Lamar, Ravens not focusing on field conditions for NFL's 1st game in Rio

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  Jamison HensleySep 23, 2026, 02:24 PM ET

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  Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- A day before the Baltimore Ravens travel to Brazil, quarterback Lamar Jackson said he isn't focusing on the condition of the field at Maracanã Stadium.

"I believe the NFL does a great job at having their specialists go out there and look over the fields," Jackson said Wednesday. "I cannot worry about that. I just have to worry about getting us a dub in Brazil. [As for] the field, we have played on bad fields plenty of times, so I cannot really dwell on that."

On Sunday, Baltimore plays the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro.

The concerns 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. On Monday, NFL field director Nick Pappas told ESPN that there are "no concerns right now" about the field conditions in Rio.

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton has heard about the criticism about the playing surface.

"There is a lot of just, 'he said, she said,' kind of thing going on right now, so we will see," Hamilton said. "I know the players are the product in this league. As soon as we lose 'putting the players forward' is when we lose the league. I am sure the league knows that and they are doing their best to put us in the position to be safe. So, that is not really in the forefront of my mind right now."

This is the Ravens' first international game since 2023, when they beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-16, in London. The Ravens spent the entire week in England to prepare for that game.

For this trip, the Ravens and Cowboys are both flying to Brazil on Thursday night and will arrive on Friday, which is two days before the game. The reason why Baltimore isn't leaving earlier is because it's only a one-hour time difference.

"I feel like the rhetoric around the game after it is done is who handled the travel and everything better," Hamilton said. "I think that just goes hand in hand on who is being more of a pro or not. That is something that I think we can thrive at. So, I'm excited."