From the AMPS Magazine point of view, the Dallas Cowboys showed us something in Week 3 that cannot be ignored: this team has the ability to fight back, make big plays and put itself in position to win football games. Unfortunately, against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Dallas also showed that it still has some important things to clean up. The Cowboys fell 34–31 in one of the wildest finishes of the young NFL season, dropping Dallas to 1–2 while Baltimore improved to 2–1.
This was a game that Dallas appeared to have in its hands several times. The Cowboys fell behind 24–13, but instead of folding, they responded with a tremendous comeback. Dak Prescott connected with Jake Ferguson for a 19-yard touchdown, CeeDee Lamb made a big catch on the two-point conversion, and Dallas eventually took a 28–24 lead after a 96-yard touchdown drive that included a huge 49-yard pass to Lamb and a 9-yard touchdown run by KaVontae Turpin. That sequence showed the explosive potential of this Dallas offense.
But AMPS Magazine believes the biggest lesson from this game is that Dallas has to learn how to finish. Baltimore took a 31–28 lead on Lamar Jackson's 2-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Matt Hibner with just 1:30 remaining. Prescott and the Cowboys answered by driving into position for Brandon Aubrey's 23-yard field goal, tying the game at 31 with seven seconds remaining. At that point, Dallas had done enough to give itself a chance. The problem was that seven seconds was still enough time for Jackson to make one more big play.
Jackson's 27-yard completion to Zay Flowers changed everything. Jackson immediately recognized the situation and called timeout with one second remaining, giving Tyler Loop the opportunity to kick a 56-yard game-winning field goal. For Dallas, that final sequence will be difficult to forget. The Cowboys were one play away from celebrating a comeback victory and instead boarded a long flight home with another close loss.
So what does Dallas need to do better? First, the Cowboys have to become more consistent defensively. Allowing Baltimore to score 34 points puts too much pressure on the offense. Derrick Henry rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson continued to create problems with his arm and decision-making. Dallas has to find a way to limit explosive plays and get off the field when opportunities present themselves.
Second, the Cowboys must eliminate costly mistakes. Ferguson's fumble on the shovel pass gave Baltimore valuable momentum, while a false start late in the game moved Dallas backward when the offense was trying to finish the contest. These are the types of mistakes that become magnified in close games.
Finally, Dallas needs to find a way to play four complete quarters. The Cowboys showed tremendous fight in Rio, but winning in the NFL requires more than making a comeback. It requires finishing the job. From the AMPS Magazine perspective, there are positives to take from this Week 3 performance, especially the production from Prescott, Lamb and the Dallas offense. But at 1–2, the Cowboys cannot continue giving away opportunities. The talent is there. Now Dallas has to turn that talent into consistent execution, better defense and, most importantly, victories.