Dallas fans want a bounce-back win, but the ground beneath them in Rio might be the real opponent. The Cowboys are 1-1 after beating Washington, yet the defense remains a mixed bag that cannot afford a bad bounce. The team flies to Brazil on Thursday to face the Ravens, a squad with a dual-threat quarterback and a powerful running game. Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson will test a run defense that is already struggling. If the grass fails, the game plan fails. Simple as that.

The Field Reality in Rio

People talk about the score, but the surface at Maracanã Stadium is the real story. The NFL says the game is proceeding as scheduled despite serious worries about the grass. A league spokesman told The Athletic, “The league is looking forward to Sunday’s game in Rio,” and added, “As with all international games, we have a plan in place to ensure a high-quality playing surface.” That sounds good on paper, but local players in Brazil are screaming otherwise. Flamengo goalkeeper Agustín Rossi called the field conditions “unbelievable,” noting that “Both penalty areas are bad as [expletive]. If you look at it, there are bumps everywhere.”

Midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta echoed those fears, saying, “We’ve been struggling a lot in these last few games, and the field keeps getting worse.” He warned that “It’s getting harder and harder to control the ball. We have to try to play quickly.” This is not just local noise. Even Brazilian reporter Felipe Laurence flagged the pitch in early August as not looking right with two months to go. History shows this matters. In 2018, the Chiefs and Rams had to move their game from Mexico City to the L.A. Coliseum because the surface was unsafe. The Cowboys might be next.

Jones and Schottenheimer Stay Quiet

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer claims he has no concerns after the win over Washington. But owner Jerry Jones admitted he was waiting on more info and would “stay informed” while trusting the league. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, said there is no plan to move the game to Arlington. He knows the NFL wants to grow the sport globally, so moving the game runs counter to those goals. The easiest fix is to play at AT&T Stadium, but the league will not take that route. Fans should worry about a slippery ball and a broken ankle more than a touchdown pass.

The Cowboys also face injury headaches before the trip. Cornerback Cobie Durant and safety P.J. Locke both got hurt against Washington. Schottenheimer said both could miss a few weeks with a hamstring strain and a torn plantar fascia. Locke’s injury is a complete tear, which the coach called “better” than a partial one because it heals quicker. But losing two key defenders against a team like Baltimore is a massive blow. The defense needs to be perfect, and the field looks anything but.

The Ravens are 1-1 and coming off a loss they let slip away. They will attack a sub-par run defense on Sunday. If the field is as bad as the Flamengo players say, the Cowboys’ offense will struggle to move the ball. “It’s unbelievable that we’re playing on a field like this,” Rossi said, and that sentiment could define the entire game. Dallas needs to protect the ball and avoid the bumps. If they can do that, maybe they win. If not, the field will decide the outcome.