Packers-Raiders' Preseason Game Will Be Played on 80-Yard Field Due to Awful End Zone Conditions
By Jerry Trotta
Well, we didn't see this one coming folks.
The Green Bay Packers and Oakland Raiders preseason clash on Thursday night was Week 3's only game set to be played on a neutral site -- IG Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
#Packers-#Raiders game in Winnipeg will be played on a shortened field. The game will be played on an 80-yard field with pylons placed between the goal line and 10-yard line on both sides. Also no kickoffs. Teams will get the ball at the 10-yard line to start. pic.twitter.com/BJX20iknDt
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) August 23, 2019
Well, the contest will reportedly be played on a shortened field, says ESPN's Rob Demovsky, and as a result, the Pack have opted not to play their starters.
There will also be no kick-off in the game due to the field size.
According the Packers TV broadcast, Matt LaFleur will NOT play his starters and the game will be on a shorter field.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) August 22, 2019
Roughly an hour before kick-off, it was reported that both franchise's grew weary of the suspect conditions of IG Field. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo claims that tonight's game will be played on an 80-yard field because the end zones appear to be nowhere near game-playing conditions.
It was reported that there was a hole in one of the end zones prior to the game.
The other thing being mulled is an 80-yard field to avoid the end zone, source says. But few people seem to know how that’ll even work. Again, stay tuned.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 22, 2019
Packers president Mark Murphy subsequently confirmed that Green Bay and Oakland were forced to move the Canadian Football League goal posts back to make the field playable.
#PACKERS president Mark Murphy just told me “We’re playing.” Despite turf issues where they had to move CFL goal posts back in Winnipeg, it’s game on tonight in Canada
— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) August 22, 2019
In light of that news, the Packers will now be without 33 of their players tonight. The list features notables such as Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Darnell Savage.
33 #Packers will not be suiting up for tonight's game.#GBvsOAK https://t.co/GuggFKeS3p
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 22, 2019
We were genuinely perplexed as to why the NFL opted to schedule a game in Canada, and now our skepticism was justified. Let's just hope that both squads escape the game without any injuries.
At this point, we're just wondering why the teams are even bothering to play the game at all? After all, it's a preseason game, and if a player goes down with injury on a field that doesn't seem to be in great condition, there's going to be a lot of questions asked.