The Dallas Cowboys are bringing their “America’s Team” tag to Brazil. Lamar Jackson, however, does not seem too concerned about the reputation that comes with it.

The Baltimore Ravens quarterback was asked Wednesday about the Cowboys potentially having a strong fan presence when the two teams meet in Rio de Janeiro. Jackson kept his answer light but made it clear that the game will be about what happens on the field.

“This is America, that’s Brazil, so we’ll see. But yeah, I’ve seen their pass rushers are unbelievable to get after the quarterback a lot, disrupt the pass game a lot, but it’s football at the end of the day," Lamar Jackson said on September 24.

Dallas will be the designated home team at Maracanã, but the international setting could make the usual home-field dynamic look a little different. Jackson also gave the Cowboys’ pass rush plenty of credit, pointing to the pressure they can create against opposing quarterbacks.

"We’re just gonna have to get out there and do what we’re supposed to do,” Jackson told reporters on September 24, according to the Ravens' official Instagram account.

That respect goes both ways. Dallas has already acknowledged the challenge that comes with facing the two-time MVP. Jackson can hurt defenses with his arm and his legs, making him a difficult player to contain once the game gets moving.

Both teams enter Week 3 with a 1-1 record, setting up an important matchup in the NFL’s first game in Rio de Janeiro. The Ravens face a roughly 10-hour flight before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.

There has also been plenty of attention on the condition of the Maracanã field. But for Baltimore, that is not the only thing that could shape the game.

Jackson knows what the Cowboys can bring as pass rushers. But for Dallas, the bigger concern could be what happens when the Ravens quarterback decides to use his legs.

Lamar Jackson gives Cowboys another problem to solve in Week 3

The Cowboys have had a shaky start defensively under coordinator Christian Parker, and one issue has stood out: stopping quarterbacks from making plays with their legs. That problem could get bigger in Brazil with Lamar Jackson coming next.

Washington’s Jayden Daniels showed the issue in Week 2, rushing for 69 yards on seven carries before leaving the game. Todd Brock of USA TODAY’s Cowboys Wire noted that Daniels averaged 9.9 yards each time he ran out of the pocket.

“Daniels gashed the Cowboys for 69 yards — in just one half ― before leaving Sunday's game and averaged 9.9 yards every time he left the pocket,” Brock wrote, according to El Paso Times.

Now Jackson presents a much bigger challenge. The two-time MVP can hurt a defense with his arm, but his ability to take off and run is just as important.

Dallas could also be short-handed defensively. Cobie Durant, Malik Hooker, PJ Locke, and DeMarvion Overshown all missed Wednesday’s practice with injuries.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit