The Cowboys will play the Ravens on Sunday at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where the NFL has been reviewing the playing surface throughout the month. NFL Field Director Nick Pappas told The Dallas Morning News that league officials have kept close watch on conditions, and the league said the game will go ahead as scheduled.
Dallas is scheduled to inspect the field Saturday. Coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team will have multiple types of cleats available, with players choosing their footwear according to their own preferences. No additional information about the surface was provided.
Defensive tackle Kenny Clark said the Cowboys will play regardless of the field’s condition. He previously encountered traction issues on an international field while playing for the Green Bay Packers against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo two years ago. Clark described that surface as soft and hard to manage.
Saquon Barkley switched cleats during the game, while Clark wore shoes fitted with seven studs for better grip. Clark said he does not know what the Maracanã surface will be like, but considers the earlier field a concern.