The Dallas Cowboys travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to face off against the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Week 3. Both teams are 1-1 to start the year, with Dallas getting run through in Week 1 by the New York Giants
and the New Orleans Saints getting a comeback victory over the Ravens in Week 2. Both teams haven’t had the starts they hoped they would, looking up at undefeated teams ahead of them in their divisions.This game could come down to the run game. Derrick Henry hasn’t reached his full potential, and Javonte Williams has been ineffective thus far. Dallas has been run all over by opposing teams' rushing attacks, especially quarterbacks, with the most dynamic runner in the NFL coming up next. Questions heading into Week 3 center
on whether the Cowboys can contain the Ravens' rushing attack and finally generate explosive plays themselves.
Can Dallas contain Lamar Jackson as a rusher?
Last season, the Cowboys gave up the fifth-highest success rate on quarterback runs and allowed the most touchdowns in the league, eight. That poor trend has continued through two contests in 2026. Jaxson Dart rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries, Jayden Daniels ran seven times for 69 yards in a half, and Marcus Mariota added three yards on his only run, replacing Daniels. That’s a 6.6-yard average, and the next quarterback on the docket is two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. Jackson has 11 runs for 74 yards and a touchdown, andif Dallas wants a chance to beat the Ravens, they must keep him in check. If Jackson can control down and distance with his mobility, then the Cowboys will struggle in Week 3.
Will Dallas be able to hit more explosive plays?
In Week 1, Dallas had a single explosive play, and it was a scramble for 10 yards by Dak Prescott. The team didn’t have a diagnosed call go for an explosive play. In Week 2, explosive plays tripled, but the only run-game play was Prescott's scramble again, and the two pass plays to CeeDee Lamb came on their final drive. Given how the special teams and defense have played so far, the offense must do more for Dallas to win games against a tough upcoming schedule. If the only way Dallas can score consistently is on drives of 10 plays or more, it's going to be a long year for the team's best unit.
Can Dallas get their run game going?
Explosive runs would help, but just being able to run the ball consistently is what Dallas needs first. Javonte Williams has had 12 attempts each game and combined for 71 yards and a touchdown. Less than three yards per carry for the Cowboys' bell-cow back. The receiver jet sweep has been figured out by opposing teams, with two attempts going for two yards. CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin each had one attempt for one yard. Hunter Luepke and Emari Demercado have combined for seven rushes for 23 yards. The loss of Tyler Smith shouldn’t be this devastating to the run game, especially given how much Tyler Guyton has improved this season.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 QTNA: Where will Cowboys run game come from vs Ravens in Week 3?
