The NFL hasn’t played a game in Mexico City since 2005, but they make their long-awaited return to the country on Monday Night Football, when the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans face off at the venerated Estadio Azteca.
Texans vs. Raiders 2016 live stream: How to watch NFL Mexico City matchup online
The NFL returns to Estadio Azteca for the first time since 2005.
The home of the Mexico national soccer team routinely draws crowds of more than 100,000, and it should be an electric atmosphere on ESPN. Online viewers in the U.S. can stream it at WatchESPN.
The Raiders (7-2) are coming off their bye week with all the momentum in the world after a dominant performance over the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Led by a bruising running attack from Latavius Murray (20 carries, 114 yards, three touchdowns), Oakland was rarely threatened in the 30-20 road win. After years of being one of the NFL’s biggest laughingstocks, the Raiders have been rejuvenated by a youth movement featuring quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and linebacker Khalil Mack.
In his third season as the starter, Carr’s left little doubt that he’s the legitimate franchise QB Oakland has been desperately searching for. Through nine games, he’s completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,505 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. Carr is firmly in the MVP conversation at the moment.
After taking down the defending Super Bowl champions, the Raiders’ next test is to avoid any trap games as they’re locked in a three-way battle with the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown. Thus, they’ll have to stay focused against a Texans team that’s the ultimate paper tiger in the AFC right how.
Although Houston is 6-3 and at the top of the AFC South, the Texans’ record is more than a little misleading. They have a point differential of just -27 and have failed to show up in big matchups this season. The last time the Texans were on primetime television, they got humiliated by the Broncos, 27-9.
The biggest reason for the Texans’ struggles is easy to pinpoint -- Brock Osweiler hasn’t been the answer. He’s completing just 58.8 percent of his passes for 5.6 yards per attempt, last among qualified QBs and behind such luminaries as Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles. He’s thrown just 11 touchdown passes to nine interceptions. The downfield passing game has all but dried up as Osweiler plays Captain Checkdown, and Lamar Miller (720 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per attempt) can only do so much to keep the offense moving. In addition, dynamic rookie wideout Will Fuller missed Week 9 with a leg injury and will be a game-time decision for Monday night.
That said, the defense is still playing well even without J.J. Watt, ranking third in the league in yards allowed per game and 12th in points allowed per game. Despite some glaring, potentially fatal flaws with his roster, Bill O’Brien keeps squeezing out results, so Houston should never be taken for granted in any given week. We’ll see if they can pull off another surprising win in the high altitude of Mexico City.
How to watch
Time: 8:30 p.m .ET
Place: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters
Online: WatchESPN
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