Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones
What Does Jerry Jones Think of the Brazil Field Ahead of Cowboys-Ravens? 1
The Dallas Cowboys are heading into a very different kind of Week 3 test. After rolling past the Washington Commanders 37-20, the Cowboys now have to take its game overseas for a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro. The trip brings the usual travel challenges, however, the playing surface has also become a talking point before kickoff.
That concern has lingered because Maracanã Stadium recently hosted soccer events, with players raising questions about the condition of the natural grass. With the Cowboys and Ravens scheduled to play there Sunday, attention has turned toward whether the field will be ready for an NFL game.
Jerry Jones Trusts Brazil Field Ahead of Cowboys-Ravens
NFL: Super Bowl LX-NFL Honors Red CarpetNFL: Super Bowl LX-NFL Honors Red Carpet
Jerry Jones on the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Cowboys owner and general manager, Jerry Jones, addressed the issue on Tuesday, September 22, during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan with The Athletic’s Jon Machota. Jones made it clear that he isn’t expecting the field to become a problem for the Cowboys or Ravens.
Jones said he is “comfortable” with the condition of the surface and believes the NFL will have it ready for the matchup.
“I have an interest in a lot of automobile dealerships in Sao Paulo as well as Rio. I have an associate that I’ve been partners with for 30 years. We’re the largest dealers in Brazil. So, I got a lot of good friends I’ll be saying hello to down there.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on @1053thefan said he's "comfortable" that the field in Brazil will be ready for Cowboys vs. Ravens on Sunday. "It's realistic that we can have a good game on the field." He said if there was serious concern, they could move the game. "I feel very…
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 22, 2026
Jones also pointed to the possibility of moving the game if the league had serious concerns about the playing surface. Since no such contingency has been put in place, he believes that the game is on track to go ahead in Rio as planned.
That confidence comes as the NFL continues preparing the Maracanã surface for Sunday. Concerns emerged after local soccer players criticized the grass, including Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi, who pointed to bumps across the field.
The issue matters for both teams. NFL players rely heavily on consistent footing, especially when making sharp cuts, changing direction, or trying to generate power at the line of scrimmage. A poor surface could affect everything from passing routes to pass-rushing moves.
Still, Jones is not treating it as a major concern right now. The Cowboys enter Brazil at 1-1 after their convincing win over the Commanders, with Dak Prescott throwing four touchdown passes in the victory.
The Cowboys do have plenty to clean up. They ran for only 66 yards on 21 attempts against Washington, and Jones said afterward that the run game needs to improve. The defense also faces a major challenge against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ offense.
However, for now, the Cowboys are expecting the field to be ready. Jones’ comments suggest Dallas has no reason to change its plans for Sunday. The Cowboys and Ravens are scheduled to meet at Maracanã Stadium on September 27, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET.
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