Workers Use Scissors to Trim Grass amid Field Concerns for Ravens vs. Cowboys in NFL Brazil Game

Groundskeepers reportedly went to great lengths to maintain the field Saturday at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ahead of Sunday's Week 3 NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens.

According to Mauricio Savarese of The Associated Press, some workers went so far as to use scissors to trim the field prior to the third-ever NFL game to be played in Brazil and the first in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Although concerns have surrounded the condition of the turf at Maracanã Stadium in recent weeks, Savarese reported that NFL field director Nick Pappas said Saturday, "Things check out. No need to worry."

NFLPA executive director JC Tretter told reporters Friday that both the NFL and NFLPA have field experts on hand to monitor the situation in Rio.

Tretter noted that the NFLPA experts had concerns about slipping on loose turf, which prompted the NFL to reinforce the stitching.

The previous two NFL Brazil games were played at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, but they too came along with some turf-related challenges.

Per ESPN's Tim McManus , the debut NFL Brazil game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 saw multiple players lose their footing due to the slick playing surface.

The league is looking to avoid a similar issue in Rio de Janeiro, which likely explains why the grounds crew is going to such great lengths to be precise.

Sunday's game will be a significant one between two 1-1 teams who have playoff and even Super Bowl aspirations.

Led by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, the Cowboys will be the designated home team for Sunday's contest against quarterback Lamar Jackson, running back Derrick Henry and the Ravens.