Tyler Loop’s last-second field goal gives Ravens 34–31 win over Cowboys in Rio

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34–31 in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday after Lamar Jackson turned a tied game with seven seconds left into a chance for Tyler Loop to kick the winner. Jackson found Zay Flowers for 27 yards, called timeout with one second remaining and watched Loop make a 56-yard field goal on the final play.

The finish settled the first American football game at Maracanã Stadium. The Associated Press reported an announced crowd of 72,792 for the NFL’s first game in Rio and its third in Brazil. Baltimore improved to 2–1, while Dallas fell to 1–2.

Seven seconds to win it

Dallas had appeared to force overtime when Brandon Aubrey kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 31–31 with seven seconds left. Baltimore began its final possession at its own 35-yard line, according to the Cowboys’ game recap. Jackson’s completion to Flowers reached the Dallas 38, close enough for Loop to attempt the long kick after the timeout.

Jackson said the final play depended on everyone working to the same timing. He credited the offensive line for protecting him and Flowers for his route, then described trying to get the officials’ attention for a timeout as soon as Flowers was down. Ravens coach Jesse Minter called the Jackson-to-Flowers play ‘Unbelievable’ and said Baltimore had practiced for that situation.

How Dallas pulled level

The late tie followed a lead change. Jackson had put Baltimore ahead 31–28 with 1:30 left, finding rookie tight end Matt Hibner for a two-yard touchdown. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott then moved his team downfield. A pass-interference call against Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins put the Cowboys at Baltimore’s 2-yard line with 23 seconds remaining.

Dallas could not turn that position into a touchdown. An incomplete pass was followed by a false start that moved the Cowboys back to the 7-yard line. Aubrey made the short field goal, but the seven seconds left on the clock proved enough for one Baltimore completion, a timeout and Loop’s winning attempt.

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer described the disappointment after the loss: ‘I am hurting, they are hurting.’ He also pointed to the long trip to Rio and the flight home, while acknowledging that neither changed the result.

Blocked kick and goal-line stand

Baltimore had led 24–13 in the third quarter, helped by two Dallas possessions that ended without points. Tight end Jake Ferguson fumbled a shovel pass that the Ravens recovered. Later, with Baltimore ahead 17–13, Ravens safety Keondre Jackson blocked Aubrey’s 59-yard field-goal attempt. Baltimore scored a touchdown on its next possession to extend the lead to 11 points.

Dallas answered through Ferguson, who caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Prescott. CeeDee Lamb caught the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 24–21. The Cowboys’ defence then stopped Derrick Henry near the goal line: rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham brought him down for a three-yard loss on fourth-and-one, ending a Baltimore drive.

That stop set up a 96-yard Dallas touchdown drive. Prescott hit Lamb for a 49-yard gain, and KaVontae Turpin finished the march with a nine-yard run. The Cowboys had scored 15 unanswered points to lead 28–24, setting up the late exchange of scores that ended with Loop’s kick.

The numbers behind the swings

Dallas outgained Baltimore 415 yards to 378, according to the Cowboys’ recap. Prescott completed 25 of 40 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown, while Lamb had 112 receiving yards. Those totals reflected how often Dallas moved the ball, even though its late trip inside Baltimore’s 2-yard line produced only the tying field goal.

Henry ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns for Baltimore. The Associated Press reported that a five-yard run in the second quarter moved him past Eric Dickerson into ninth place on the NFL’s career rushing list. Jackson completed 15 of 20 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, according to the Ravens’ recap.

The Rio game followed two NFL games in São Paulo, AP reported. The agency said the Maracanã grass appeared to hold up after concerns about the surface during the week. Baltimore was scheduled to host Tennessee the following Sunday, and Dallas was scheduled to visit Houston.