When it comes to the NFL’s obsession with expanding pro football’s footprint, nothing will get in the way.
Concerns exist regarding the quality of the playing surface in Rio de Janeiro for next Sunday’s game between the Ravens and Cowboys. The league, however, is undeterred.
Via Mark Maske of Front Office Sports, a league spokesperson said Sunday that (quoting Maske not the spokesperson) “the league is looking forward to the game in Rio and, as with all international games, it has a plan in place to ensure a high-quality playing surface.”
Separately, the NFL Players Association told Maske that it’s aware of the situation, and that it has been in touch with the league office about it.
Eight years ago, the NFL moved a Chiefs-Rams game from Mexico City to L.A. due to field concerns. However, the league has seemingly adopted a “damn the torpedoes” approach wen it comes to globalizing the game — and it doesn’t seem to be inclined to let something like a less-than-ideal field get in the way.
Ravens Clips
The Falcons aren’t ready for prime time. But prime time is ready for the Falcons.
Atlanta, which lost 34-3 to the Panthers on Sunday, has three straight night games over the next three weeks. On Thursday night, the Falcons visit the Packers. The following Monday night, the Falcons visit the Saints. Then, six nights later, the Falcons host the Ravens.
The Week 5 game could, in theory, be flexed out of prime time. It’s rare for it to happen so early in the schedule. But with the Falcons at 0-2 and with the next two games to be played in a standalone window, the NFL may decide not to subject a national audience to a third straight Falcons game.
Other possibilities for the Sunday night window in Week 5 include 49ers-Seahawks, Bears-Packers, and Vikings-Saints. That same week, the Cowboys host the Buccaneers on Thursday night. Week 5 ends with a Monday night game between the Bills and Rams in L.A.
Ultimately, it’s the NFL’s decision. If a change is going to happen, the decision would need to be made by Tuesday, September 29.
Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver unintentionally gave Saints quarterback Tyler Shough a new nickname last week. Weaver called Shough a “poor man’s Josh Allen.”
Weaver meant it as a compliment. Saints coaches, though, began referring to Shough as “Poor Man” the rest of the week.
“I loved it. I knew what [Weaver] meant by it, but yeah, obviously [Allen] is an elite player, but it fires me up,” Shough said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.
Shough threw for two touchdowns against Weaver’s Dolphins defense last season in the Saints’ 21-17 loss. On Sunday, Shough ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown in a 24-17 victory over the Ravens.
Shough’s quarterback sneak with 1:28 left proved the game-winner.
Since Week 10 of last season, Shough has 10 fourth-quarter passing and rushing touchdowns, per Terrell. Allen leads the league with 11 in that timespan.
“He’s making a name for himself in his league and by the end of the year, I feel like he’s going to be one of the top quarterbacks,” wide receiver Chris Olave said of Shough.
The Saints fell behind the Lions 21-0 in the season opener but rallied to force overtime. They lost on a failed 2-point conversion.
They trailed the Ravens 14-3 in the first half and 17-9 in the second. They did not lose.
Tyler Shough directed the Saints to a 24-17 comeback win over the Ravens.
The Saints outscored the Ravens 14-0 in the fourth quarter as Shough threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave and ran for a 1-yard touchdown on fourth down with 1:28 remaining. The Saints outgained the Ravens 137 to 43 in the fourth quarter, with Baltimore getting only two first downs.
In four possessions in the second half, the Ravens got no closer to the end zone than the Saints 31.
Shough’s touchdown run was reviewed and upheld on replay. Two downs earlier, replay upheld officials’ on-field ruling that tight end Juwan Johnson came up just short of the goal line on a diving attempt after a reception from Shough.
The Saints still had to hold off the Ravens, and Lamar Jackson got Baltimore to the New Orleans 37 with 20 seconds left. Saints safety Julian Blackmon intercepted Jackson on a desperation throw toward Rashod Bateman at the 7.
Shough went 27-of-34 for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for 23 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The Saints rushed for only 65 yards on 27 carries.
They were 8-of-15 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth.
The Ravens, who had 228 yards at halftime, finished with 312 yards. Jackson was 21-of-31 for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he ran for 34 yards on four carries.
Derrick Henry ran for 68 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, and Bateman caught seven passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Saints left tackle Kelvin Banks was carted off the field in the third quarter Sunday.
With 2:20 remaining in the quarter, Banks got rolled up on by Ravens pass rusher Trey Hendrickson as Mike Green sacked Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
Banks injured his left ankle, and the Saints have ruled him out.
Asim Richards has replaced Banks at left tackle.
The Saints ruled out cornerback Martin Emerson with a shoulder injury.
The Ravens lead 17-9.
Derrick Henry entered Sunday needing 97 yards to pass Eric Dickerson for ninth on the NFL’s all-time career rushing list. He has 51 on 11 carries at halftime.
The Ravens running back scored on a 1-yard run with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter.
Baltimore leads 14-6 at halftime.
The Ravens have 228 yards, but punted once and Tyler Loop had a 49-yard field goal try blocked by Carl Granderson.
Lamar Jackson is 13-of-16 for 171 yards and a touchdown and has run for 17 yards on two carries. He threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who has three catches for 50 yards.
The Saints have 137 yards on four possessions, getting Daniel Carlson field goals of 23 and 47.
Tyler Shough is 12-of-15 for 102 yards and is the team’s leading rusher with 21 yards on four carries. Devaughn Vele has three catches for 53 yards.
Running back Derrick Henry scored his fourth touchdown of the season scoring on a 1-yard run on the Ravens’ second drive.
Baltimore leads 7-0.
Henry scored out of the wildcat, taking the direct snap and waltzing in around the right side.
He scored three rushing touchdowns last week.
Henry has seven carries for 28 yards and two catches for 21 yards. He has surpassed 15,000 all-purpose yards in his career.
Lamar Jackson went 5-of-8 for 57 yards.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow called it “ridiculous” to think he might miss Sunday’s game in Houston because of back tightness and he is active for the Week 2 matchup with the Texans.
Burrow’s health became a talking point this week when he was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to full practice on Friday. The Bengals still listed him as questionable for the team’s first road game of the season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Burrow felt normal while going through Friday’s practice, but was very sore earlier in the week. The Texans pass rush could exacerbate that soreness if they’re able to get to Burrow early in Sunday’s game.
Bengals at Texans
Bengals: WR Ke’Shawn Williams, CB Josh Newton, OL Connor Lew, DL BJ Hill, DL Landon Robinson, QB Josh Johnson, OL Myles Hinton
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, WR Nico Collins, LB Jake Hummel, CB Collin Wright, G Ed Ingram, OT Nate Thomas, DE Jadeveon Clowney
Panthers at Falcons
Panthers: LB Pat Jones, TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, CB Chau Smith-Wade, LB Tyrel Dodson, OT Albert Reese, DT Bobby Brown
Falcons: QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Michael Penix, DB Billy Bowman, DB Malcolm DeWalt, OL Ethan Onianwa
Saints at Ravens
Saints: RB Kendre Miler, QB Zach Wilson, DB Decamerion Richardson, LB Isaiah Stalbird, DL Christen Miller, OL Mason Murphy, DL John Ridgeway
Ravens: QB Joe Fagnano, WR Zay Flowers, G Andrew Vorhees, OT Gerad Lichtenhan, LB Teddye Buchanan, DL Nnamdi Madubuike
Vikings at Bears
Vikings: QB Kyler Murray, WR Jauan Jennings, DB Zemaiah Vaughn, DB Jakobe Thomas, OL Nick Samac, OL Caleb Tiernan, DL Elijah Williams
Bears: QB Case Keenum, DE Jamree Kromah, DT Jayden Loving, OT Ozzy Trapilo, OL Jordan McFadden
Steelers at Patriots
Steelers: CB Joey Porter Jr., WR Michael Pittman Jr., QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, G Gennings Dunker, DT Kevin Jobity, DT Gabriel Rubio
Patriots: CB Carlton Davis, OT Dametrious Crownover, OT Walter Rouse, TE Tanner Arkin, DL Leonard Taylor, QB Behren Morton
Packers at Jets
Packers: CB Benjamin St-Juste, OL John Williams, OL Travis Glover, DT Warren Brinson, DT Javon Hargrave
Jets: CB D’Angelo Ponds, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, K Blake Grupe, RB Kene Nwangwu, LB Joseph Ossai, LB Trevin Wallace
Browns at Buccaneers
Browns: QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, S Daniel Thomas, CB Toriano Pride, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Buccaneers: CB Ayden Garnes, CB Jacob Parrish, G Luke Haggard, G Billy Schrauth, DL DeMonte Capehart, DL Elijah Simmons
Eagles at Titans
Eagles: QB Tanner McKee, QB Cole Payton, WR Elijah Moore, LB Jonathan Greenard, G Micah Morris
Titans: CB Cor’Dale Flott, LB James Williams, OL Atonio Mafi, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DT Jackie Marshall
The Ravens will be without wide receiver Zay Flowers for Sunday’s game against the Saints, but they are set to have linebacker Trey Hendrickson in the lineup.
Hendrickson was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report of the week after returning to practice on Friday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Hendrickson is expected to play while wearing a cast to protect his injured finger.
Flowers is out with a hamstring injury and the Saints’ top wideout Chris Olave has also been dealing with a hamstring issue this week. Olave traveled with the team to Baltimore and Rapoport reports that Olave is set to play on Sunday.
Saints defensive end Chase Young, who has a calf injury, is also expected to play.
Yes, there are concerns about the quality of the field at Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Ravens and Cowboys are due to play next Sunday. And the NFL is aware of the situation.
From rain to a significant number of soccer matches (with one more happening on Sunday), there are potential problems. The NFL is taking steps, we’re told, to ensure that the field will be ready to host the game in only eight days.
The clock is ticking. After Sunday’s soccer game, the league will need to decide fairly quickly whether the field will be suitable for the Week 3 contest. If there’s a chance it won’t be, the only prudent thing to do would be to move it.
With the Cowboys serving as the home team for the game, the obvious alternative would be to move the game to Dallas. A quick decision will need to be made.
The overriding question is whether the NFL’s international obsession will tip the scales toward rolling the dice on proceeding. Regardless of the enhanced physical risk that a substandard field may present to the players.
Eight years ago, the NFL scrapped a Chiefs-Rams game set for Mexico City and moved it to L.A., due to issues with the field.
