Debbie Emery

Trump’s dreams of building a wall didn’t stop NFL fans from flooding to Mexico City this weekend, as the New England Patriots took on the Oakland Raiders at Estadio Azteca Stadium.

It was the first trip south of the border for Tom Brady and co., while the Raiders — who treated it as a home game — were down there last year against the Houston Texans.

While most viewers watched from home or in sports bars via CBS, TheWrap ventured down to Mexico City for the historic game.

Also Read: Tom Brady Calls Trump's NFL Player Protest Remarks 'Divisive' (Audio)

Here are nueve (nine) things you didn’t see on TV.

1. The fans are manic in Mexico, and we mean that in the best possible way! The weekend’s festivities kicked off at the NFL Fan Fest in Zocalo Square. Supporters of all teams across the league posed with giant helmets, running a 50-yard dash, or checking out the Lombardi Trophy.

2. “Black-ish” actor Anthony Anderson was among those who made the trip from California to cheer on the Raiders. He was spotted at the Intercontinental Hotel the night before the game posing for photos with fans.

Also Read: Why Gotham Chopra, Tom Brady and Michael Strahan Call Their Show 'Religion of Sports'

3. The Mexican Wave is a real thing — and it is so much more exuberant when done in Mexico by genuine Mexicans.

This picture of Tom Brady from the Patriots-Raiders game looks like he's entering a cage match. pic.twitter.com/RP4Ddo88Rt

— NFL MEMES (@NFLMemes4You) November 19, 2017

4. These fans know their stuff when it comes to the NFL. There was no confused looks during complicated plays or lengthy drives, and they were nearly all decked out in jersey, hats and insane regalia — even the little kids. Oh yeah, we also saw Darth Vader — turns out he’s a Raiders fan.

5. The game was 100 percent and international experience — with the national anthems of both countries being sung before the game, as the U.S. and Mexican flags were laid on the field and fireworks exploded above.

Dola Dola Bills.@DannyAmendola comes up clutch on 3rd-and-goal. #PatriotsEnMexico pic.twitter.com/LPC5X2Zg5B

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 19, 2017

6. At 7,380 feet above sea level, Azteca Stadium is 2,100 feet higher than Denver’s Mile High Stadium, which is why the Patriots spent the week practicing in Colorado Springs. Despite mountains of bottled water being found everywhere, New England cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Danny Amendola were both sidelined for dehydration. Fortunately Amendola had already scored a beautiful touchdown from Brady and had thrown the ball into the stands.

7. Concessions are definitely different in Mexico! Hot dogs and burgers could be found, along with Mexican beer, of course. But also on offer were hot peppers with lime, street tacos — and most bizarrely — cup o’ noodles with lime wedges. Up in the press box, members of the media were fed traditional chicken rolls.

8. Security couldn’t have been tighter both at the game and before. Airport-style metal detectors checked everyone entering both team hotels in the Polanco area of Mexico City. On game day morning, armed guards protected the players as they got on the buses for the stadium. Patriots owner Robert Kraft was escorted to his private car by security detail, while SWAT teams holding machine guns watched from the back of Jeeps.

Also Read: Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady Puts a Smile on for Roger Goodell, Tears Up Over His Mom

9. The halftime didn’t quite rival a Super Bowl show, but it was pretty damn impressive. A collection of rescue workers — human and canine — took to the field in formation as the letters M-E-X-I-C-O were spelled out in remembrance of the 468 people who were killed in the recent earthquakes. The crowd was asked to raise a fist in a moment of silence to honor the victims.

Two things that were shown on TV but still have to be mentioned are the fact that the Patriots blew away the Raiders with a 33-8 victory, despite them having struggled in altitude in the past. And New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski set a new career high with a 62-yard field goal. However, the altitude could have helped with that, as the thin air makes it easier for the ball to travel further.

20 Famous New England Patriots Fans From Ben Affleck to Marky Mark (Photos)

Super Bowl LII, the big number 52, is upon us, and fans all over the country will tune in to see the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles. If you're rooting for the Patriots this weekend, here's a rundown of the good, famous company you'll be in when you do. And if you're an Eagles fan, here's a quick celebrity enemies list so you can rub it in their faces on Twitter.
Gisele Bündchen

It’d be a lot more interesting if the Brazilian supermodel who had also married Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady in fact was not a Patriots fan. Unfortunately, and predictably, she is.
Mark Wahlberg

It’s crazy obvious, right? Everyone knows about Marky Mark’s Boston background. Wahlberg shows up for plenty of games, sitting on the sidelines or hanging out with Patriots owner Robert Kraft. He's also pals with Tom Brady, who appeared on Wahlberg's show "Entourage."
Ben Affleck

Let’s keep right on going with “Famous Massachusetts natives who do that accent in movies.” Batfleck, who was born in California but grew up in Cambridge, Mass., somewhat angrily defended Tom Brady over that whole “Deflategate” scandal. He takes the Patriots pretty seriously. And Jennifer Garner, who’s married to Affleck, says he loves Tom Brady.
Matt Damon

Matt “How do you like them apples” Damon is also a Massachusetts native, and a big-time Patriots guy. He also talked about Deflategate on TV like Affleck, but with a bit more chill. Still, Damon’s known to wear Pats gear, hang out at games, and get photographed wearing Super Bowl rings.
Lea Michele

Although she's a New Yorker, singer and star of "Scream Queens" and "Glee" Lea Michele has said she's always been a Patriots fan. Tom Brady might have something to do with it, as might the team's many championship wins.
Kofi Kingston

WWE star and New Day tag team member Kingston was born in Ghana, but moved to Boston in his youth. He’s a big Patriots fan, and he told Patriots.com he gets up to some football-themed trash-talking during the season. That might be a change of pace from the regular trash-talking wrestlers get up to all the time.
Sir Elton John

The Patriots' logo might call up images of the Colonies' revolt against the crown, but England-born Sir Elton doesn’t let it keep him from cheering for the Pats. John is friends with owner Robert Kraft, and in 2009 when the Pats played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at London’s Wembley Stadium, the Patriots made him honorary team captain.
Stephen Hawking

Physicist and genius Hawking gave a lecture last year at Harvard on the subject of black holes. Apparently, that interested Robert Kraft, who dropped by and presented Hawking with a custom Patriots jersey. The number on the back: Pi.
Elizabeth Banks

Another native of Massachusetts, Banks watched her Patriots defeat the Seahawks in Super Bowl 49 from the celebrity box at University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona. You can often track her thoughts on the Patriots on Twitter, where she regularly tweets during games.
Paul Pierce

Former Los Angeles Clippers forward Pierce started his NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He’s still part of the Patriots Nation, and took to Twitter to show off the Patriots gear he was sporting during the AFC Championship game in January 2017.
Steven Tyler

Aerosmith is a Boston band, and Steven Tyler is a Patriots fan. The singer has performed a couple of national anthems at Patriots games, in 1999 and again at the 2012 AFC Championship game, where he famously wore a sparkly Patriots scarf.
Maria Menounos

Former "Extra" host Menounos is a well-known Patriots fan. Her dedication sometimes costs, though: She lost a bet on the Pats with "Extra" correspondent AJ Calloway when the New York Giants defeated them in Super Bowl 46. The punishment was appearing on TV in a Giants bikini.
Conan O’Brien

Conan’s from Boston, and he attended Harvard. After four Super Bowl wins, Conan finally declared himself a Patriots fan in a video for the NFL in the run up to Super Bowl 49. He’s actually a lifelong fan of the team, and before Super Bowl 51 pitted the Falcons against the Pats on his show — playing video games.
Chris Evans

Yup, Captain America is, somewhat fittingly at least from a branding standpoint, a Patriots fan. Evans, a Boston native, famously made a bet with fellow Marvel alumnus Chris Pratt when Evans’ Patriots took on Pratt’s Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 49. Loser had to visit a children’s charity in the winner’s city dressed in their Marvel universe costume. Evans won, but both visited kids at Boston’s Christopher’s Haven, a charity for kids battling cancer.
Michael Chiklis

Last year, "The Shield" and "Gotham" actor Chiklis introduced a new member of his family: Tom Brady. That was the name he gave his new pug, just in time for the 2017 Super Bowl.
Jon Bon Jovi

Though he's from New Jersey, Bon Jovi has grown to become something of a Patriots superfan over the years. He even gave the team permission to use his band's song, "This is Our House," during games.
Julie Chen

Though she'd rather watch the games from the comfort of her own home, Chen admits to a personal connection to the Patriots. "I'm a big Tom Brady fan. Robert Kraft is a personal friend of ours - so there's also that, you know. I have to be honest."
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John Krasinski

Although Jim Halpert may have been an Eagles fan, this Boston native bleeds red, white and blue. "It's fun to be from a place that has so much and legendary sort of sports stories to tell my daughter one day very soon." He even appeared alongside Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Chris Evans in a Jimmy Kimmel skit lampooning Deflate-gate.
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Mindy Kaling

This "Office" and "Mindy Project" alum let her support be known after the Patriots defeated the Jaguars in the AFC Championship. "Very excited people in this household regarding the outcome of the football game @Patriots #SuperBowl."
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John Cena

Cena was bummed that his busy WWE schedule kept him from staying in Houston for Super Bowl LI. "The fact that the Patriots are consistently great, amidst all the controversy...they just always play really well. They're a down-to-business team. Not a lot of flash, not a lot of flare. The Belichick postgame press conference pretty much says it all. I like that, because the rest of the league hates it."
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Batman and Captain America are among those cheering on The Pats this Sunday at Super Bowl 52

Super Bowl LII, the big number 52, is upon us, and fans all over the country will tune in to see the New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles. If you're rooting for the Patriots this weekend, here's a rundown of the good, famous company you'll be in when you do. And if you're an Eagles fan, here's a quick celebrity enemies list so you can rub it in their faces on Twitter.

View In Gallery

20 Famous New England Patriots Fans From Ben Affleck to Marky Mark (Photos)

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