The Dallas Cowboys cleaned up a lot in their Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders to get back to .500 early in the 2026 NFL season. But it won't be any easier in Week 3 vs. the Baltimore Ravens, who are a talented team fresh off a loss, with a chip on their shoulder and much to prove.
Oh, and the Cowboys have to travel all the way down to South America and play this game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on what is a normal week. No extra day of rest, no primetime showing or bye week to follow. Just your typical, run-of-the-mill trip down to the Southern Hemisphere for a Week 3 contest.
Making matters more complicated this week is the fact that reports have surfaced about, well, the surface at Maracanã Stadium, where Dallas is slated to take on Baltimore. Some are saying that the field conditions are not good enough for an NFL game, but the league is pushing back.
To consolidate all of the information flying in about the field, we've put everything into this tracker. We will provide continuous updates about the field conditions and what reporters, the NFL and those in the Cowboys' building are saying about the grass and situation at the stadium in Brazil.
- Game information
- Latest field conditions reports and updates
- Official NFL statement on field conditions
- Comments from Cowboys' leadership on field conditions
Last updated: Tuesday, September 22, 05:00 A.M. ET
Game information
- Date: Sunday, September 27
- Time: 3:25 pm CT
- Location: Maracanã Stadium (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- TV network: CBS
- Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), J.J. Watt (color analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
Sunday's contest will be the first NFL game played at Maracanã Stadium, as this venue is typically used for professional soccer matches. This is part of the NFL International Series, and Dallas is forfeiting a home game at AT&T Stadium in an attempt to grow American football around the globe.
Field condition issues are not new for international NFL games, as these stadiums and playing surfaces are not equipped to accommodate professional football games. Complaints from NFL teams have come up in the past about international playing surfaces.
Latest field conditions reports and updates
In a basic sense, there are grave concerns about the grass conditions at the stadium, and as player health and safety continue to rightfully claw their way to the forefront, some are questioning whether or not the game should take place as scheduled at Maracanã or be moved to another neutral site.
There is precedent for the latter, as in 2018, the NFL moved a primetime game slated to be played in Mexico City, Mexico, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams due to poor field conditions.
According to Brazilian Goalkeeper Agustín Rossi of Flamengo (h/t AtoZ Sports), the conditions at Maracanã are borderline unplayable.
“You don’t even need to talk about the field, it’s there for everyone to see,” Rossi said. “The way we play, it’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this. Both penalty areas are bad as [expletive]. If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There’s still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape.”
“We’ve been struggling a lot in these last few games, and the field keeps getting worse,” said Flamengo midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta (h/t AtoZ Sports). “It’s getting harder and harder to control the ball. We have to try to play quickly. If we want to be champions, we have to find a solution. With the team we have, we can’t be playing on a field like this.”
In July, Brazilian reporter Felipe Laurence spoke about the field conditions and warned that the stadium may not be ready for an NFL game just under two months from then. Those concerns have not been dimmed, with just days until the Cowboys are slated to kick things off against the Ravens.
Official NFL statement on field conditions
Nick Pappas is the NFL's official "Field Director," and he made the following statement (h/t ESPN):
"No concerns right now," Pappas said. "Look, there's the realities of managing any playing surface and then there's also the realities of managing a grass playing surface that's being used midseason. So it's all about monitoring it. It's all about having a plan in place and then being able to react to anything that maybe comes our way. So what we've seen in Rio is a significant amount of rainfall, a record kind of rainfall over the last six weeks. And that obviously poses challenges just from a management perspective, but nothing that we're not capable of managing or prepared to take."
According to Pappas, there is no conversation about moving the game to another site. He told The Athletic the following:
“It’s a field that’s been actively used, and that’s visible,” Pappas said. “But that’s no different than going to a grass field in the NFL in Week 3 that has some visible areas of use. We always want to present a product that looks like the Super Bowl and want to present a product that plays like the Super Bowl. That’s the goal, and that’s what we’ll look to do this week.”
Comments from Cowboys' leadership on field conditions
Owner and GM Jerry Jones had this to say about the playing surface at Maracanã Stadium:
"I know that's of utmost concern to the league that the teams have good playing service down there," Jones said. "So, well, obviously, you'll certainly stay informed as we look to it."
Stephen Jones, however, went on 105.3 The Fan on Monday and cast little doubt about the Cowboys' mindset.
“I don’t have concerns only because the league has said full speed ahead," Stephen Jones said. "I think if there was a real concern, there would have already been contingent plans being made. I know how the league works, about where we play the game if it weren’t there, and there’s none of that. So, I think we’re full speed ahead.
“Whatever work needs to be done on the field to make sure that it’s safe and great for our players, no one understands that more than the league, that we’ve got to have great surfaces and great playing fields that are very safe for our players. As far as I’m concerned, we’re full speed ahead and we’re ready to go to Rio.”
Brian Schottenheimer, to stay in line with his bosses, echoed a similar sentiment.
“The league seems to feel like everything’s going to be fine,” Schottenheimer said. “And in reality, we were focused on this (game), but I have no concerns.”
The Cowboys have worked closely with their football operations team, which is led by vice president of football operations and football administration Todd Williams, as well as NFL officials, to ensure that the team is being put in a safe situation.
Make sure to check back for the latest updates on this developing situation.
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