MEXICO CITY — The names on the billboard certainly had big-time appeal back in September.
Patriots vs. Raiders. Tom Brady vs. Derek Carr.
Football fans have been wanting to see this clash of titans for some time. Given the revival of the Raiders last season, and emergence as a playoff team, this was one of the more highly anticipated showdowns on the Patriots’ calendar.
It was a marquee matchup, to be sure, but the Raiders haven’t quite held up their end of the bargain. At 4-5, in second place behind the Chiefs in the AFC West, Oakland has been one of the league’s most disappointing teams.