Slippery field in Brazil poses challenges for Eagles and Packers

SÃO PAULO — Field conditions were a major topic of conversation after the Philadelphia Eagles’ 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers on Friday night.

Several players lost their balance during the match and later attributed it to the slippery surface of Arena Corinthians, which is normally a football stadium. For the Eagles, it brought back some less pleasant memories.

“It reminded me a little bit of the Super Bowl field,” said tight end Dallas Goedert, referring to the Arizona surface where the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

“I mean, you guys saw it out there, it was kind of tough to get a handle on,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “Definitely a challenge on that field. It’s not the type of field we’re used to playing on. We’ve had that type of field before. They’ve had to play on it. I’m just glad we found a way to figure it out as a team, overcome it.”

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was among the first to lose his balance, resulting in a loss of 5 yards on his first carry in an Eagles uniform. After the series, he went to the sideline and told his teammates to switch to longer, seven-stud shoes.

The change worked out well for Barkley, who ran for over 100 yards and scored three total touchdowns.

“It’s one of those fields where the top just came off really easily,” tackle Lane Johnson said. “They make studs for that. That’s why we wrap them. They’re not comfortable, but they’re convenient.”

Some players, having learned from the past, decided to make a decision before the match.

“I ran a route at full speed when we did the lap (Thursday), I slipped and I thought, ‘I’m not going to make the same mistake twice, I’m going to go to seven studs,’” Goedert said.

The Packers felt the effects, too. Head coach Matt LaFleur told a reporter during the game that “it’s definitely been an issue.”

“I mean, there were a couple of instances where I slipped,” Packers safety Xavier McKinney said. “It was a little slick. Different than what I’m used to. It’s just a different circumstance. Obviously every field is different. We’ve got to be able to do our job and do it at a high level no matter what the circumstances are.”

Not everyone was so diplomatic. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James wrote on social media: “Man, this field sucks!!!”

It wasn’t for lack of trying. Eagles head groundskeeper Tony Leonard worked with NFL field director Nick Pappas “for months” leading up to the game, Philadelphia assistant general manager Jon Ferrari said last week, to get the conditions just right for an NFL game.

“It’s a football pitch, but it’s been renovated a bit,” Ferrari said, “so it’s in great condition.”