The first NFL game to ever be played in Brazil featured a high-flying first half from the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles but slick field conditions at Corinthians Arena in SĂŁo Paulo garnered even more attention.
Players from both teams struggled to find consistent footing on the soccer field turf, which has hosted matches for the World Cup, Olympics and Copa América. On the very first play from scrimmage, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley got his Philadelphia tenure underway with a five-yard loss after slipping immediately after taking a pitch.
In the second quarter, the turf helped the Eagles score a touchdown as receiver A.J. Brown escaped from Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who slipped while trying to tackle Brown as the receiver turned upfield.
Later in the half, Packers quarterback Jordan Love lost his footing as he faked a handoff, causing him to rush his ensuing throw which was nearly intercepted.
On another Packers drive, running back Emmanuel Wilson slipped at the end of a 14-yard run, cutting his explosive rush short. One play later, Green Bay receiver Dontayvion Wicks also slipped badly near midfield while running a route, causing him to miss an incoming pass from Love.
“We’ve gotta do whatever you’ve gotta do, change your cleats. But it’s been a problem, that’s for sure,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told NBC as his team entered the locker room.
The field conditions drew ridicule on social media, including from retired NFL legend JJ Watt and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
“Soccer fields are made for speed and agility. Smaller bodies gliding across the surface with minimal contact,” Watt wrote on X. “They are not properly conditioned to have the size & strength of NFL players cutting, pushing and driving all game on them. This is common at international games.”
Man this field sucks!!! 🤦🏾‍♂️ GB vs PHI
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 7, 2024
Required reading
(Photo: Leandro Bernardes / PxImages / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
