There have been some explosive plays throughout the first half of Friday’s duel between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, but damn, you might never see an uglier 19-17 score at halftime in your football-watching life.
NBC analyst Chris Simms opened the halftime show by saying, “The field is annoying.” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was interviewed just as the second quarter ended, and admitted the self-evident fact that the field is “definitely an issue.” And many viewers trying their best to embrace this “growing of the game” in Brazil are also struggling to accept the poor footing at São Paulo’s Corinthians Arena.
This field is comical. It’s like watching dudes try to play football on a slip-n-slide.
— TRIG (@TrigDraws) September 7, 2024
That little cut, put him on a slip-n-slide pic.twitter.com/Ca0U4fxtJT
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 7, 2024
This Field is a serious issue. This should've been made sure it was good for an NFL game to be played on before making this game official. There's a serious season ending or even worse injury just waiting to happen on this slip n slide ass Soccer Field. #NFLBrazil #PHIvsGB
— Ken Harris (@kensgotbs) September 7, 2024
“Yeah let’s put our players in a city where they can’t leave their hotel rooms and then make them play on a slip n slide during the game” – NFL
— Brandon Carney (@BenchwarmerBran) September 7, 2024
Packers and Eagles players trying to run on the field in Brazil pic.twitter.com/bbtEeesD94
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) September 7, 2024
Me flying out to Brazil to find whoever prepared and approved this field pic.twitter.com/WzsdKuKoty
— Philly Dawgs (@PHLDawgs) September 7, 2024
It’s a slippery field in Brazil tonight 😦 pic.twitter.com/PnlkVrbAkr
— CornDoggyLOL (@CornDoggyLOL) September 7, 2024
The NFL: let’s play in Brazil!
The field: pic.twitter.com/t1IyLTrvIu
— TodayInSports (@TodayInSportsCo) September 7, 2024
Look at this sh*t.
They got the Eagles and Packers out here in Brazil running around on a junior high school field 💀 pic.twitter.com/LbTkpO3zd4
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) September 7, 2024
Field in Brazil is so bad that even refs are getting hurt. pic.twitter.com/LTKQEficKR
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 7, 2024
Christian Watson stumbled and fell in the end zone on a would-be touchdown, too.
Christian Watson missed out on two touchdowns on this drive… 😭 pic.twitter.com/ohCU6Ecdz2
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 7, 2024
The Packers burned all their timeouts with, like, 10 minutes left in the second quarter. I have Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith on my fantasy team and he and his teammates are just feasting on static routes as Green Bay’s defensive backs can’t make an open-field tackle to save their lives. Because yeah, their cleats are skidding off the surface. Philadelphia continues to disgrace the game with the Tush Push, too. That is also annoying
Last night’s Chiefs-Ravens duel maybe spoiled us. I already hate football again. It’s not even Week 1 NFL Sunday. Just kidding. I love football. But IDK, maybe Brazil ain’t it for the NFL. No offense to Brazil, kind of a lit host for the Olympics and World Cup and stuff like that. Just maybe not American football.
Google tells me that Corinthians Arena uses a combination of real grass and turf fibers. Certainly in terms of player safety, you’d think the decision not to use all-out turf would be commendable. However, this hybrid bastardization of a gridiron playing surface might be the worst offender of all if tonight is any indication. Everybody get out of here healthy. Prayers up!
