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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-28 · by Mauricio Savarese The Associated Press
Ahead of the NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, concerns were raised about the quality of the natural grass field due to frequent use by local soccer teams. Despite these worries, extensive maintenance efforts just before kickoff ensured that player performance was not compromised; both teams played without significant issues related to turf traction or stability. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the field conditions did not affect gameplay during a thrilling 34-31 victory for the Ravens.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Nick Pappas, the NFL's field director, expressed confidence in the condition of the turf at Maracanã Stadium for the upcoming game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens on September 27. Despite concerns raised by the NFL Players Association about loose and patchy grass leading to safety issues, groundskeepers used scissors and a new GrassMaster Stitch Machine to improve traction and stability just days before the match. The league aims to ensure player safety while still hosting international games in Rio de Janeiro. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson acknowledged past experiences playing on poor fields but emphasized focusing on winning rather than worrying about turf conditions.
Written for “Ravens-Cowboys Game Rio” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
But efforts to stitch and trim the natural grass surface until minutes before kickoff seemed to pay off.
asserted
efforts → stitch → kickoff
The Ravens beat the Cowboys 34-31 a thrilling game that was decided by Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal as time expired.
asserted
time → beat → goal
Concerns about the turf’s traction and stability prompted the NFL to reinforce its stitching throughout the week.
asserted
Concerns → prompt → week
The footing appeared sound and there was minimal slipping or tripping by players.
asserted
footing → appear → players
Local clubs Flamengo and Fluminense play there at least once a week.
asserted
clubs → play → ?
On Saturday, hours after the executive director of the NFL Players Association said both the NFL and the players union had experts monitoring the field conditions, Maracana workers were using mowers and scissors on the grass.
asserted
workers → say → grass
NFL field director Nick Pappas, who said throughout the week he was confident players would have no trouble, was checking the turf minutes before kickoff with five staffers behind him.
asserted
players → say → him
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and coach Brian Schottenheimer said the field conditions were a nonfactor.
asserted
conditions → say → ?
“It held up fine,” Schottenheimer said.
asserted
Schottenheimer → hold → ?
The NFL has been playing in Brazil since 2024, but the two previous games were at NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paulo.
asserted
games → play → Paulo
In the first Brazil game, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers players had to change their cleats to stop slipping.
asserted
players → have → cleats
There was no obvious slipping by players at Maracana, although broadcasters showed video of some of the stitched grass easily being ripped up before the start of the game.
asserted
broadcasters → be → game
Not even the part of the field where singer Ricky Martin performed on a stage during halftime appeared to be damaged when players returned.
asserted
players → perform → halftime
The turf didn’t have any influence in one of the biggest moments of the game, when the Cowboys had a key giveaway in the third quarter with Jake Ferguson fumbling after catching a pass from Dak Prescott.
asserted
Ferguson → have → Prescott
The Maracana field is 100% natural grass, while NeoQuimica Arena has a mixture of natural and synthetic turf that players have called the country’s best pitch.
asserted
players → have → that
Many Brazilian fans who know Maracana best said they found the complaints about the turf exaggerated.
asserted
complaints → know → turf
“NFL players have played in much worse places, including in the U.S.,” said Gustavo Fernandes, a 41-year-old fan who wore a New England Patriots shirt.
asserted
who → play → shirt
“They’ve played in places where baseball diamonds could be seen.
uncertain
diamonds → play → places
The Maracana is just fine, players will know which cleats to wear and game on.”
asserted
players → know → cleats
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