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Green Laser Shined on Brock Osweiler During Texans vs. Raiders
While the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders battled in Mexico City on Monday Night Football, it appears one fan was determined to make an impact from the stands.
Someone shined a green laser pointer at Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, as captured by Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated:
NFL on ESPN provided another look at the distraction:
This is the first NFL game at Estadio Azteca since 2005.
The ESPN broadcast noted NFL security was aware of the issue and was searching for the culprit in the stands.
After the game, Osweiler was asked about the distraction, per ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop:
"I'm still gathering information on what exactly took place, but all I know at this point is, when we were out there on the field on offense, there were multiple times I saw a green laser coming from the stands," Osweiler said. "There were a couple of times it definitely hit me in the eye. And it was very noticeable."
Osweiler refused to say the laser was "the difference-maker" in the game, but he said, "Certainly, having a laser zoomed in on your eyeball definitely affects how you play."
A similar situation occurred at Ford Field in 2014, when the Detroit Lions faced the Buffalo Bills. The individual who shined a laser pointer on opposing players was eventually banned from the stadium for life.
The Mexico City game was a continuation of the international series of NFL games, which also includes contests in London. A recent resolution not only extended the ability to play regular-season games outside the United States until at least 2025, but it also expanded the list of potential countries beyond England.
The Raiders would go on to register a 27-20 win.
