Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Lamar Jackson Issues Clear 'No Doubt' Promise Following Ravens' Last-Second Win vs. Cowboys 1
The Baltimore Ravens flew to Rio de Janeiro with a point to prove after a 24-17 home loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. Lamar Jackson had watched a fourth-quarter lead slip away, and the trip offered a chance to reset. The night at Maracana Stadium delivered plenty of drama. Yet it was what Jackson said afterward about the crowd that showed how much the game meant to him.
Lamar Jackson wins over Brazil fans in Rio
The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 on Sunday in front of an announced crowd of 72,792 at Maracana Stadium. It was the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro and its third in Brazil. Dallas tied the score at 31-31 on a 23-yard Brandon Aubrey field goal with seven seconds left.
Then the Cowboys sent the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback, which gave Baltimore the ball at its own 35-yard line. Jackson took advantage, he hit Zay Flowers for 27 yards and immediately called a timeout. Tyler Loop followed with a 56-yard field goal as time expired.
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Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig (51) during the first half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Jackson finished with 186 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, plus 50 yards on the ground. The result lifted Baltimore to 2-1 and dropped Dallas to 1-2.
The quarterback also soaked in the atmosphere.
“I’ve been to Brazil before. For us to have fans here, and people be pulling up to the hotel, going crazy, that was so amazing to me. Shoutout to Brazil again,” Jackson told reporters. “I love them too, for sure. No doubt!”
Fans gathered outside the team hotel and cheered loudly, and he called that moment amazing. He also repeated the Portuguese phrase Baile do Lamar, which means Lamar’s party, after a reporter brought it up.
That trip came during a busy stretch, and a bigger question hangs over his future.
Contract talks add pressure to Jackson’s season
Away from the Brazil trip, Jackson’s contract remains a storyline. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported before Week 1 that the Ravens and their quarterback would not agree on an extension before the opener. Talks are now on hold until at least 2027.
The timing adds weight to every game. Jackson is coming off a 2025 season in which he missed four games and Baltimore failed to reach the playoffs. This year brings a new head coach in Jesse Minter and a new offensive coordinator in Declan Doyle.
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Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
He enters 2026 healthy, and the early returns are encouraging. Baltimore opened the year with a 41-23 win at the Indianapolis Colts. The Rio finish now gives Jackson a signature moment to build on, and the Ravens face an immediate test against Tennessee.
Both teams return to action on Sunday, October 4. The Ravens host the Titans at M&T Bank Stadium and hope to carry their Rio momentum forward, while the Cowboys visit the Texans in Houston and need a quick reset.
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