There are concerns about how Hard Rock Stadium’s field will hold for Sunday’s New York Jets-Miami Dolphins game, according to a league source.
A matchup between a pair of AFC East also-rans, Sunday’s game between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins has the potential to get sloppy. The playing surface at Hard Rock Stadium might reflect that disorganization.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that there are growing concerns about the field conditions for Sunday’s game, partially stemming from torrential rain and a college football game from Saturday night. According to Schefter’s source, the field has been described as “a complete s***show.”
Less than 24 hours before Sunday’s kickoff (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS), Hard Rock’s other tenant, the Miami Hurricanes college football team, partook an ACC showdown with the Duke Blue Devils on the field.
With rain in the Miami area last night, the field took a beating during the game, a 20-12 Duke win. Kicking off shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET, the game ended shortly after 10:30, leaving little turnaround time for the stadium to get ready for the Dolphins.
Should the reports be proven true, this wouldn’t be the first time that the Dolphins and Jets have played in messy conditions. Notably, the 1983 AFC Championship Game between the two teams was played in soggy conditions, as the game was eventually dubbed the “Mud Bowl”. Miami won the game 14-0 to advance to the Super Bowl.
Last season’s matchup in Miami was also affected by a Hurricanes home game. Despite no rain in the October showdown, a 31-28 Dolphins victory, mild complaints from both sides emerged. Todd Bowles, according to transcripts on MiamDolphins.com, referred to the conditions as “a little boggy”.
Per Weather.com, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80’s in Miami Gardens for today’s game, with a 15 percent chance of precipitation under cloudy skies. Winds could be a factor, topping off at 14 miles per hour.
The Dolphins and Hurricanes’ schedules do not overlap for the remainder of the season. The Hurricanes have played in the stadium full-time since 2008, after the Miami Orange Bowl, their home for seven decades, was demolished. Marlins Park, home of the city’s MLB team, the Miami Marlins, now stands on the site.
