Oakland Raiders to play a game against Houston Texans in Mexico City
Derek Carr (4) and the Raiders will take on the Houston Texas this fall in Mexico City.
The Oakland Raiders will play a regular-season game in Mexico City this year, marking the NFL’s return to the country for the first time in 11 years.
The Raiders, who are having stadium issues in Oakland and applied to relocate to Los Angeles, will host the Houston Texans in Mexico, the Associated Press reported.
The schedule has not been set for the 2016 season. Both franchises are looking to make inroads in Mexico, as is the league as a whole, and Goodell is expected to announce the game at his Friday press conference, the AP reported.
ESPN.com first reported that the Texans-Raiders game would be played in Mexico City.
Super band
As the British rock band Coldplay walked onto a stage for a news conference at the Super Bowl media center, front man Chris Martin joked, “Thank you everybody. I feel like Donald Trump.”
Coldplay will perform at halftime with a guest appearance by Beyoncé and others, including Youth Orchestra LA.
“We’ve watched all of the other halftime shows many times, and most of them are fantastic,” Martin said. “I think we’re going to try to celebrate those other years and hopefully make a show as memorable as some of our favorites.”
Martin and his bandmate — guitarist Jonny Buckland, bass player Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion — poked fun at themselves throughout the session.
Asked how they would fit 16 years of music into about 12 minutes, Martin said, “We decided we’d play all our No. 1s, and then work out how to fill the other 10 minutes.”
Band members declined to say which team they were pulling for Sunday.
“I think we’re firmly split down the middle between those of us who know absolutely nothing about football,” Buckland said, “and those of us who know almost absolutely nothing about football.”
Said Martin: “It’s the Denver Panthers that we’re definitely rooting for.”
Delay of game
The Super Bowl features a longer pregame and halftime than players usually experience.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he broached the topic with Coach Ron Rivera.
“I was teasing Coach, ‘You need to let us out early so we can go see Beyoncé,’ you know what I’m saying?” Newton said. “Nope. Just trying to find any way to stay on rhythm as possible, I think that’s going to be key.”
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