Cowboys Fall to Ravens 34–31 on Last-Second Field Goal in Rio

Dallas rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit and tied the game with seven seconds remaining, but Baltimore needed just one completion to set up the winning kick.

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Dallas Cowboys came within seven seconds of taking the Baltimore Ravens to overtime Sunday night. They never got there.

Tyler Loop kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired, giving Baltimore a 34–31 victory at Maracanã Stadium and dropping Dallas to 1–2 on the season. The kick came after Lamar Jackson connected with Zay Flowers for 27 yards, moving the Ravens from their own 35-yard line to the Dallas 38 with one second remaining.

It was a difficult ending to a game Dallas had nearly stolen back after trailing by 11 points in the second half.

Dallas Starts Fast

The Cowboys controlled the opening minutes.

Brandon Aubrey's 28-yard field goal finished an 11-play opening drive, and after the Dallas defense forced another stop, Javonte Williams scored from two yards out to give the Cowboys a 10–0 lead.

Baltimore answered behind Derrick Henry. The veteran running back scored on runs of four and three yards as the Ravens moved in front 14–10, and Loop added a 27-yard field goal before halftime.

Dallas managed a 38-yard Aubrey field goal before the break but went into halftime trailing 17–13.

Missed Opportunities Add Up

The Cowboys had chances to keep Baltimore from taking control.

Jake Ferguson lost a fumble on Dallas' opening possession of the second half, and another Cowboys drive stalled after a holding penalty erased a potential first down. Aubrey then had a 59-yard field-goal attempt blocked by Baltimore safety Keondre Jackson.

The Ravens immediately took advantage.

Henry broke loose for 29 yards, and Jackson eventually found Chris Moore for a four-yard touchdown that stretched Baltimore's lead to 24–13.

Dallas suddenly needed a response.

It got one.

The Cowboys Rally

Dak Prescott moved the Cowboys 67 yards in six plays, finishing the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ferguson. Prescott then connected with CeeDee Lamb for the two-point conversion, cutting Baltimore's lead to 24–21.

The Cowboys' next possession was even better.

Dallas drove 96 yards in seven plays, and KaVontae Turpin raced around the left side for a nine-yard touchdown. After trailing by 11, the Cowboys had scored 15 unanswered points and reclaimed the lead, 28–24.

Baltimore responded with an 11-play, 64-yard drive of its own. Facing third-and-goal from the Dallas 2, Jackson found tight end Matt Hibner for the touchdown.

Ravens 31, Cowboys 28.

Only 90 seconds remained.

Cowboys vs. Ravens: Seven Seconds From Overtime

Prescott gave Dallas one more chance.

He completed three passes for 36 yards, added nine more yards on two scrambles and benefited from a Baltimore pass-interference penalty that gave Dallas first-and-goal at the 2.

But the Cowboys couldn't get into the end zone.

Aubrey's 23-yard field goal tied the game at 31 with seven seconds remaining.

Seven seconds appeared to be little more than enough time for Baltimore to run out the clock and head to overtime.

Instead, Jackson found Flowers for 27 yards. Baltimore called timeout with one second left, and Loop's 56-yard attempt slipped inside the upright.

Game over.

Baltimore 34, Dallas 31.

Prescott and the Offense Produce

Prescott finished 25 of 40 for 276 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, posting a 91.2 passer rating. Lamb led Dallas with 112 receiving yards, while George Pickens added 82.

The Cowboys also got the running game moving after struggling on the ground during the first two weeks. Williams carried 19 times for 98 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt.

But Dallas couldn't turn enough of that production into points when opportunities presented themselves. The Ferguson fumble, blocked field goal and inability to score a touchdown after reaching first-and-goal at the Baltimore 2 all played a role in leaving the Ravens within striking distance.

And Baltimore used every second it had left.

Cowboys Leave Rio at 1–2

Dallas showed plenty of resilience in erasing an 11-point deficit and reclaiming the lead in the fourth quarter.

It just didn't finish.

The Cowboys return from Brazil at 1–2, with both losses coming in games in which Dallas had opportunities late.

Next comes another road game, this time against the Houston Texans.

For Dallas, the task is straightforward: turn the stretches of good football into a complete game—and stop leaving the door open long enough for someone else to walk through it.

By Julian Vance

Editorial Voice, The Doomsday Legacy