While critics sound the alarm over Rio’s slick surface, Dallas’s star quarterback dismisses the drama, trusting his equipment and tough upbringing to navigate a high-stakes international showdown.
The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens will do battle at Maracanã Stadium in Rio, Brazil, in Week 3 on Sunday, with field conditions a major storyline.
With the field not in the best condition according to some soccer players, the NFL has, of course, ticked everything off, but many are wary of what poor field conditions could do to the players.
We have heard that kicker Brandon Aubrey isn't too fazed by the field, saying he'll look at where the extra points will be kicked from to assess the field conditions.
And we know the equipment guys have packed an assortment of cleat choices.
It has been a big watch this week, and even as we get closer to the game, concerns haven't really eased over the field conditions, and in truth, they likely won't until we see the players actually go through their paces on Sunday.
Still, it can be a mental game for players after hearing so many negative things about the field, but for quarterback Dak Prescott, like Aubrey, he isn't bothered by all the noise.
"Not a lot goes into that for me. I trust my equipment, the cleats that I'm going to have," Prescott said. "Not really even looking into the news about how people feel about the field. If it's the surface we're going to play on, let's go do it.
"One way or another, obviously if they're going to allow the game to be played, it's good enough. Where I'm from, I've played on worse. Been tackled on concrete. So the fact that the grass is soft, we'll take it, I'll take it anyways. I hope not to hit it anyways."
So, No. 4 isn't about to get into the status of the field, and in truth, it is wasted energy.
Both teams have to play on it, so whatever the Cowboys deal with, the Ravens will as well, so it is a level playing field.
International games are always interesting, as with the travel, we never really know how teams are going to react, but the Cowboys have landed and already had a walkthrough, before reportedly having a stadium walkaround planned before Sunday.
No doubt, the franchise will look at the field first, and once they lock eyes on it, they'll know whether the concerns raised are valid.
Even if the field isn't in good condition, don't expect Dak to care... he's been tackled on concrete, after all.
