The Dallas Cowboys fell to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31 on Sunday in a game played in Brazil, with critical errors in the final seconds sealing their loss. After Brandon Aubrey’s 23-yard field goal tied the score at 31 with seven seconds remaining, the Cowboys opted for a kickoff from the end zone rather than a shorter kick that could have run time off the clock. This decision resulted in a touchback, giving the Ravens the ball at their 35-yard line with a full seven seconds left.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer explained the choice was intended to prevent a potential return touchdown by the Ravens and to force them to execute a short drive to reach field goal range. However, the decision backfired when quarterback Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to wide receiver Zay Flowers, setting up Tyler Loop’s 56-yard game-winning field goal with one second remaining.
The defensive approach in the final play also drew criticism. Rookie defensive coordinator Christian Parker called for man-to-man coverage instead of a deep zone defense. Former NFL coach Mike Tomlin, analyzing the sequence on NBC, expressed surprise at the choice, noting that most teams favor an umbrella zone coverage in such situations.
The Cowboys' offensive struggles in the closing moments contributed to the outcome as well. With Baltimore leading 31-27, Dallas reached the Ravens’ two-yard line with 23 seconds left but failed to secure a touchdown. Instead, they settled for a field goal, gaining just 16 seconds of clock use. Schottenheimer called a timeout after a scramble by quarterback Dak Prescott on second down, which some analysts argue cost the team valuable time.
Earlier in the game, Prescott orchestrated an impressive comeback from a 24-13 deficit in the third quarter, leading two touchdown drives to tie the game. Ultimately, the late-game miscues overshadowed that effort.
The NFL’s Week 3 featured a record-tying 12 games decided by one score. Other notable storylines included the Denver Broncos rallying past the Los Angeles Rams 30-26, led by quarterback Bo Nix, who orchestrated a game-winning drive and scored the decisive touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb avoided potential replacement after the comeback marked a recovery from an otherwise shutout first half.
The Las Vegas Raiders continued their strong start, improving to 3-0 with a 35-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw his ninth touchdown pass of the season, supporting a team fresh off a 3-14 finish last year.
Meanwhile, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye’s performance has notably declined. After finishing second in MVP voting last year, Maye has thrown one touchdown pass against six interceptions in the early season, reflecting a challenging regression. Maye’s turnover issues began in the playoffs and have persisted through three games so far.
The Washington Commanders, led by backup QB Marcus Mariota in place of Jayden Daniels, handed the Seattle Seahawks a 33-31 loss, ending Seattle’s 12-game winning streak. Mariota completed three touchdown passes without turnovers.
The Houston Texans remain winless at 0-3 following a 19-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Their offense struggled for just 223 yards against one of the NFL's top-ranked defenses. Houston is set to face Dallas next Sunday, with the Cowboys returning from their arduous trip to Brazil.