The Baltimore Banner broke the news Wednesday morning. Two league sources spoke on condition of anonymity. They were not cleared to discuss the schedule publicly. But they talked anyway.
The Ravens are going to Brazil. Week 3. Against the Dallas Cowboys. Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro hosts the game. The Cowboys are the home team.
This is not a small deal. This changes everything about how we watch theNFL schedule this weekand every week after. Let me break down why this leak matters. And what it means for the league.
The Details from the Leak
The Banner's Giana Han got the scoop. Week 3. Ravens vs. Cowboys. Rio de Janeiro. The game happens at Maracanã Stadium. That place holds 78,000 people. It hosted the 2014 World Cup final. Germany beat Argentina there.
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Now it hosts the NFL. The league already played two games in São Paulo. The Eagles beat the Packers there in 2024. The Chiefs beat the Chargers there in 2025.
But Rio is different. Rio is iconic. Rio is the postcard city.
The NFL signed a deal for at least three games in Rio over five years. This is the first one.
Why This Specific Matchup Matters?
The NFL did not pick two random teams. The Cowboys are "America's Team." They have fans everywhere. Even in Brazil. Even in places that do not speak English.
The Ravens have Lamar Jackson. He is one of the most exciting players on the planet. He said this in 2024: "I've got to go to Brazil one time. I have to travel to Brazil once. Now he gets his wish.
The NFL wants star power for its first Rio game. Jackson vs. Dak Prescott. Two franchise quarterbacks. Two massive fan bases. This is not charity. This is business.
The International Schedule Is Getting Ridiculous
Nine international games in 2026. Across seven countries.That is an NFL record. The league played in London for years. Then Mexico City. Then Germany. Then Brazil. Then Spain. Then Australia.
Now Rio gets its turn.
The NFLschedule this weekused to mean Sunday at 1 PM. Now it means Friday nights in São Paulo. Wednesday mornings in Melbourne. Sunday afternoons in London.
Your sleep schedule is going to hate this. The NFL's bank account loves it.
What the Cowboys Lose by Going to Rio?
The Cowboys are the home team. That means they lose a home game at AT&T Stadium. Jerry Jones fought this for years. The Cowboys were one of the last teams to give up a home game for international play.
They played one international game before this. London in 2014 against the Jaguars. Now they lose a second home game. The Dallas fans are not happy. I have seen the comments.
The Cowboys also lose a week of normal routine. Travel to Brazil takes hours. Time zones mess with sleep. Practice schedules get weird.
NFL teams hate disruption. The Cowboys just got a lot of it.
What the Ravens Gain From This Trip?
The Ravens have played two international games before. Both in London. They lost to the Jaguars in 2017. They beat the Titans in 2023.But Brazil is different. The Ravens have a growing fan base in Brazil.
Several Brazilian Ravens fan accounts have thousands of followers.Lamar Jackson is the reason. His highlight reels play everywhere. His playing style translates without translation.
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This game gives the Ravens a chance to grow their brand. They are not the Cowboys. They do not have global recognition. But a prime time game in Rio changes that.
Also, the Ravens do not lose a home game. They were going to play the Cowboys on the road anyway. Now that road game is in Brazil instead of Dallas.
Same number of home games. More exposure. That is a win.
The Week 3 Timing Matters
Week 3 is late September. Previous Brazil games happened in Week 1 on Friday nights. This one is different. Week 3 means teams have rhythm. They have played two games already. They know who they are. It also means the Cowboys get a longer week before the game.
They play in Week 2. Then they travel. Then they play in Rio. The league has not announced the exact day. Previous Brazil games were Fridays. This could be a Sunday. Could be a Monday. Could be a Saturday.
We find out in May when the full schedule drops.
How This Affects the NFL Schedule This Week?
The full 2026 schedule comes out in mid-May. After the draft. But leaks like this change how fans plan. If you are a Cowboys fan in Brazil, you are buying tickets now. If you are a Ravens fan in Baltimore, you are checking flight prices.
TheNFL schedule this weekrumor mill is already spinning. More leaks will come. More teams will find out they are going international.
The Ravens play the Falcons in 2026. The Falcons are hosting a game in Madrid. That could be another international trip for Baltimore.
Two international games in one season. That has happened before. It could happen again.
What the Players Think About This?
Lamar Jackson wanted Brazil. He said it himself.Other players are less excited.The travel is brutal. A flight from Baltimore to Rio takes ten hours. A flight from Dallas takes nine hours.
Time zones shift. Bodies get confused. Recovery takes days. Coaches hate it. Players tolerate it. The league loves it. The money is too good. The NFL makes hundreds of millions from international games.
The players get a piece of that. So they go.
The Stadium and the Atmosphere
Maracanã Stadium is not an NFL venue. It is a soccer stadium. The field is narrower than an NFL field. The end zones are tighter. The sidelines are closer to the walls. The NFL will reconfigure it.
They always do. They brought temporary seating to São Paulo. They will do the same in Rio. But the atmosphere will be different. Brazilian soccer fans are loud. They sing. They drum.
They wave flags.NFL games in Brazilhave been loud. Rio will be louder.The Eagles vs. Packers game in 2024 drew 47,000 fans. Maracanã holds 78,000. Expect a sellout.
The Business Side of This Decision
The NFL wants global fans. The best way to get them is live games. The league tried London. That worked. Then Germany. That worked. Then Mexico. That worked. Brazil is the next frontier. 200 million people.
Lots of young sports fans. Lots of money to spend on merchandise and streaming. The Cowboys are the perfect team for this. They have the biggest brand. They have the most famous star.
They have the most haters too. Haters also buy tickets. The Ravens are the perfect opponent. Good team. Exciting quarterback. Not so famous that they overshadow the Cowboys.
This is smart scheduling. Annoying for fans in Dallas. Great for the NFL's bank account.
How to Watch the Game?
The TV network is not announced yet.Previous Brazil games aired on NBC and Peacock. The 2024 Eagles-Packers game was Friday night on Peacock. Fans hated the streaming exclusivity. The NFL did not care.
This game could be on ESPN. Could be on ABC. Could be on Amazon. Could be on Netflix.TheNFL games today TV schedule Sundayis changing. International games do not follow the old rules.
Check your local listings in May. Or just assume you need a streaming subscription. That is where the league is going.
What This Means for the 2026 Season?
The Ravens andCowboysare both playoff teams from 2025. This game could have real stakes. Not just a gimmick. Not just a tourist trip. Both teams want to win. Both teams have Super Bowl aspirations.
Neither wants to lose a game because of jet lag.The Ravens have a new head coach in 2026. Jesse Minter took over after John Harbaugh retired. A win in Rio would be a huge statement.
The Cowboys are trying to bounce back. They missed the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. A win in Brazil would start the season with momentum.
This is not an exhibition. This is a real game with real consequences.
The Final Thoughts
TheNFL schedule this weekleak changes the conversation.The Ravens vs. Cowboys in Rio is not a rumor anymore. It is happening. Week 3. Maracanã Stadium.The league goes global. Whether fans like it or not.
The Cowboys lose a home game. The Ravens gain exposure. The fans in Brazil get a show.And Lamar Jackson finally visits the country that already loves him.
Full schedule drops in May. Start planning your travel now. Or start complaining about streaming exclusivity now. Both are valid reactions.
