Baltimore and Dallas will meet in Rio on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS, outside primetime. This year's calendar put a Week 1 Friday-night Brazil game under Sports Broadcasting Act restrictions; the article finds no clear reason for the Week 3 afternoon slot.
The 1961 act withdraws the NFL's antitrust immunity for live games on Friday and Saturday nights from the second weekend of September through the second weekend of December. The previous Brazil games—Eagles-Packers in 2024 and Chargers-Chiefs in 2025—fell on the first Friday of their seasons, which began a week earlier. In 2026, the season began during the act's restricted period. The NFL's Week 1 international game was instead in Australia, airing in U.S. primetime on Thursday because of the time difference.
The Rio game is scheduled for 5:25 p.m. local time. The article says the field has reportedly been in poor condition amid heavy humidity and recent rainfall, which may not fully clear by the weekend. It suggests an earlier start could lessen the wet surface's effects on play and traction, but says this is unconfirmed. It also raises evening tourist crowds and safety as a possible factor, describing that idea as even less supported.
