Ravens vs Cowboys Rio style

[tsylvester]

If you are anything like me, you hate, no HATE games out of country. How players will react to the time zone changes our bodies battle, to the atmosphere of the host country, it can all add up to playing like poo.

Now, according to ESPN, the field is poo:

"Questions about the quality of the playing surface at Rio's Maracanã Stadium started last week when professional soccer players voiced complaints about their home stadium's grass field.

"It's unbelievable that we're playing on a field like this," Flamengo Football Club goalkeeper Agustín Rossi said, according to AtoZ Sports. "If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere. There's still going to be an NFL game here during the international break. After that game, I hope the field is in better shape."

Both teams come in 1-1 in this new season. The Ravens are 6-1 all time against Dallas teams. However, with a new set of coaches, some young players in important roles, and the question of the integrity of the field, can make this anyone's games.

Which Ravens team will show up? The one that put up 41 pts and held the Colts to 23? Or the one that could not even get out of its own way, a game filled with a plethora of mistakes on their way to a loss against a subpar New Orleans team? 

 

So who ya got?

[oldno82]

I think Dallas wins this one but this game should not even be played. The field is downright dangerous. I've seen photos of it all lumpy and wrinkled. Somebody is going to get hurt. Maybe a star. There will then be a backlash and the NFL will take a lot of heat.

And, like you, I really hate these international games but the owners are so greedy they still go on and are expanding. It's almost enough to get you to stop following football.

[papasmurfbell]

They will take that heat while they count the cash.  They don’t care.

[oldno82]

No they don't and the league brass is even worse.

[tsylvester]

From NBC, warning us, the TV viewers, that the field will look bad but could, key word, play well. Sure, and I have beach front property to sell ya in Arizona

Regardless, the field for the Ravens-Cowboys game is expected to look bad — if the game goes forward. And it would be a surprise at this point if the game doesn’t go forward.

The obsession with international growth is strong. And the league isn’t about to let something like the quality of the grass get in the way.

[oldno82]

Oh joy of joys: next year we get to have an international 'home' game!

[tsylvester]

In much better news, Madds was a full participant in practice today, maybe he gets a few plays in Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Stanley, toe and Flowers, hamstring, did not. But then, it is Wednesday and a travel day. If neither travels with the team, then we will know

[papasmurfbell]

5 hours ago, tsylvester said:

In much better news, Madds was a full participant in practice today, maybe he gets a few plays in Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Stanley, toe and Flowers, hamstring, did not. But then, it is Wednesday and a travel day. If neither travels with the team, then we will know

I wouldn’t let mads play on bad turf.

[GrubberRaven]

It's a neck injury, not a leg injury

[papasmurfbell]

2 hours ago, GrubberRaven said:

It's a neck injury, not a leg injury

So you couldn’t get a bad step lose your footing and go head first into an opponent?  

[tsylvester]

He could slip coming out of the shower and land on his head.

If he is ready, a few series, a number of snaps is what he needs to get into game shape 

[papasmurfbell]

If anybody has a question mark about being healthy they don’t play that surface.