The Eagles traveled to North Jersey to play their third and final preseason game against the Jets on Friday. While it looked for a short period like the game may be canceled due to an issue with the MetLife Stadium turf, the issue was resolved and the game is being played as scheduled, albeit with a delayed start time. The game is now scheduled to kick off at 8pm ET.
As MetLife Stadium was pounded by heavy rain, the turf began bubbling and “pitching mounds” throughout the field. Players and officials from both teams checked out the field throughout the downpour, but the bubbles went away once the rain subsided. Some reports have indicated that the “bubbling” is not unexpected and is actually the result of air being blown under the turf to help keep it dry.
Unfortunately, turf issues are nothing new for the home of the New York Jets and New York Giants. Multiple teams complained about the MetLife Stadium turf last season. However, the NFL investigated and didn’t find anything wrong. After tonight, one would think the NFL will be coming back to take another look. Since MetLife Stadium is home to both the Jets and the Giants, there is an NFL game played there just about every week.
Further complicating matters: New Jersey has more rain in the forecast throughout the weekend, and the Giants are hosting the New England Patriots for a game on Sunday night. With Friday night’s issues and last year’s concerns, the Patriots would be justified in wanting to cancel or relocate Sunday’s game.
The Eagles are expected to rest their starters regardless, so tonight’s game is really just a final audition for players on the roster bubble. Losing this game would have been a bummer for those players, but so would a serious injury due to unsafe conditions. For their sake, let’s hope the playing surface as MetLife Stadium is safe to play on tonight.
Coaches tend to lean more on what they see in practices over preseason performances, and that has definitely been the case this year. First-year head coach Nick Sirianni has rested many of his starters throughout the preseason and has instead relied on joint practices with the New England Patriots and New York Jets for “live” reps.
NFL teams are required to get down to a 53-man roster by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 31.
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Mike Maher is the editor and publisher of The Birds Blitz and Juiced Ball Era. Follow him on Twitter @mikeMaher and @TheBirdsBlitz and check out his Eagles news archive for all of his latest stories about the Eagles and the NFL.
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