Slippery Field in Brazil Presents Challenges for Eagles and Packers

SÃO PAULO — After the Philadelphia Eagles secured a 34-29 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night, the field conditions have become a significant topic of discussion.

During the game, several players struggled to maintain their footing, attributing the issue to the slick surface of the Arena Corinthians, a venue primarily used for soccer. This situation brought back some less-than-pleasant memories for the Eagles.

“It kind of reminded me of the Super Bowl turf,” remarked tight end Dallas Goedert, recalling the surface from Super Bowl LVII where the Eagles faced the Kansas City Chiefs.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts also commented on the difficulty posed by the field, stating, “Y’all saw out there that it was kind of rough to get traction. Definitely challenging on that field. It’s not the type of field we’re used to playing on. We’ve had that type of field before. They had to play on it, as well. I’m just happy that we found a way to figure it out as a team, overcome it.”

One of the first players to slip was running back Saquon Barkley, who experienced a 5-yard loss on his first carry in an Eagles uniform. He quickly communicated to his teammates that they should switch to longer, seven-stud cleats.

The adjustment proved beneficial for Barkley, who finished the game with over 100 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.

“It’s one of those fields where the top just came off pretty easy,” said tackle Lane Johnson. “That’s what they make studs for. That’s why we pack ’em. They’re not comfortable, but they are handy.”

Some players took early precautionary measures. Goedert explained his mentality: “I ran a route full speed when we did the walkthrough [Thursday], slipped, and I said, ‘I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, I’m going to seven studs.’

The Packers were not spared from the challenges either. Coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged, “It’s been a problem for sure,” when speaking to a sideline reporter during the game.

Packers safety Xavier McKinney added to the conversation, saying, “I mean, there were some cases where I was slipping. It was a little slippery. Different than obviously what I’m kind of used to. It’s just another circumstance. Obviously, every field is going to be different. We got to be able to, no matter the circumstance, still do our jobs and do it at a high level.”

Not everyone handled the conditions with such diplomacy. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James expressed his frustration on social media, posting, “Man this field sucks!!!.”

This situation arose despite the extensive preparations made beforehand. Eagles head groundskeeper Tony Leonard, in collaboration with NFL field director Nick Pappas, worked diligently for months to ensure the field would be suitable for an NFL game. Philadelphia’s assistant general manager Jon Ferrari highlighted the effort, stating, “It’s a soccer pitch, but it’s been sort of retrofitted, so it’s in great shape.”

As the discussions surrounding the field conditions continue, it’s clear that player safety and performance are paramount concerns for both the Eagles and the Packers. The lessons learned may shape how teams prepare for future games on similar surfaces.