maracanã field passed required testing. An independent inspector checked the surface with NFL and NFLPA representatives. Pappas said the field met their joint standards.
Crews used GrassMaster stitching machines to improve the field’s stability. Workers also used mowers and scissors to trim high grass. Pappas said rain, heavy field use, and seasonal grass changes had made preparation difficult.
Dallas Cowboys tested the field on Saturday
The Cowboys visited Maracanã Stadium on Sept. 26 for a walkthrough. Players inspected the grass before Sunday’s game against Baltimore. The visit gave them a chance to evaluate the playing surface.
Dallas treated the trip strictly as a business visit. Players could leave the hotel only for scheduled team activities. The Ravens took a less restrictive approach during their stay in Rio.
NFL source told players to sit if unsafe
NFL insider Josina Anderson reported on Sept. 27 that a league source addressed the field concerns. The source said players should not play if they believed the surface was unsafe. The decision ultimately belonged to the players.
Despite the concerns, there were no plans to cancel the game before kickoff. Reports discussed possible scheduling complications if players refused to play. The Cowboys and Ravens ultimately played as scheduled in Rio.
Baltimore Ravens led 17 to 13 at halftime
Baltimore recovered from a slow start by scoring 17 unanswered points. Derrick Henry scored two rushing touchdowns before halftime. The Ravens entered the break leading Dallas 17 to 13.
Lamar Jackson found Chris Moore for a 4-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter. The score extended Baltimore’s lead to 24 to 13. Dallas then began its comeback from an 11-point deficit.
Dallas Cowboys rallied to lead 28 to 24
The Cowboys stopped Derrick Henry on 4th and goal early in the 4th quarter. Dallas then drove 96 yards in 7 plays. KaVontae Turpin’s 9-yard touchdown run gave Dallas a 28 to 24 lead.
Javonte Williams rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry against Baltimore. The performance followed 2 difficult weeks for Dallas’ running game.
Baltimore Ravens won with a 56 yard kick
Brandon Aubrey kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 31. A false start had pushed Dallas back from the 2-yard line. Aubrey made the kick with 7 seconds remaining.
After a touchback, Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers. Baltimore called a timeout with one second remaining. Tyler Loop then made a 56-yard field goal to win 34 to 31.
Fun fact: Maracanã Stadium served as the central stage for the 2016 Rio Olympics, hosting both ceremonial bookends and the historic men’s football final
Baltimore Ravens’ final drive lasted 7 seconds
According to Stathead, Baltimore’s final drive made NFL history. It was the first multi-play game-winning drive under 8 seconds since at least 2001. ESPN called it the latest such drive to start since 1978.
The game had 5 lead changes and 3 scores in the final 90 seconds. Loop had missed a 44-yard game-winning kick last season. That miss ended Baltimore’s playoff hopes.
Maracanã Stadium field held up in the game
The Associated Press reported that the footing appeared sound at Maracanã Stadium. Players showed minimal slipping or tripping overall. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said the field held up fine.
Some skill players on both teams still slipped during the game. Pre-game footage also showed pieces of stitched grass pulling up easily. Lamar Jackson said Baltimore was not concerned about the field.
Dallas Cowboys fell to 1 and 2 after Rio
Dallas dropped to 1 and 2 and now travels to face the Houston Texans in Week 4, 7 days after the Rio game. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said that the Cowboys suffered many injuries in Rio.
Cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. was injured in the second half, according to the Dallas Morning News. Dallas allowed 10 points in the final 1:30 of the game, and Schottenheimer said he felt bad for the players.
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NFL has 9 international games this season
The NFL scheduled a record 9 international games across 4 continents this season. Brazil’s first 2 NFL games were played in São Paulo in 2024 and 2025. Both took place at Corinthians Arena.
Tretter said 2 of the NFL’s 3 games in Brazil had field issues. Eagles and Packers players struggled with traction during the first game in 2024. Several players changed their cleats because of the slippery surface.
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Should NFL players have the final say on whether to play when a field looks unsafe, or should the league decide? Share your view in the comments.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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