While the NFL may see international games as an opportunity to expand into new markets, Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio sees it differently.
Del Rio’s Raiders will technically be the home team on November 19 against the New England Patriots when the two teams play in Mexico City. The coach sees that as a lost home game, however.
Del Rio on the Patriots game Nov. 19 in Mexico: "It's not thrilling for me to lose a home game. That's what it is–we're losing a home game.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 6, 2017
JDR: "It's a competitive disadvantage, in my opinion. One that we've faced the last couple years and will face the next few years."
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 6, 2017
This is absolutely an undeniable truth. Teams that “host” the games in England every year face the same issue.
In any other sport, this would be nothing more than sour grapes. An NBA or NHL team would be losing one of 41 home games, while an MLB team would lose one of 81. The competitive disadvantage is minimized, while the league would get a chance to expand into a new market.
But in football, you only get eight home games. Coach’s jobs are often decided based on whether they made the playoffs, and in a 16 game season, losing a home game could go a long way towards preventing a postseason appearance. At 4-5, Oakland is pretty much in “must-win” mode for the remainder of the season.
Oakland “hosted” the Houston Texans in Mexico City during the 2016 season and won the game 27-20.