Field at Maracana Stadium in Rio holds up fine for Ravens-Cowboys after concerns about turf quality
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Turf concerns plagued Maracana Stadium ahead of Sunday's NFL debut game between Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. NFL experts monitored the natural grass field for a week, stitching and trimming it until minutes before kickoff. The stadium, which also hosts soccer matches, had poor grass condition one week prior.
Despite the issues, the field held up well during the thrilling 34-31 game, with minimal slipping or tripping reported. Maracana workers actively maintained the grass throughout the week, and NFL field director Nick Pappas assured players there would be no trouble. The game’s outcome was not influenced by the turf, as Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and coach Brian Schottenheimer both stated.
A key moment in the game involved a fumble by Dallas wide receiver Jake Ferguson, which occurred on the field. Brazilian fans, familiar with Maracana's capabilities, found the turf complaints to be exaggerated.
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