The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are headed to Rio de Janeiro for their Week 3 game next Sunday, but the Maracanã Stadium field is already stirring up some major red flags. This isn’t just a minor issue, it is a big problem.
Brazilian Soccer Star Slams the Maracanã Pitch
Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi absolutely ripped into the stadium’s field recently, calling it “unbelievable” that his own team plays on it. Rossi didn’t hold back, saying directly, “You don’t even need to talk about the field, it’s there for everyone to see. The way we play, it’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this.” He even pointed out that there are “bumps everywhere” on the pitch. Rossi expressed hope the field will be in better shape once the NFL teams arrive, but that’s a huge gamble for a league like ours. This is definitely not the kind of news the Ravens or Cowboys want to hear.
NFL Clash Eight Days Out, Field Still a Mess
With the highly anticipated Week 3 contest just eight days away, these legitimate field concerns are a serious nightmare. The Cowboys are the designated home team for this clash, making the Ravens the designated road team. It’s wild to think they’re setting up a major NFL game on a surface that a professional soccer player is publicly criticizing as being full of bumps and unfit for play. The game is still scheduled inside the stadium, so everyone will be watching to see if the field miraculously improves over the next week.
Before they even think about that trip to Rio, both teams have their hands full this Sunday. The Cowboys are chasing their first win of the season against the Washington Commanders, with that game kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Ravens are trying for their second victory of the year when they face the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. ET. Let’s hope for a major upgrade to that Maracanã field, because nobody wants a Week 3 international spectacle ruined by a bad playing surface.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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