These days, the NFL is making an even more earnest effort each year to play games outside of the United States. It's a conversation worth having amid apparently terrible field conditions for the Baltimore Ravens' and Dallas Cowboys' matchup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. The least the NFL could do as it stages meaningful games outside of conventional American locations where there's more foundational support for the league is ensure that the playing teams have quality playing surfaces. This is especially the case as some star, big-name players manage delicate soft-tissue injuries.
But I guess that's too much to ask sometimes.
That's why you're here. You're wondering why the NFL is even staging a game in Rio de Janeiro in the first place,
especially one with an MVP-caliber quarterback like Lamar Jackson and one of pro football's biggest (ahem) "brands" in the Dallas Cowboys.
The explanation for using the unique location is twofold but rather simple.
Part of playing a game in Brazil's second-biggest city is certainly in line with the thought process of potential international expansion down the line. It would undoubtedly be a logistics nightmare for everyone involved (but when was the last time the NFL cared about that)? The Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles also all hold official marketing rights in Brazil, which seems to be connected to the NFL's general growth in popularity in the country lately. Part of it is also the NFL trying to foster new, sports-passionate locations where it can make a decent buck off other cities and fan bases.
While I can't pinpoint which part of the idea has more legs and influence, both are definitely a factor in the NFL's motivation to host a matchup in Rio de Janeiro. Make no mistake about that. We should probably get used to this. If anything, the NFL will likely have more games played in Brazil as the years wear on.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why are the Ravens and Cowboys playing in Brazil?
