Several concerns were raised NFL It will be the first international match of the 2024 season, but the slippery condition of the field was not a top priority.
The Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers Several players had expressed safety concerns before the match at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday night, but at kickoff the biggest threat turned out to be on the field.
Players from both teams made mistakes on most of their early attacks, and those mistakes continued throughout the first half.
Star Running Back Saquon Barkley, He made a big mistake on his first carry in his Eagles debut, slipping for a five-yard loss, but he eventually recovered and scored two touchdowns for Philadelphia, catching an 18-yard pass from Jalen Hurts for his first score since leaving the New York Giants.
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Neo Quimica Arena before an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The slippery surface led to a number of missed tackles for the Packers.
Quarterback Jordan Love narrowly avoided disaster when he tripped on first down and 10 with just five minutes left in the first half and nearly had the ball intercepted while trying to avoid a sack.
Philadelphia Eagles player DeVonta Smith (No. 6) runs after making the catch during the first quarter of a game against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on September 6, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Pedro Villela/Pedro Villela)
The local fans seemed equally unhappy with the condition of the field.
Saquon Barkley fumbles on first carry in Eagles debut, then comes back for touchdown in Brazil to beat Philadelphia
“If you're going to fly players to Brazil to play a soccer match, the field needs to be in better condition than this. One slip is dangerous,” one person posted on X.
“I'd rather tear my ACL at MetLife than play soccer on a field in Brazil,” another user wrote.
“NFL, never play a game in Brazil again. They weren't built for that. We've already seen 8-10 players injured slipping on the field. What a disaster.”
A close-up view of a Philadelphia Eagles player's cleats being cleaned during a game against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on September 6, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Pedro Villela/Pedro Villela)
Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt I joined the conversation and showcased my player perspective.
“Football fields are built for speed and agility, with smaller players gliding across the surface with minimal contact,” he wrote in a post on X. “They are not properly tuned to accommodate the size and strength of NFL players who cut, push and drive throughout the game, which is common in the international game.”
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Friday's game will be the NFL's first in Brazil. The Neo Quimica Arena is Brazil Soccer Team SC Corinthians, whose stadium previously hosted the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Jalen Hart (No. 1) of the Philadelphia Eagles charges during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on September 6, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Wagner Meyer/Getty Images)
Before the match kicked off, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he wanted to host up to 16 international games during the season.
“The owners have already approved eight games,” he said. “We hope to expand that to 16 in the future. We'll see what happens.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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