A single photo has fueled fresh doubt about the field in Rio ahead of Sunday’s Cowboys-Ravens game, and the reaction online has been exactly what you’d expect: loud, skeptical, and not exactly reassuring.
The NFL has spent weeks trying to calm nerves about the historic matchup in Brazil, but the image making the rounds this week did the opposite. It shows a close-up stretch of grass with thin patches, uneven spots, and discoloration spread across the surface.
The caption attached to it didn’t hold back: “There’s just no possible way this is the safest field they can do. Should’ve just kept the game at AT&T.”
That concern has been amplified by people who know the stadium well. Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi said the damage is obvious, pointing to both penalty areas and describing them as covered in bumps. Teammate Giorgian De Arrascaeta said the field has only gotten worse over time, making it harder to control the ball.
Still, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he and his staff felt “comfortable” with the surface. “I’m comfortable that the field will be ready for us,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan this week. “They’ve had a lot of rain down there but the conditions there are not concerning to me right now.”
Fans online were not nearly as relaxed. “So, is this turf or grass?
It looks jacked. Someones cleats going to get caught up in this,” one wrote.
Another pushed back on the image itself, saying, “That’s not even the field they’re playing on lol you can’t be serious.” A third compared it to a backyard setup: “Looks like the turf you put on your balcony.”
Another added, “Both squads are never gonna recover from ts,” while one more asked, “the cowboys lose a home game for this s**t?” Someone else went even further: “Literally play on concrete man.”
NFL field director Nick Pappas tried to steady the conversation, saying the league has a plan for the weather. “Right now, we feel we’re in a good spot,” he said, adding that football places different demands on a surface than soccer does because the ball is on the ground less often.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson also shrugged off the concern. He said he trusts the NFL’s specialists to evaluate the field and would rather stay focused on the game, noting that his team has played on rough surfaces before. Jackson has also kept his attention on the matchup itself, even joking about the Cowboys’ “America’s Team” nickname ahead of Sunday.
For now, though, the picture has done plenty of damage on its own. The debate over the field is still alive, and it’s hanging over kickoff.
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Ravens Brazil Game Just Got An Unexpected Halftime Twist
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For Baltimore, its another reminder that this game is being staged as more than a regular-season date on the schedule. Martin brings worldwide recognition and prior NFL halftime experience, while Sampaio gives the event a distinctly Brazilian edge, making the midgame break one more part of a night designed to feel like a showcase. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Dak Problem Before Rio Kickoff
The NFLs first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro is already drawing attention before kickoff, with the Cowboys and Ravens set to meet at Maracan Stadium in a showcase that feels as much about the setting as the matchup. Players who saw the field came away saying it was very soft, adding an immediate layer of uncertainty to a trip that was supposed to spotlight two of the leagues biggest brands on an international stage.
Off the field, the pregame presentation has also stirred conversation, especially among Cowboys fans who took issue with the caricatures of Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson displayed around the stadium. Prescotts likeness in particular drew plenty of criticism online for how unflattering it looked, giving Dallas supporters something else to gripe about before the football even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Week 1 Opener Suddenly Has A Serious Brazil Problem
The Ravens Week 1 trip to Brazil is drawing some unexpected attention before either team takes the field, and it has nothing to do with travel or atmosphere. The Cowboys-Ravens matchup at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium has sparked concerns about the condition of the playing surface, with league and union officials already weighing in on the work being done to improve traction and stability.
NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter and NFL field director Nick Pappas have both addressed the efforts underway to get the surface ready, underscoring just how closely this one is being watched. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has said he feels confident about playing there, but for Baltimore, the bigger question is whether the field is going to be in acceptable shape by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]