Dallas Cowboys placekicker Brandon Aubrey is keeping his preparation simple as the team travels to South America for a historic matchup against the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Despite widespread discussion surrounding pitch conditions at the historic venue, the routine-driven specialist plans to rely entirely on his familiar field-checking habits.
Although Aubrey previously visited the country as a youth soccer competitor, Sunday marks his first professional football appearance on Brazilian soil. The National Football League previously confirmed that turf stability concerns at the stadium were addressed ahead of kickoff. Even so, Aubrey noted he will personally inspect the kicking surface alongside punter Bryan Anger and long snapper Trent Sieg.
“First and foremost, I’m looking at the extra point spot,” Aubrey told media members prior to the team’s departure. “If it’s in good shape, OK, but if it’s not, we’ll talk to Bryan and Trent and maybe move it over to the left or right a little bit, or if the hash looks studded. Other than that, I can’t really control where I’m at on the field or where I kick, so I’ll just deal with it.”
Unlike many of his teammates who plan to pack a wide variety of footwear-including seven-stud options-Aubrey stated that the chances of him swapping cleats for the international contest are slim to none. Sticking firmly to what works, the three-time All-Pro noted he has worn the exact same style of cleats across every playing surface throughout his career.
Beyond surface evaluations, Aubrey’s primary focus remains centered on controlling his placement of “dirty balls”-the high-pressure kicks used to pin opponents and dictate field position. As the Cowboys prepare to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in front of an international audience, Aubrey remains completely unfayed by the unique environment.
“I’ll get out to the stadium, take into account what’s going on and adjust from there,” Aubrey said. “Every stadium’s kinda unique, so I’ll just see when I get there.”
