The NFL treks to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Sunday afternoon as the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys face off in the humid coastal climate surrounding Maracanã Stadium. One question being asked on NFL prediction markets is how the 12-hour travel time will impact each team ahead of Sunday afternoon.
The Rams looked awful in Australia and incredible in Inglewood. Should fans expect players to perform up to their potential knowing that both teams arrived days before their scheduled matchup? Technically, Sunday will be a “home game” for the Dallas Cowboys, who are looking to maintain momentum after defeating the Commanders in Week 2. The Ravens seek to rebound from a Week 2 upset loss at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense of 2026 is looking just like it did in 2025. It is slow, ineffectual, susceptible to mobile quarterbacks, and vulnerable to deep threats. If Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels hadn’t re-injured his elbow on the final play of the first half in Dallas last week, the Cowboys may have needed more than 37 points to secure the victory.
Baltimore Ravens contracts are going for 63¢ each on Kalshi for two reasons: Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Dallas’ defense was exposed by Cam Skattebo in its Week 1 showing against the New York Giants and had to count on sheer luck to avoid giving up wide-open touchdowns against the Commanders.
The Ravens may have looked lackluster at home last week against the Saints. Don’t expect a repeat letdown. We’ve got the Ravens winning this game handily by a final score of 30-23.
Rio de Janeiro is just one hour ahead of Eastern Time right now (GMT -3), so jet lag shouldn’t be much of an issue for either team. Still, it took roughly 12 hours of in-flight time for both the Cowboys and Ravens to reach their destination.
It will be interesting to see how players warm up on the field before kickoff. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is known for getting “lathered up” like a boxer before the first drive begins. Will that benefit Dallas’ star player or work against him?
Traders will be on the lookout for players on either side of the ball who appear “winded” early in the game. That could be a clear sign that the players in question are having issues adjusting.
Traders have already put in more than $500,000 in volume on this game. They’ll be looking to see which team is sluggish out of the gate and will adjust prices accordingly. Early scoring could be significant Sunday afternoon in Rio given how prolific both offenses can be when they get into a rhythm.
Going by the numbers, this should be Derrick Henry’s game to win. As long as he holds on to the football, he could very well accumulate over 150 all-purpose yards against the Dallas defense.
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