MEXICO CITY — The New England Patriots trained all week in the high altitude at the Air Force Academy, which was an experience they said wouldn’t mean as much if they didn’t finish with a victory over the Oakland Raiders.

They took care of that rather quickly Sunday with a 33-8 win at Estadio Azteca, where chants of “Brady! Brady! Brady!” filled the smoggy air.

The Patriots thumped the Raiders in a complete three-phase effort that reflects their place as one of the league’s best, while positioning themselves for a deep playoff run by playing their best football in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, at 40 years old, quarterback Tom Brady continues to make a strong case for MVP honors.

Brady wowed the Mexico crowd, which began chanting his name after the Raiders were stopped on third down on their initial drive. The anticipation of seeing Brady, who has now won an NFL game in three different countries (U.S., England, Mexico), created a rare environment that had a Super Bowl-type feel.

Brady rang up his 82nd career game with 300 yards passing, but if there was one moment that best captured how the Patriots are rolling as a complete team, it came late in the second quarter as the Raiders were threatening to score a touchdown.

Bill Belichick’s best teams have always had a knack for taking advantage of opponents’ miscues, and that’s what happened when Raiders receiver Seth Roberts inexplicably held the ball out in front of him after making a catch at the 3-yard line. Linebacker Marquis Flowers, a core special-teams player who has a niche role on defense by playing in passing situations, took off like a jet on the Air Force Academy runway and blasted it free.

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has been ruled out for Monday night’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks due to a concussion, meaning Tevin Coleman will start.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said he would take it through the week before making a final call on Freeman, who was knocked out in the first quarter of last week’s 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. It was Freeman’s second concussion since August and his third since November 2015.

Coleman will get his fourth career start and his first since the 2015 season, when he was named the starter over Freeman to begin the year. Last week, Coleman tied a career high with 20 rushing attempts and ran for a season-high 83 yards. His 21 total touches, including one reception, marked a career high.

Although Coleman doesn’t have the same vision and elusive ability as Freeman, he is a better big-play threat with his breakaway speed in the open field. Coleman’s current average of 4.8 yards per carry is a career best and ranks among the league leaders.

Terron Ward moves into the backup role behind Coleman. The Falcons signed Terrence Magee off Cleveland’s practice squad this week as added insurance at the position.

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he plans to appeal an $18,231 fine for a hit on Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton.

“It’s extortion,” Richardson said.

The hit in question occurred in the first quarter of Seattle’s 22-16 win on Nov. 9. Richardson said he was pushed in the back by a Cardinals offensive lineman and that he tried to let up before hitting Stanton’s legs, which drew a penalty for roughing the passer.

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  Cardinals QB Blaine Gabbert will start against the Texans on Sunday, with injured Drew Stanton serving as the backup, if he can.

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  As a result of a hit he took from Karlos Dansby in the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Arizona Cardinals last week, quarterback Russell Wilson said he needed to have his jaw realigned. Dansby was fined $18,231 by the NFL.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has asked for a special league meeting with NFL owners to talk about commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract extension negotiations, but an ownership source told ESPN’s Jim Trotter that owners currently have no plans to act on Jones’ request.

Jones’ request was made to ownership in a letter, the contents of which were reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.

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  Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ actions during commissioner Roger Goodell’s contract talks have been “detrimental” to the league, according to a letter sent to Jones by the NFL.