NFL Makes Rio Debut: Ravens vs Cowboys at Maracana — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- The NFL plays its first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, with the Baltimore Ravens facing the Dallas Cowboys at Maracana Stadium, live on Sky Sports from 9.25pm UK time, as part of a record nine international games this season that also includes new territories Paris and Melbourne
- NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez outlined cultural activations including a Guinness World Record attempt for the biggest jersey on the sand, Christ the Redeemer surprises, lagoon and airplane-banner campaigns, caipirinhas, samba, and a female under-15 flag football showcase tied to community events with both teams
- The league committed to a minimum of three regular-season games over five years in Rio after debuting in Brazil at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena in September 2024 (Packers-Eagles) and returning there in 2025 (Chargers-Chiefs); the Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted 49ers vs. Rams in front of 100,000 fans as another new market
- The Cowboys (1-1) arrive after Dak Prescott threw four touchdown passes in a 37-20 win over Washington, surpassing Tony Romo for the franchise's all-time passing touchdowns record, with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson powering the NFL's second-highest aerial attack from last season
- The Ravens (1-1) come off a 24-17 loss to New Orleans in which they blew an eight-point fourth-quarter lead, playing under first-year head coach Jesse Minter, who replaced John Harbaugh after 18 seasons and is tasked with cashing in on two-time MVP Lamar Jackson's prime after three Divisional Round exits and one AFC Championship defeat since 2019
- NFL Brazil's community push includes three national flag football tournaments (under-15 female, under-14 co-ed, under-12 co-ed) whose winners will represent Brazil internationally, with favela representation built in; Martinez said the talent found in those communities for art, music, dance, and graffiti has been a deliberate priority
- Martinez framed Rio as different from Sao Paulo's 'corporate and industrial' identity, emphasizing its 'chill and vibes' with Havaianas and coconut water, and predicted Cariocas would deliver the loudest crowd the NFL has had for any international game
Why it matters: The NFL's three-year climb into Brazil, now anchored by a multi-year Rio commitment and a record nine international games, tests whether the league can build a durable foothold in a market Martinez concedes is 'crazy' for soccer, while on-field stakes are real: the Ravens are in their first post-Harbaugh season with a new coach, and Prescott enters with the franchise TD record in hand.
Ask SkimNews
