Field at Maracana Stadium in Rio holds up fine for Ravens-Cowboys after concerns about turf quality

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The turf at Maracana Stadium was a concern for almost two weeks ahead of Sunday's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL’s debut in Rio de Janeiro. But efforts to stitch and trim the natural grass surface until minutes before kickoff seemed to pay off.

The Ravens beat the Cowboys 34-31 a thrilling game that was decided by Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal as time expired.

Concerns about the turf's traction and stability prompted the NFL to reinforce its stitching throughout the week. The footing appeared sound and there was minimal slipping or tripping by players.

The historic Brazilian stadium's grass was in poor shape one week before the game amid a long season of soccer. Local clubs Flamengo and Fluminense play there at least once a week.

On Saturday, hours after the executive director of the NFL Players Association said both the NFL and the players union had experts monitoring the field conditions, Maracana workers were using mowers and scissors on the grass.

NFL field director Nick Pappas, who said throughout the week he was confident players would have no trouble, was checking the turf minutes before kickoff with five staffers behind him.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and coach Brian Schottenheimer said the field conditions were a nonfactor.

“It held up fine,” Schottenheimer said.

The NFL has been playing in Brazil since 2024, but the two previous games were at NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paulo. In the first Brazil game, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers players had to change their cleats to stop slipping.

There was no obvious slipping by players at Maracana, although broadcasters showed video of some of the stitched grass easily being ripped up before the start of the game. Not even the part of the field where singer Ricky Martin performed on a stage during halftime appeared to be damaged when players returned.

The turf didn't have any influence in one of the biggest moments of the game, when the Cowboys had a key giveaway in the third quarter with Jake Ferguson fumbling after catching a pass from Dak Prescott.

The Maracana field is 100% natural grass, while NeoQuimica Arena has a mixture of natural and synthetic turf that players have called the country's best pitch.

Many Brazilian fans who know Maracana best said they found the complaints about the turf exaggerated.

“NFL players have played in much worse places, including in the U.S.,” said Gustavo Fernandes, a 41-year-old fan who wore a New England Patriots shirt. “They’ve played in places where baseball diamonds could be seen. The Maracana is just fine, players will know which cleats to wear and game on.”

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kavontae Turpin (9) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs the ball against Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (14) during the first half of an NFL football game in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (0) and his teammates enter the field before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

The Brazilian Flag and the United States flag are unfurled during the singing of the Brazilian national anthem before Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens NFL Game in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, September 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

SEATTLE (AP) — Logan Gilbert struck out eight in four no-hit innings and five Seattle pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts as the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Shortly after the victory, the Mariners announced Dan Wilson would not return as manager next season. Wilson, a Mariners Hall of Famer who played catcher for the team from 1994-2005, took over the job after Seattle fired Scott Servais on Aug. 22, 2024. Wilson finishes with a 187-171 record as Mariners manager, at .522 the second-best winning percentage in club history behind Lou Piniella (.542).

Gilbert retired the first 12 batters he face and after walking Moises Ballesteros at the start of the fifth inning was lifted and left to a standing ovation from the Mariners fans.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Weston Wilson drove in Cole Young with a grounder to third base.

Seattle scored two more runs in the third on Cal Raleigh's RBI single off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi, and Dominic Canzone scored on a groundout by Josh Naylor to make it 3-0.

Kikuchi (1-7) allowed three runs on six hits over five innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Bryce Teodosio scored for the Angels on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning, but the Mariners responded with three in the bottom half when Young scored on an Angels throwing error and Randy Arozarena drove in two with a double to make it 6-1.

Jose Siri hit a two-run homer for the Angels in the eighth, and Leo Rivas scored for the Mariners in the bottom half on a wild pitch.

Cooper Criswell pitched the ninth for the Mariners. Eduard Bazardo (4-4) got the win.

After finishing the 2025 season with a 90-72 record and advancing to the seventh game of the ALCS against Toronto, the Mariners missed the playoffs with a disappointing 76-86 record this season. Despite that mark, the Mariners drew 2,883,798 fans in 2026, the team’s highest total since 2004.

The Angels finish 2026 with a record of 62-100, the first 100-loss season in franchise history. They were the only one of the 30 current MLB teams without a 100-loss season. The team's previous high for losses was 99 in 2024. This season was a 10-game slide for Los Angeles, which had a 72-90 record in 2025.

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Los Angeles Angels' Jose Siri reacts while jogging the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Los Angeles Angels' Moisés Ballesteros reacts to flying out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners players, including starting pitcher Logan Gilbert, walk out to the field to tip their caps to Mariners radio play-by-play announcer Rick Rizzs before the last game of his career before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson greets Cal Raleigh, right, after a win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)