Dallas improved to 1-1 with a 37-20 victory over Washington, but the condition of the field in Brazil remains part of the team’s preparations. The Cowboys are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27, in the venue’s first NFL game.
Agustin Rossi, goalkeeper for Flamengo Football Club, criticized the surface, saying the penalty areas contained numerous uneven spots and expressing hope that improvements would be made before the football game. The NFL said it has a plan for the international event, telling The Athletic, “As with all international games, we have a plan in place to ensure a high-quality playing surface.”
Brian Schottenheimer said Dallas’ football operations staff has been in contact with the league. The coach said league officials expected the field to satisfy the required standard and that he was not worried about the game taking place.
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner and general manager, said Sunday evening that he was seeking more information and identified the surface as a top priority following the Washington game. CeeDee Lamb, who gained 153 yards and scored two touchdowns against Washington, responded to questions about the field by saying, “Let's play.”
A prior international matchup in São Paulo between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers was completed without reported problems.
