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The Dallas Cowboys suffered a 34-31 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil last week, dropping their record to 1-2 on the season. The thrilling finish nearly overshadowed the pregame buzz that had dominated headlines: concerns about the playing surface at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The field conditions were such a hot topic that the NFL even sent a representative to address the media a day before kickoff, assuring that everything met league standards.
Cowboys rookie safety Caleb Downs shared his unfiltered thoughts on the field during a recent episode of the 'Downs 2 Business' podcast. Downs admitted that the surface started out fine but deteriorated as the game progressed. 'It was okay at the beginning of the game honestly,' Downs said. 'We had prepared that week, a lot of us practiced in seven studs just making sure we were ready. So even with that, at the end of the game, we was still slipping out there, and I'm like Bro this is terrible. But it was what it was and you can't make any excuses about it because they had to play on it too.'
As Downs noted, the Cowboys cannot use the field conditions as an excuse for the game's outcome. The slippery and unstable grass had no bearing on the game-losing defensive call by Christian Parker on the second-to-last play, which allowed the Ravens to get into field goal range for kicker Tyler Loop, who nailed the game-winning 56-yarder as time expired. It also didn't appear to affect the Dallas defense in crucial moments earlier in the contest before the team's eventual collapse.
Key Analysis
Despite the loss, the Cowboys' defense delivered some of its best plays through three weeks. Downs and fellow rookie standout Jaishawn Barham made impressive short-yardage stops against Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the potent Ravens offense. Downs finished with three total tackles (two solo), while Barham recorded seven total tackles and two tackles for loss. The rookie duo will look to build on their promising performance in Brazil when the Cowboys visit the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.