Mexico City matchup switched to L.A.

On Tuesday, the NFL moved the Rams’ Monday night matchup with the Chiefs from Mexico City to Los Angeles because of the poor condition of the field at Azteca Stadium.

The league announced the extraordinary decision six days before one of the most-anticipated regular-season games of the year.

In a news release, the league said it determined that the recently re-sodded field at Mexico City’s historic stadium “does not meet NFL standards for playability and consistency, and will not meet those standards by next Monday.”

The Rams (9-1) will host the Chiefs (9-1) at the Coliseum instead.

The game is just the fifth meeting since 1970 between teams with one or no losses in Week 11 or later.

The decision creates a morass of logistical concerns for the teams and for fans traveling to Mexico, but the league consulted with the players’ association and local officials before deciding it couldn’t risk the players’ health on a damaged field. Le’Veon Bell won’t play in 2018. The Steelers’ running back declined to sign his one-year $14.4 million franchise tender with Pittsburgh by Tuesday’s deadline, making him ineligible to suit up for the AFC North leaders or anyone else this season.

The unusual decision to sit out won’t prevent Bell from becoming a free agent next spring, when the three-time Pro Bowler hopes to cash in with a contract that would make him the highest-paid back in the NFL.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin seemed resigned to Bell’s decision shortly before the deadline, saying simply “so be it” when asked about the possibility of Bell not returning to his team, which stands 6-2-1.

The Buffalo Bills released receiver Terrelle Pryor two weeks after signing the eighth-year player. Pryor was selected by the Raiders as a quarterback in the 2011 supplemental draft.