Woodson Impressive in Raider Victory

Charles Woodson’s ferocious first-quarter hit on Antonio Freeman forced a turnover that ignited the Oakland Raiders to a 27-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Green Bay, Wis.

Woodson got his first professional start at left cornerback because Coach Jon Gruden wanted him tested by quarterback Brett Favre and receivers Freeman and Derrick Mayes.

He passed with flying colors.

“No butterflies,” he said. “It’s still football.”

And Woodson, the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, is still the playmaker he was at Michigan.

On Favre’s first pass in his direction, Woodson hammered Freeman as the ball arrived and free safety Eric Turner grabbed the ricochet and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.

It was one of three turnovers the Raiders (2-0) turned into 17 first-half points on their way to a 24-7 halftime lead against the Packers (2-1).

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Football fans in Mexico will get another taste of NFL action tonight when the Dallas Cowboys play the New England Patriots.

Promoters say they expect more than 100,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where a 1994 exhibition game between the Cowboys and Houston Oilers attracted an NFL-record crowd of 112,000.

Players criticized the Azteca field after the 1994 game, but NFL turf consultant George Toma said, “it’s improved 100%.”

The field was in good shape Sunday despite more than two inches of rain since Thursday. Forecasts called for rain tonight.