The Dallas Cowboys are set to make an NFL-first trip to Brazil, traveling at least 5,000 miles for a game without having a bye the following week. Their flight from Dallas to Rio de Janeiro is expected to cover about 5,220 miles each way, or nearly 10,500 miles round trip.
The Baltimore Ravens also will not receive a Week 4 bye after traveling about 4,781 miles from Baltimore to Rio. The teams are scheduled to play in Rio this week, then continue their regular schedules, with Dallas visiting the Houston Texans and Baltimore hosting the Tennessee Titans in Week 4.
Previous NFL teams that traveled comparable distances had extra time before their next games. The Los Angeles Rams flew 5,456 miles to London last season and had a bye afterward. The Rams and San Francisco 49ers traveled more than 7,800 miles to Melbourne, Australia, for a Week 1 game and received at least 10 days before their next games.
The NFL's two earlier games in Brazil were also held in Week 1, giving those teams additional rest before Week 2. The Cowboys and Ravens will not have that schedule advantage.
The Rio game is scheduled to begin at 5:25 p.m. local time, with Rio one hour ahead of Eastern Time. The teams may not leave Brazil until after midnight, and the flight from Rio to Dallas takes more than 10 hours, meaning the Cowboys could arrive back in Dallas near noon on Monday.
