Could NFL move Cowboys, Ravens Brazil game due to field-condition concerns?

Even before the 1-1 Dallas Cowboys and the 1-1 Baltimore Ravens traveled for their Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, concerns related to poor field conditions generated headlines about this Sunday's contest. 

On Friday afternoon, Jamison Hensley of ESPN confirmed that such concerns still existed as of that time. 

Field-condition concerns are about more than just player safety

"Based on our experts' assessment, the field needed better traction and stability," NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter said in a statement shared by Hensley. "They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game. Our experts will remain engaged and continue evaluating conditions through kickoff. The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping. Those conditions are generally more of a playability and performance issue than a significant injury concern. But safety isn't the only standard. Players should be able to perform at the level they expect of themselves and that fans expect from them. A thin, slick field may not present the same risks as a surface with too much traction, but it still affects performance and the quality of the game."

The league has a history of moving international games. Per the NFL's website, a November 2018 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs was relocated from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because the playing field at Estadio Azteca did not "meet NFL standards for playability and consistency." 

That said, Hensley noted that the Cowboys and Ravens both flew to Brazil on Thursday night. Thus, the game almost certainly would have to be postponed and played on a different date if the Maracanã Stadium surface is deemed unsafe.

Why the NFL will likely keep the Ravens-Cowboys game as is

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentioned, the Ravens' bye is scheduled for Week 13, while Dallas' break is Week 14. Had the NFL previously scheduled the teams to be on the bye at the same time, Sunday's game could be rescheduled for that week. 

"The game most likely will proceed, even if (as we’ve been told) the field will not look good on TV," Florio added. 

That may not necessarily end up being true. The NFL showed during the 2020 season that was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic that it could get creative with schedule changes. Perhaps the Ravens and Cowboys will have to end up playing in Dallas this coming Tuesday night, as the Cowboys are considered the "home team" for the Week 3 game.