MEXICO CITY – The Raiders spent all week at sea level preparing to play 1-¼ miles up. They left Oakland around noon on Saturday confident that altitude won't be an issue in Sunday's game against New England.
Estadio Azteca sits at 7,200 feet, a comparable elevation to where the Patriots have been practicing in Colorado Springs. That has created a debate of sorts about which philosophy works best. There's science to support staying in altitude with New England.
There's plenty more to back head coach Jack Del Rio's desire to get in and out of altitude as fast as possible. We won't break down the arguments here. There are plenty of stories written about that.
We'll simply say the Raiders believe in their approach, and have experience to support it. The Raiders best Houston in Mexico City last year in a dramatic affair that required two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
"I thought we handled our business well last year and we've got a similar approach this year," Del Rio said. "We expect to go down there and play in a great atmosphere. The fans are very engaged. It's a great atmosphere to be a part of. Just go down there and play good football."
The Raiders have worked toward this game the past three weeks. They've worked on exercise bikes and treadmills using elevation machine, which matches oxygen outputs at specific elevation. Players have done that and have then been able to recover at sea level. They've worn popularized oxygen deprivation masks during other activities, though they've practiced as usual.
The Raiders know what to expect in terms of logistics, altitude and air pollution. The Raiders have prepared well for this experience, but that doesn't mean altitude doesn't impact finely tuned athletes.
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"When you get there, you're going to feel it," edge rusher Khalil Mack said in an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area. "It's different than anything you've ever felt. It's different than Denver. It was a way tougher challenge. You felt it right away. It hits you getting off the plane."
Both teams must play in adverse conditions.
"We just have to go play," Raiders linebacker NaVorro Bowman said. "You guys aren't going to say the altitude had an effect on the outcome. You can't use it as an excuse. You can't think about that. You have to train and prepare the way they've been having us prepare and go out there and execute."
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hasn't talked much about his strategy of staying at elevation after playing in Denver last week. Extended time away from home can be a bonding time, as the Raiders experienced a fortnight past in Sarasota, FL. He didn't consider the time spent at Air Force Academy to be a significant advantage.
"I don't think it's that big of a deal," Belichick said. "The way the schedule worked out, this worked out for us. We're here and we're just doing the best we can to get ready for the game."
The Raiders anticipate Estadio Azteca to feel like home away from home. Raider Nation turned out en masse last year in Houston, giving the neutral site a silver and black edge. Fans took it to the extreme at times, pointing a green laser pointer in Texans quarterback Brock Osweiller's eyes.
The NFL will certainly be looking to quell those disruptions, especially with a marquee Patriots team in town. New England fans will be audible this time, but another pro-Raiders atmosphere is expected. That's why Derek Carr isn't worried about distractions from the crowd.
"No, no, no, no, no. I think that going down there is a home field advantage," Carr said. "I'm not worried about the laser pointers. I think that's for the other guys."
