The Dallas Cowboys will play the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27. It will be the first NFL game held at the stadium. Dallas reached a 1-1 record by beating the Washington Commanders 37-20.
The playing surface has drawn attention after Agustin Rossi, Flamengo Football Club’s goalkeeper, said the penalty areas contained numerous uneven spots. He said he hoped the field would be improved before the matchup. The NFL said it has a plan for international games intended to provide a high-quality surface.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said Dallas’ football operations staff has been in contact with the league. He said league officials expected the surface to satisfy the required standard and that he had no concerns about the game going forward. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he was seeking more information and had made the field a top priority following the Washington game.
CeeDee Lamb, who had 153 receiving yards and two touchdowns, responded to a question about the surface by saying, “Let’s play.”
A prior international game in São Paulo between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers was completed without reported problems.
