The Dallas Cowboys will face the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27, after improving to 1-1 with a 37-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. The game will be the first NFL contest at the stadium.
Field conditions have drawn attention after Agustin Rossi, Flamengo Football Club's goalkeeper, said the penalty areas contained many uneven spots and hoped the surface would be improved. The NFL told The Athletic that it has a plan for a high-quality field, saying, “As with all international games, we have a plan in place to ensure a high-quality playing surface.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said football operations personnel have been in contact with the league. He said officials expected the field to meet the required standard and that he saw no issue with the game going ahead. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Sunday evening that obtaining current information about the surface remained a top priority after the Washington game.
Receiver CeeDee Lamb, who had 153 yards and two touchdowns, responded to a question about the field by saying, “Let's play.” A prior international game in São Paulo between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers ended without reported problems.
