Whenever the NFL hosts international games at soccer stadiums, concerns about field conditions often arise.
For the matchup between the Packers and Eagles at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, there were no anticipated problems. The stadium, home to Brazil’s Corinthians FC, uses “GrassMaster,” a blend of natural grass and synthetic turf fibers. This material is also used at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.
However, it became evident within just five minutes of play that the turf was problematic. The Packers had to punt on their initial drive but managed to pin the Eagles on their 10-yard line.
When star running back Saquon Barkley lined up for his first play with the Eagles, he slipped on the turf, losing five yards. Later, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw an interception, giving the Packers a prime scoring opportunity.
On the following Green Bay drive, quarterback Jordan Love also slid on the turf during a pass attempt, resulting in an incomplete pass. This wasn’t an isolated issue; on another drive, Love’s pass to Christian Watson in the end zone was affected by Watson losing his footing. Although Love might have overthrown Watson, the slip certainly didn’t help.
NBC sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung noted that players began changing their cleats for better traction in the first quarter. The playing conditions are likely to be discussed by the players after the game. NBA star LeBron James has already shared his opinion on the matter.
The game is being held at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which has a capacity of just under 50,000 and is the home stadium for Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, a top-tier Brazilian soccer team.
