The time is near for a big international showdown as the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens travel to South America for a crucial Week 3 matchup in Brazil. The last time the Cowboys had an international game was in 2014 when they beat the Jaguars 31-17 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Foreign soil or not, it’s a big game for both teams as each of them is off to a 1-1 start and would like to return to the States with a winning record. The Cowboys are trending up after a regroup win over the Commanders,
while the Ravens started the season hot, but fell victim to a second-half letdown to the Saints last week.
This matchup will feature the top two vote-getters for the MVP race in 2023, Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson, who will have to shake off significant jet lag and navigate potentially poor field conditions. This could come down to which team best adapts to the elements, but how will they pull it off? Here are five things to watch when these two battle it out in Rio de Janeiro.
1. Battling the field conditions
The biggest opponent on Sunday might not be wearing a jersey. All the talk in recent weeks has centered around the significant issues with the field in Maracanã Stadium. It could be bumpy, it might be mushy, but whatever the conditions, it will be something the players will have to muddle through.
Hopefully, the Cowboys bring the right shoes to grip the turf, but we should prepare ourselves for what could be a messy affair. Poor field conditions favor more straight-line power runners and physical downfield defenders who don’t rely on sudden changes of direction to make plays, so it could neutralize the Cowboys offensive playmakers and empower the Ravens more physical ones.
2. Wrap it up
Bad footing or not, the Cowboys’ defense will see a heavy dose of the Ravens’ ground attack. Prepare for an avalanche of rushing from running back Derrick Henry. Nobody produces a more linear power rushing attack than the ageless veteran, who has averaged over five yards a carry in each season he’s been in Baltimore. And so far, this year is no different.
Not only will the Cowboys have to deal with Henry, but quarterback Lamar Jackson is the crème de la crème of rushing quarterbacks, which is unfortunate considering how the Cowboys defense struggled in the first two weeks against Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels.
Stopping these two offensive weapons will be key for Dallas, and it could come down to fundamentals. There won’t be any room for mistakes, so proper gap discipline, squaring up on ball carriers, and strong tackling will be paramount. Failure to do so could turn a routine play into a catastrophic, game-changing chunk play.
3. Run game mitigation
Last week, the Cowboys’ offense successfully worked around a committed run-stopping Commanders defense by unleashing an efficient passing attack. That’s a good plan, but it may not be as effective while subjected to treacherous field conditions.
This means the Cowboys must find ways to run the ball better. Improved blocking and more creative schemes are vital to at least have some presence of a ground attack. They’ll also need clever ways to use the short passing game to supplement the rushing game. Look for swing passes, quick slants, and misdirection plays to help keep the chains moving.
4. Up for grabs
A sloppy field isn’t conducive to crisp routes. That should mean a lot of the big passing plays could come courtesy of yards-after-the-catch. While both teams will look to exploit that, the Cowboys also have an x-factor in George Pickens.
In a game where creating separation won’t be easy, the Cowboys have one of the best contested pass catchers in the league. The team’s other star receiver has been quiet so far, but he could become an international hero if he can populate the highlight reel by coming up with some impressive 50/50 balls. We know he has it in him.
5. Protect the ball
Keeping with the bad elements theme, a sloppy field is a breeding ground for loose balls. Whether you have muffed exchanges, deflected passes, or just straight-up slippery footballs, failure to take care of the ball could be a difference-maker.
Teams that lose the turnover battle usually lose the game. This could play in the Cowboys’ favor as the offense has done a great job securing the ball with a pristine zero fumbles through two games. Conversely, the defense has forced six fumbles already. Their cautiousness on offense and aggressive, physical nature on defense could push the needle in their favor when it comes to turnovers.
