The great musician James Taylor once sang, “well they tell me, it’s only a dream in Rio.” But the Dallas Cowboys won’t be dreaming, they’ll be playing a Week 3 game in Brazil when they take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Despite some initial concerns over the field, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones proclaimed the game will go on as planned.
It’ll be a matchup of two teams who have yet to find their groove, both coming in at 1-1. The winner will find themselves with a winning record as September ends, something the Cowboys need when looking ahead at their schedule. Here are three reasons to love the Cowboys against the Ravens in Week 3.
Limited passing weapons
Lamar Jackson is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, but if he’s missing two of his top three wide
receivers, it would benefit the Cowboys. Top WR Zay Flowers has a hamstring injury and his status for the game is questionable. With concerns about the field, will the Ravens put their best WR in jeopardy of re-injury and risk a longer absence?
No Zay Flowers for the second straight day. https://t.co/R1iBJ8jY3X
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2026
Their No. 2 WR, rookie Ja’Koby Lane, is out with a wrist injury, which leaves Baltimore’s offense with two legitimate pass catchers. If Flowers doesn’t play, veteran WR Rashod Bateman and journeyman Chris Moore, along with tight end Mark Andrews are the primary pass catchers. From that trio, Bateman and Andrews are the only real threats in the passing game; Moore has caught only 35 balls in the last three years. The rest of the Ravens receivers have a combined 11 catches in their careers.
If Flowers can't go, it would help a Cowboys secondary that will also be missing players and has struggled to cover through two games.
Weak offensive line
The Ravens lost one of the league’s best centers, Tyler Linderbaum, in free agency and one of their best offensive linemen, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, is questionable to play with a toe injury. At center, Jovaughn Gwyn hasn’t been nearly as effective as Linderbaum and the rest of the OL remains a work in progress.
Through two games, it’s a unit that is allowing too much pressure allowing Jackson to be sacked five times. According to PFF, the Ravens have the worst pass blocking offensive line in the league.
This matchup could be what helps the Cowboys’ defense get more pressure than they’ve had in the first two weeks. Christian Parker’s unit has had difficulty getting to the QB with just two sacks on the season.
If the Cowboys want to limit the damage from the Ravens’ offense, putting pressure on Jackson would be ideal.
Inexperienced coaching staff
The Ravens have a new coaching staff that’s led by first-year head coach Jesse Minter and first-time offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The pair helped the Ravens get a 14-3 lead last week against the New Orleans Saints, but saw it evaporate and then got outscored 15-0 in the fourth quarter of the loss.
Minter comes from a defensive background, so giving up 18 points in the second half won’t sit well, while Doyle’s offense only scored three points in the last two quarters.
It was a game the Ravens should have won, but their inexperience on the coaching staff played a role in defeat. They are two rising stars in the NFL coaching community, but they’re still learning on the job.
If they adjust quickly, the Ravens will be fine. The Cowboys are hoping it takes a little longer to settle in and have the coaching advantage in the Week 3 matchup.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: 3 reasons to love the Cowboys' Week 3 matchup against the Ravens
