Ravens Vs Cowboys In Brazil, First Maracana Showdown Comes Amid Baltimore’s Slide

The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly set to face the Dallas Cowboys in a regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the upcoming NFL season. The matchup would place the Cowboys as the designated home team and could become one of the league’s most notable international showcases.

The reported game would be played in the third week of the season, according to sources cited by The Baltimore Banner. If finalized, it would mark the Ravens’ first game in Brazil and the third NFL game ever staged in the country.

Brazil game would add another landmark venue

The game is expected to take place at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which would be a first for the NFL. The league has used Brazil as part of its growing international schedule, but Maracanã would give the event a higher-profile setting with one of the world’s most recognized football venues.

A simple look at the reported international setting shows why the matchup is drawing attention:

1. It would be the Ravens’ first game in Brazil.
2. It would be the Cowboys’ role as the designated home team.
3. It would be the first NFL game played at Maracanã Stadium.

The league has steadily expanded its international footprint, and Brazil has become an important part of that plan. A game in Rio de Janeiro would also broaden the Ravens’ exposure in a new market while giving the Cowboys another chance to command a flagship global window.

Ravens have recent international experience

Baltimore has played abroad before, but only in London. The Ravens lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 44-7, in one overseas game and later beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-16, in another.

That history gives the franchise some familiarity with the logistics of international travel, though a trip to Brazil would still bring different conditions. A longer flight, a different time zone shift and a new stadium environment would make the setting more demanding than a routine road game.

The reported assignment also fits the Ravens’ current stadium situation at home. According to The Baltimore Banner, the team was unlikely to host an international game because of its nearly $500 million renovation project at M&T Bank Stadium.

Why Baltimore may not have hosted

The Banner reported that the NFL allows teams to keep their full slate of home games when they are remodeling or opening new stadiums. That rule appears to have helped keep Baltimore from serving as the home side in this international matchup.

That detail matters because it explains why the Ravens could still be sent overseas without losing a home date in a season already shaped by major stadium work. It also suggests the league is balancing business, venue needs and competitive scheduling while expanding its global series.

The Ravens’ current offseason adds another layer of context to the reported Brazil game:

1. Baltimore missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
2. The team moved on from head coach John Harbaugh and hired Jesse Minter.
3. The front office also made major roster changes, including signing pass rusher Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal.

The team had explored a trade for star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, but that pursuit reportedly fell through when Baltimore backed off a package involving two first-round picks.

Roster changes and draft focus

Baltimore also saw several important players leave in free agency, including center Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely and Patrick Ricard. Those departures could affect both the offensive structure and depth chart heading into the next season.

The Ravens now hold the 14th overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month, giving them a chance to address roster holes before the schedule is released. The full regular-season slate is expected to be announced sometime in May, which will confirm whether the Brazil trip becomes part of Baltimore’s path back toward contention.

The reported Cowboys-Ravens matchup would combine a marquee opponent, a global stage and a new venue for the league, all while Baltimore continues to reshape its roster and coaching direction.