The first NFL game ever 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 Sao Paulo garnered even more attention.
Players from both teams have struggled to find a consistent footing on the soccer field, which has hosted matches for the World Cup, Olympics and America’s Cup. 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 when receiver AJ Brown eluded Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, who slipped trying to tackle Brown as the receiver turned upfield.
Later in the half, Packers quarterback Jordan Love lost his footing when he faked a handoff, causing him to rush his ensuing throw that 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 have to do whatever you have to do, change your tacks. But it was 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.
“Football fields are made for speed and agility. Smaller bodies sliding across the surface with minimal contact,” Watt wrote on X. “They are not properly conditioned to have the size and strength of NFL players cutting, pushing and driving every play on them. This is common at international games.”
Man, this field sucks!!! 🤦🏾♂️ GB vs. PHI
– LeBron James (@KingJames) 7 September 2024
Required reading
(Photo: Leandro Bernardes/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
