The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Loop as time expired Sunday, completing a wild final possession in the NFL's first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro and capping a Week 3 slate that produced some of the most dramatic finishes of the young season.
Trailing 28-24 in the fourth quarter, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott drove the Cowboys 96 yards to retake the lead, only for Baltimore to answer. With 23 seconds left, a defensive pass-interference call on Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins put Dallas at Baltimore's 2-yard line. After an incomplete pass and a false start pushed the Cowboys back to the 7, kicker Brandon Aubrey converted a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 31 with seven seconds remaining. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson answered immediately, hitting receiver Zay Flowers for 27 yards to the Dallas 38 and calling a timeout with one second on the clock. Loop's kick, from 56 yards, cleared the crossbar just inside the left upright.
Jackson finished with two touchdown passes, a 4-yarder to Chris Moore and a 2-yarder to rookie tight end Matthew Hibner, while running back Derrick Henry added two rushing scores. Prescott completed 25 of 40 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown; CeeDee Lamb caught for 112 yards and Javonte Williams rushed for 98. The Ravens improved to 2-1; the Cowboys fell to 1-2.
A Landmark for the League's Global Push
The game, played at the storied Maracanã Stadium, was the NFL's first regular-season contest in Rio de Janeiro and part of a broader expansion into Brazil, a market the league says includes more than 36 million fans. The league has previously staged games in São Paulo and has committed to bringing at least three regular-season games to Rio over the next five years. Sunday's matchup drew a capacity crowd and was broadcast domestically on CBS and Paramount+.
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter credited the composure of his quarterback and receiver on the game-winning drive.
Just an unbelievable play by Lamar and Zay, heads up on the time.
Jesse Minter, Ravens head coach
Loop, who delivered the longest go-ahead kick of his young career under pressure, pointed to the operation behind him, while Jackson said he never doubted the outcome.
To see that come together with our operation and the team was so special.
Tyler Loop, Ravens kicker
I had no doubt in my mind. I prayed to Jesus; I prayed to God.
Lamar Jackson, Ravens quarterback
Sunday's Wider Storylines
The Rio finish was one of several nailbiters across Week 3. In Santa Clara, the San Francisco 49ers held off the Arizona Cardinals 36-30 to improve to 3-0, with quarterback Brock Purdy throwing four touchdown passes, including a first-drive hook-and-ladder in which he found Mike Evans for a short gain before Evans lateraled to Deebo Samuel, who raced 80 yards for a score. Purdy sealed the win with a 20-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle with 1:31 left, finishing with 297 yards and no interceptions despite losing Evans to a rib injury and left tackle Trent Williams to a stinger.
San Francisco was one of five teams to reach 3-0 on the day, joining Buffalo, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Minnesota. Elsewhere, Pittsburgh edged Cincinnati 30-27 and Detroit beat the Jets 31-24, part of a group of five teams — also including Baltimore, Cleveland and Indianapolis — that won on a score in the final three minutes. Three teams, Baltimore, Buffalo and Las Vegas, rallied from deficits of 10 points or more.
The Ravens return home to host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday, while the Cowboys head back to Dallas looking to right themselves at 1-2. For the NFL's international calendar, the league will look to build on a debut that delivered exactly the kind of finish it hopes will hook a new audience.
