If you can’t take the heat, spray your cleats.
During a game against the Eagles on a sunny Sunday that saw temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit, Titans players were resorting to hosing down the bottom of their cleats with water to cool down their feet on the turf.
Fox 29 Philly’s Jeff Skversky reported it was 157 degrees on the turf, which forced teams to take extreme measures.
It has proved to be a new adjustment for the Titans and their opponents, as Tennessee safety Amani Booker said his cleats “melted completely off” during their season opener against the Jets, per The Athletic.
The moment that was captured on the broadcast took a life of its own on social media.
“This camera angle would make you think something else is ‘watering’ these NFL cleats of a Titans player on the field. Oh dear 😂,” a user wrote on X.
“Why is that Titans player getting his cleats pissed on,” another commented.
A third said: “He stepped on a jellyfish.”
Other NFL fans quickly jumped on the need for grass fields — a debate among the NFL and its players that recently fired up again due to the FIFA World Cup this summer in the U.S.
“No wonder players want turf banned,” an X user posted.
“We’re all about player safety!!!!” another chimed in.
George Kittle was one of several voices to express his distaste with the NFL for using turf instead of grass at its stadiums.
“Grass looks great at MetLife! Can we keep it that way @NFL?? Would appreciate it thanks.” Kittle wrote on X during the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium.
Sunday’s heat was one of several reasons Sunday turned out to be a weird game that went down to the wire.
After the Eagles’ defense collapsed in the second half and the Titans took the lead 20-17 with a field goal, Jalen Hurts charged the offense down the field for a shot to win the game.
With 14 seconds remaining, Hurts found Darius Cooper wide open in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
It was the Eagles’ first win in Nashville to date. Coming into Sunday, Philadelphia was 0-3 on the road against the Titans since their move from Houston.
