Ravens win in wild finish after Cowboys' kick paves way to Loop walk-off FG — SkimNews
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- Tyler Loop nailed a 56-yard field goal as time expired to seal Baltimore's 34-31 win over Dallas in Rio de Janeiro — redemption after his last-second miss in last season's finale against Pittsburgh kept the Ravens out of the playoffs.
- Lamar Jackson completed a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers on the final play after the Cowboys' touchback put Baltimore at its 35 with seven seconds left, producing the latest start to a game-winning drive off a kickoff since 1978, per ESPN Research.
- Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer defended the touchback decision, saying it was driven by Brandon Aubrey having two earlier kickoffs go out of bounds and a plan to force overtime, calling the defensive call "a man-to-man, robber look."
- Dallas tied the game at 31 on Aubrey's short kick with seven seconds left after reaching the 2-yard line, but the ensuing kickoff choice handed Baltimore the chance it needed.
- The Cowboys played a depleted secondary with Shavon Revel out (knee) and Jalon Thompson injured, forcing rookies Reddy Steward (slot) and Caelen Carson (cornerback) into expanded roles on the final drive.
- Loop celebrated by hitting Cristiano Ronaldo's "Siu" pose and being carried on his teammates' shoulders; Jackson told him afterward, "Your legacy starts now."
Why it matters: The Cowboys' tactical choice — shaped by Aubrey's earlier kickoff struggles — turned a tied game into a redemption moment for Loop and a statement international win for Baltimore, while exposing how thin Dallas's secondary was with Revel and Thompson unavailable on the decisive play.
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