The Dallas Cowboys are staring down a truly wild stretch of games, and head coach Brian Schottenheimer has jokingly “thanked” the NFL for it. This isn’t just any tough schedule, folks, we’re talking three games in 12 days, with the opener happening halfway across the world in Brazil. Schottenheimer told reporters that his team is absolutely prepared to navigate this unique challenge, despite the immediate grind.
Brazil Trip Kicks Off a Brutal Stretch
This whole odyssey starts with Sunday’s huge matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, played all the way down in Brazil. Picture this: they’re packing up, flying out Thursday night, getting a short practice Friday, checking out the stadium Saturday, then it’s game time Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. Schottenheimer says the team has been planning the logistics of this trip since March, trying to compress their game prep earlier in the week. The goal is to get down there at least 48 hours before kickoff, giving players a chance to adjust to the two-hour time difference between Dallas and Rio de Janeiro. After that intense international opener, they’re jetting back for a road game against the Houston Texans the very next Sunday, October 4. And just when you think they can breathe, they’re back home for a Thursday, October 8 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That is an absolute gauntlet.
Learning from Past International Travel Blunders
Schottenheimer isn’t blind to how tricky international travel can be. He admitted it’s a “long trip, come home, Houston, short week,” but stressed the need for “mental toughness.” He knows the schedule is the schedule, and they’ll play “anybody, anytime, anywhere.” We’ve seen this play out already this season. Remember that NFL season opener in Melbourne? The San Francisco 49ers landed early to get adjusted, and it paid off. The Los Angeles Rams, on the other hand, tried to keep their players on California time and ended up with a blowout loss, with Sean McVay later calling himself a “dumbass coach” for that strategy. Both the Cowboys and the Ravens are flying out Thursday night to spend two days in Brazil, clearly hoping that approach gives them enough time to acclimate and avoid a similar disaster. Schottenheimer thinks they are up to the task, but man, this is one of those early season tests that could define a team’s resilience.
What’s Next for the Cowboys?
The Cowboys’ real test starts Sunday with that highly anticipated Week 3 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil. After that, they face the Texans on October 4, followed by the Buccaneers on October 8. This three-game sprint will show everyone exactly what kind of mental toughness this Dallas team truly has.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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