One wrong decision cost the Cowboys the win over Ravens in Brazil

It took Mahomes 13 seconds but it only took Lamar Jackson 7 seconds. 

The Cowboys and Ravens were tied at 31 in Brazil and it seemed destined for overtime. Instead, Lamar Jackson threw one pass to Zay Flowers, Tyler Loop hit a 56 yard field goal, and Baltimore left Rio the winners.

But none of that happens without one ill-advised decision from the Cowboys coaching staff.

Cowboys lose game by opting not to squib kick on final kickoff

Brandon Aubrey is the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. He has a variety of ways to kick the ball off. The Cowboys coaches decided to have him kick it into the end zone.

With just seven seconds remaining, Dallas could have kicked the ball in the field of play. That would force the Ravens to return it and run clock. 

Instead, the touchback allowed them to save every, crucial second on the clock. And they needed it. 

— wok (@wokdior) September 27, 2026

Zay Flowers caught the ball and Lamar Jackson called a timeout with one second remaining. It was so close it needed a review. If the Ravens even had to field a squib kick, they wouldn't have had that opportunity. 

Brian Schottenheimer is the head coach. Nick Sorensen is the special teams coordinator. One of them made the decision not to squib the ball. 

It's a bad decision in the situation and looks even worse with the result. 

— MLFootball (@MLFootball) September 27, 2026

Cowboys opting to kick a touchback instead of letting a few seconds drain off the clock ended up costing them.

— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 27, 2026

It's also the same decision Sean McDermott did when the Bills allowed Mahomes and the Chiefs to set up a field goal with 13 seconds to go. 

Mahomes in 13 seconds. Lamar in 7 seconds. And two head coaches who made the wrong decision.

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