Ravens vs. Cowboys: Three must-know storylines for NFL's first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro

The NFL is back in Brazil this week for the third straight season, once again pitting two high-profile clubs in front of some of the world's most passionate fans. It's a recipe for electric football.

But there are a few notable differences this time around.

For one, after two years in São Paulo, the league is making its regular-season debut in Brazil's second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro, and its most iconic venue, the Maracanã. Home to some of the most memorable moments in Brazilian sporting history (two World Cups with unfortunate exits for the Seleção, the 2016 Summer Olympics), the Maracanã used to hold nearly 200,000 spectators. Jerry Jones' Cowboys, who play in one of the NFL's largest stadiums, will feel right at home in the cavernous confines. The capacity is just over 73,000 nowadays, but the roar undoubtedly remains. 

Another change: After being played in Friday Week 1 island windows in 2024 and '25, this year's Brazil game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET on a Sunday, right in the middle of a four-game late slate. No offense to the Cardinals, 49ers, Vikings, Buccaneers, Raiders and Saints, but most eyes will be on Baltimore and Dallas in Rio, and deservedly so.

Boasting two of the most explosive offenses and marketable quarterbacks in today's NFL, the Ravens and Cowboys enter their international outing with somewhat disappointing 1-1 records and a lot to prove.

After a Week 1 road rout of Indianapolis, Baltimore blew a second-half lead at home against the Saints in Week 2. The Cowboys conversely were run over by the rival Giants in Week 1, only to crush the visiting Commanders the following Sunday.

Both considered playoff, division and Super Bowl contenders, Baltimore and Dallas have a lot to work out in the season's early goings, and will be doing so this week in unfamiliar territory. The Ravens are playing only their third-ever game overseas, while the Cowboys will be embarking on just their second international voyage.

Three must-know storylines

1) Is Derrick Henry due for another big day vs. Dallas' D?

Tractorcito, bem-vindo ao Brasil! The Ravens running back, hulking at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, is set up for a monster day at the Maracanã -- as long as Baltimore leans on the back in crunch time. Through two weeks, Henry ranked second in the league with 212 rushing yards, while tying for the NFL lead with four scores on the ground. The tailback might have been even more productive if he had received more than five carries in the second half of the Ravens' Week 2 loss, when the Saints came back from an 11-point first-half deficit.

The perfect remedy after last week's disappointing finish could be a date with the Cowboys defense. Led by first-year DC Christian Parker, Dallas hasn't stopped a nosebleed through two weeks, ranking 29th in yards allowed per game (391.5) and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (173.5). The Cowboys are also dead last in third-down conversion rate allowed (68.0%). 

A bruiser like Henry and an escape artist like Lamar Jackson are nightmares for a defense like Dallas', which struggled to contain Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart in Week 1, allowing the Giants to control the clock and salt away a win while the Cowboys offense had two second-half possessions. Just two years ago, Henry rolled over Dallas to the tune of 174 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, with Jackson tallying 87 yards and a TD on the ground, as well.

Will the Ravens runners have similar outings in the Southern Hemisphere this Sunday?

2) Can the Cowboys continue to roll offensively?

If Week 1 was a liar, as they say, was Week 2 the truth for the Cowboys? It's tough to say this early in the season with Dallas' Jekyll-and-Hyde offense.

The Cowboys scored on seven of their eight drives against Washington in their home opener and have consistently cooked defenses under Brian Schottenheimer. All of which made their season-opening dud in East Rutherford (SEE: 244 total yards) all the more surprising.

After the Ravens struggled to defend through the air against Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Devaughn Vele in Week 2, Dallas will look to hammer Baltimore's DBs with a heavy dose of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, a dynamic duo that only occasionally has a case of the dropsies, and tight end Jake Ferguson.

The key for the Ravens will be getting pressure on Dak Prescott. So far this season, the QB has been beating the blitz with ease (78.3% completion percentage, third in NFL), but when under pressure, he has struggled (50%, his lowest mark since 2019, per NFL Pro). Baltimore's defense boasts a 43.8% pressure rate this season, the fifth-highest in the NFL, and has pressured QBs on 65.0% of third-down dropbacks, highest in the league.

If Dallas can avoid third-and-long situations, it may have a field day against Baltimore. But Jesse Minter's defense, led by Kyle Hamilton, Roquan Smith, Trey Hendrickson and potentially Nnamdi Madubuike (who might make his season debut on Sunday) will do its best to keep the Cowboys behind the chains.

3) Play-action advantage for Baltimore

Playing off its success in the ground game, Baltimore could enjoy a big day in the play-fake game against Dallas. 

Through two games this season, Lamar Jackson has completed 13 of his 18 play-action pass attempts for an NFL-high 229 yards, while also taking off to run on four play-action dropbacks for 36 scramble rush yards (the top total in the league off play-action, per NFL Pro). 

Meanwhile, his opponent on Sunday has allowed QBs to target a receiver with 3-plus yards of separation on 12 of 17 play-action attempts this season (70.6%), the second-highest rate in the NFL, and has also yielded a league-high 61 scramble yards on play-action dropbacks, 24 more than the next-closest team.

While Jackson is making fewer plays on designed runs this year, he remains the NFL's great improviser. The Dallas defense is determined to stay "disciplined," but with the unit struggling against play-action, Baltimore's two-time league MVP could break open the game either through the air or on the ground. 

Total football in Brazil's cathedral of futebol.