Sunday’s Week 3 international NFL matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro is still happening, despite major red flags popping up all over the Maracanã Stadium playing surface. You heard that right. We’re talking a high-stakes early season game, and the field itself is already causing a ruckus.
The Pitch is ROUGH, But The League Isn’t Sweating It
Okay, so the official word from the NFL is that everything’s good to go in Rio. “The league is looking forward to Sunday’s game,” a spokesman told The Athletic, saying they’ve got a “plan in place to ensure a high-quality playing surface.” But get this: players who actually *play* on that Maracanã turf are absolutely ripping it. Agustin Rossi, the goalkeeper for CR Flamengo, which calls Maracanã home, didn’t hold back. He said, “It’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this.” He called both penalty areas “bad as [expletive]” and pointed out “bumps everywhere.” Seriously, bumps everywhere? His teammate, midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta, chimed in too, saying they’ve been “struggling a lot” and the “field keeps getting worse.” He even noted it’s getting “harder and harder to control the ball,” forcing them to “try to play quickly.” This isn’t just some casual complaint, folks, these are guys whose livelihoods depend on that turf. Even a Brazilian reporter, Felipe Lawrence, was on X in early August saying the “Maracanã pitch doesn’t seem right” with the NFL game looming. How is the league saying “full speed ahead” when the guys who live there are screaming about it?
Cowboy Confidence vs. Common Sense
You’d think with all that noise, the Cowboys would be a little worried about sending their stars onto a questionable field. But Dallas co-owner and executive vice president Stephen Jones sounds pretty chill about it. He told Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan he has “no concerns only because the league has said full speed ahead.” He figures if there was “a real concern,” contingency plans would already be in motion. He trusts the league to do “whatever work needs to be done” to make it safe. After their 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders, Dallas head coach Brian Schottenheimer echoed that, saying “I have no concerns.” Owner Jerry Jones hadn’t even received an update, but he’s confident the league will get it right. It’s a lot of confidence, but we’ve seen this movie before. Back in 2018, the Chiefs and Rams were supposed to play in Mexico City, right? But the surface at Estadio Azteca was deemed unsafe, and that game got moved to the L.A. Coliseum. So yeah, there’s absolutely a precedent for pulling the plug when player safety is on the line. Are we just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best this time?
What’s at Stake in Rio?
Both the Cowboys and Ravens are sitting at 1-1, meaning this Week 3 clash is huge for early-season momentum. They’re both flying out on Thursday, practicing Friday, and then it’s game on Sunday. With the season just getting started, nobody wants to see a star player go down because of a bum field. This isn’t just about a game; it’s about the health of the athletes and the integrity of the season. Let’s just hope that “high-quality playing surface” materializes by kickoff. We’ll be watching to see if these guys can navigate the bumps and still put on a show.
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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