Several concerns had been raised before… The NFL first international match of the 2024 season, but slippery pitch conditions were not high on the list.
The Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Green Bay Packers On Friday night at the Neo Química Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, several players expressed concerns about safety before the game, but when the match began, the biggest threat seemed to be on the field of play.
Players on both sides slipped on most of the early plays and this continued throughout the first half.
Star runner Saquon Barkley, In his debut with the Eagles, he suffered a nasty mishap on his first carry with Philadelphia and slipped, losing five yards. He eventually regained his footing and scored two touchdowns for Philadelphia: he caught an 18-yard pass from Jalen Hurts for his first score since parting ways with 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 Packers had their share of missed tackles thanks to the slippery conditions.
Quarterback Jordan Love narrowly avoided disaster with just over five minutes left in the first half when he slipped on 1st-and-10 and was nearly intercepted after throwing the ball to avoid a sack.
DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs after a catch during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on September 6, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Pedro Vilela/Pedro Vilela)
Home fans were equally unhappy with the conditions of the pitch.
Saquon Barkley slips on first drag in Eagles debut, but wins to score against Philadelphia in Brazil
“If you're going to have players travel all the way to Brazil to play a football match, the pitch conditions have to be better than this. One slip and it's dangerous,” one person posted on X.
“I'd rather tear my ACL at MetLife than try to play soccer on a pitch in Brazil,” wrote another.
“There will never be another game in Brazil @NFL. They are not made for this. I've already seen 8 or 10 players eat shit just for slipping on the field. What a disaster.”
Detailed 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 Vilela/Pedro Vilela)
Former Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt He even joined the conversation to offer a player's perspective.
“Football fields are built for speed and agility. Smaller bodies gliding across the surface with minimal contact,” he wrote in a post on X. “They are not properly conditioned to have the size and strength of NFL players cutting, pushing and driving over them throughout the game. This is common in international games.”
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Friday's game is the NFL's first in Brazil. The Neo Quimica Arena is home to Brazilian national football team SC Corinthians. The stadium has already hosted the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.
Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Arena Corinthians on September 6, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Wagner Meier/Getty Images)
Before kickoff, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he hopes to have as many as 16 international games per season.
“The management has already approved eight games,” he said. “I hope we get to 16 at some point in the future. We'll see how it goes.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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