The Dallas Cowboys head international for the first time in over a decade. Not only is the location different from the last time they traveled abroad, but they also aren’t facing a cupcake team like they did in 2014 with the Jacksonville Jaguars in England.
The Baltimore Ravens may have the same record as the Cowboys, but over two weeks, they’ve proven to be a formidable team that shouldn’t be underestimated. They still have an MVP-level quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a future Hall of Fame running
back in Derrick Henry to lead their offense.
From Week 1 to Week 2 the Cowboys defense did improve, but will that improvement be enough to walk out of Rio with a win?
Here are five points to watch for as the game kicks off on Sunday.
First point: (Un)even playing field
Even though the game will count as a home game for the Cowboys, playing internationally will take away their home-field advantage. Despite having a strong contingent of fans in Brazil, it might not be on the same level as a game in Mexico, given its proximity to Dallas.
That keeps things pretty neutral for both teams. The big concern heading into the game, though, is less about the crowd and more about the field conditions. Last week there were reports coming out from players who play soccer on the same field Dallas will be on, talking about how the conditions were less than ideal.
JC Tretter, President of the NFL Players Association, went on Twitter this week to weigh in on their research about the field conditions the Ravens and Cowboys will be playing on.
The uncertainty around what the field will be like when they kick off is probably the biggest storyline, since it could affect both teams. If this game comes down to a missed field goal because a kicker can’t plant their foot right or slips on the field, you’ll be hearing about it all week.
Second point: History in the making
Dak Prescott became the Cowboys franchise leader in passing touchdowns last weekend against the Washington Commanders, passing Tony Romo with 249 touchdowns. Prescott could amass a ton of stats this year that would put him first in many categories on Dallas’s all-time quarterback list.
The one area that’s held him back for so long is postseason success, which will ultimately define his career. The Cowboys were off to a rocky start against the New York Giants, but looked a lot more efficient in Week 2. If Prescott wants this year to be different, the Cowboys have to beat the teams that aren’t the bottom feeders of their division.
Baltimore has issues of their own, but Dallas can’t have a performance against them like they did in 2024, where they beat the Cowboys on the road in a 28-25 victory; that was really 28-6 into the fourth quarter. Prescott shouldn’t take the blame if the defense falls short in this game while the offense performs well, but at the end of the day, he is the leader of the team, so just like postseason success, losing to competitive teams will also define his career if he doesn’t win against teams like the Ravens.
Third point: Start GP up so he don’t ever stop
George Pickens might not be a fan of The Rolling Stones, but “Start Me Up” would be playing in my head all week if I were him. Through two weeks, George Pickens has nine receptions for 68 yards and zero touchdowns. Pickens went over 68 yards receiving last year in 12 games last year.
Not only are thousands of fantasy teams disappointed because they drafted him too high and expected a career breakout season, but he can take this offense to another level if Dallas can find ways to get him going. After Lamb’s performance against the Commanders last week, Pickens might see more one-on-one matchups if the Ravens want to double team Lamb. He may also get more red-zone looks, since both Lamb and Jake Ferguson had two touchdowns each. Kyle Hamilton could find his way to either one of them in that area, opening up the door for Pickens to have a multi-touchdown game if the plan goes that way.
Pickens, like Lamb, has always felt like a momentum wide receiver, and Prescott needs to get him touches early in a game to build confidence. Pickens has been a great teammate this week, saying he’s not concerned about his role in the offense right now and that his presence on the field helps Lamb succeed. All things you want to hear from a player looking for a payday in the offseason. Pickens could be in line for an eight-reception, 100-yard game and two touchdowns.
Fourth point: Under pressure
The Cowboys defense improved marginally last week, but one area still needs a massive upgrade: their pass rush. The Cowboys have allowed a league-high 68.4% completion percentage when generating pressure this season, along with 0.26 EPA per dropback, the second-most in the NFL, per NFL Pro.
The Cowboys have gotten pressure on opposing quarterbacks but haven’t been able to bring them down. They have the fourth-lowest pressure-to-sack rate (7.7%) with just two sacks. Heading into the season, it was unclear who would become the team’s best pass rusher. Dallas threw resources at getting Rashan Gary and Von Miller, along with adding pass rush specialist BT Jordan.
The Cowboys will need to get results when attacking the pocket this week, as Lamar Jackson is the best mobile quarterback they could face all season. Over the past two weeks, Dallas has gotten worse at allowing quarterbacks to scramble out of the pocket. Jackson could win the game with his legs alone on Sunday, which makes it even more important that when the Cowboys get their shot to take him down, they don’t miss.
Fifth point: Ride the rookie wave
In an article earlier in the offseason, I said that if the Cowboys were going to succeed this year, their 2026 class would have to emulate the impact of the 2016 class. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott were the headliners, but Anthony Brown and Maliek Collins did a lot as rotational players, too.
The Cowboys defensive rookies Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence, and Jaishawn Barham have had a good start to their careers through two games. Downs and Barham have been the most active, while Lawrence has improved week to week as he develops his game at the NFL level. He leads all rookies in pass-rush win rate, and while that hasn’t translated to sacks yet, it’s a positive metric in the right direction.
If the Cowboys win on Sunday, all three of their rookie defenders will have to make a big impact and help slow down Derrick Henry at all three levels. If they can do that while also pressuring Jackson in the pocket or forcing turnovers, the main storyline will be whether Dallas’ core defense can carry them for the rest of the season.
