NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL London

Mid June News

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The NFL off season continues to trudge on with the speed of cold molasses, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have some exciting Mid June News for you!
Ok, exciting might be a bit much, but we have news!

NFL Passport Tour

Have you heard about the NFL Passport Tour making its way to Europe next week? Either did we, but some US news organisations are reporting on it.

Here is where we first learned about it.
https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2023/06/13/michael-gallup-player-passport-tour/

Apparently, the NFL will be sending 8 players to the UK and Germany to do a press the flesh session with fans and media in those locations.

Players that have been slated to arrive include: Michael Gallup; Clyde-Edwards Helaire, Kevin Byard, Gabe Davis and a few more, but again, details have been a bit sketchy.

Give that MLB will be in London this week. don’t be surprised if you see them pop into some of the events or the games that are lined up next weekend.

TB12 Me

Tommy is finally an owner, and Vegas fans are clamouring for ‘We Want Tommy’, as TB12 continues to needle at the should of Jimmy G.

While the prospect of Tom Brady suiting up again for the Raiders is very remote, that doesn’t stop fans from wishing, hoping and dreaming that he’ll slide down from the upper decks, onto the field in full uniform and score three times with only 30 seconds to spare.

Keep dreaming.

Wanna Bet

The NFL is starting to crack down on gambling players like Netflix smashes password sharers.

Turns out if you’re sitting in a team facility, you CAN’T actually wager on your team, another team, Spelling Bee’s or the like, as it’s against team policy.

With Detroit getting burned heavily this year for not enforcing the rules, the really big question is ‘Who is the $8 Million Dollar Man’?
You know, the player who admitted to spending over $8mil last season betting on games?

That right there is a real problem, because it’s not like he was dropping change he found on his car seat on a righteous cause.
That’s what we call a ‘gambling problem.’

Expect more players to have the house come crashing down on them as the season continues.

Jacked Jones

Jack Jones might sound like a brand for fresh threads, but it’s also the name of a Patriots player found with a couple of nasty old handguns last week.

Jones placed two loaded guns with extended clip delivery rounds in his bag prior to boarding a flight from Boston to Arizona, sending off all kinds of alarm bells.

Seriously, two loaded firearms on an afternoon flight? You were on Twitter last month chastising Ja Morant for his gun behaviour, and now you do the same thing?

Supplemental Draft

‘The Supplemental Draft’ sounds like a side effect from one of those American weight loss drugs, or one of those Drafts that is held to help the wounded egos of those not previously picked. Sort of.

The idea behind a SD is that it gives players who might have fallen between the college cracks, or had eligibility issues to get a fresh start with a team.
There hasn’t been one held since 2019, and given the increasing amount of injuries each year, you can see why the NFL wants to get as many healthy bodies as possible.

This Draft is set up differently that the traditional one, giving non-playoff teams the chance to access a new host of players. (Remember Josh Gordon?)

The Supplemental Draft will be held in July, which means the regular season is only weeks away!

MLB in London

Ok, so it isn’t the NFL, but Major League Baseball is coming to London this week.

MLB Europe is throwing out all the balls, as they prepare to host a weekend of games at London’s Olympic Park between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.

To put that into football terms, it would be like if Leicester player Leeds this year. (wait, weren’t they both relegated??)

While the games might not feature two teams in contention, it should be a hoot as the league takes over Trafalgar Square for a few days of baseball fun.

If you’re looking to get that feeling of Americana, bring the family down to experience the batting cages, meeting players, and of course the FOOD!

Here’s more info for you!

https://www.mlb.com/international/events/london-series

That’s it for our Mid June News! Make sure you have a listen to our latest podcast!

May Daze

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Wow this spring seems to drag on forever! When is the NFL back? Is it training camp yet? All of these questions might be answered in this May Daze podcast.

As the weeks trudge on, it’s still almost 4 months to go before the NFL season kicks off again.
Just as a comparison, you can still build half a human in that time, although some religious folks might dispute the timeline.

To help you get through the doldrums, we have a podcast to help get you through the week, as Wade and Ryan wax on about all the nonsense that it is filling their heads as of late.
Make sure you get a listen to it here.

Among some of the things that the guys discuss in this podcast includes:

London Games

Hooray! We finally know all of the teams that are coming to Europe this year, spoiler alert-we get Jag’d off twice!

First up on October 1, 2023 will be an AFC/ NFC battle as the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley stadium.
Both teams have been here in the past few years, so it will be a nice surprise for Falcons fans who get to see their mediocre team twice in as much time.
The game should serve to build up the momentum for Jacksonville, and it will be nice to see what Calvin Ridley will treat UK fans to.

October 8th is a date to remember to bring your folding table from Costco, as the Bills Mafia descend on London for a match up between the Jaguars.
The last time the Bills came to London, they also played the Jaguars in 2015, but lost that game 34-31.
This should be an exciting game, with loads going on that week.

October 15th is the final of the London games for this year, as the Tennessee Titans host the Baltimore Ravens at Tottenham stadium.
Lamar Jackson and OBJ will be the big names to see, as this AFC battle should be an entertaining one for the London faithful.

Bye Cummies

The Washington Commanders sale is now going through, as the league says ‘see ya’ to Dan Snyder and his minions.
Having bought his childhood favourite team for $750 million in 1999, we went on to honour the legacy of the ‘Skins by not investing in the stadium, sexual allegations from cheerleaders, and changing the name to something horrible.
Your 12 year old self would vomit in your own mouth Dan if he/you saw what you/he did.
At least Magic Johnson doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet.

Super Bowling

The NFL went ahead and announced another Super Bowl last week, as if the 2023 schedule release wasn’t enough for hungry fans!

It looks like the trophy is heading back to SoCal for 2026, as the league heralded the 49ers as the hosts of the big game.
Given the rise in homelessness and sky-rocketing business vacancy rates in the city, tickets shouldn’t be that hard to finagle.

The other two Super Bowls are of course 2024 in Las Vegas, and 2025 in New Orleans.

With the legalisation of cannabis in many of these states, it will be interesting to see the state of many of the fans, as Vegas is going quite green these days for a desert.

Stream it Ain’t So

So YouTube will be showing the NFL this year, but given how the NBA Playoffs have been going, it might be a bit nervous for many NFL fans.

With reports of drop-outs, no streams and constant crashes, many NBA fans have taken to social media to rant about the state of the Google player.

Many UK fans remember that horrible debacle that occurred when the dolts at Deltatre took over the Gamepass, and we had nothing but outages for weeks.
They also got really butt-hurt when we complained on Twitter, and told the NFL UK not to work with us as a result.

Thankfully Deltratre is gone, and Dazn is in, so the streaming options for UK fans should be ok, after the NFL cracked the whip on them.

The big scary factor for US fans is that one of the Wild Card games will ONLY be available on Peacock, leaving tens of millions of fans unable to watch.

Good luck with that Peacock, what could go wrong?

Watch this space, as we will be announcing some big activity around the London games this year! Until then, enjoy the sunshine of your May Daze!

 

2023 London Games

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The 2023 London Games have been announced by the NFL, and the world seems right again.
The Jags will be playing in London two weeks in a row, and the Bills and Titans get two home games.
2023 has the NFL rocking Europe. Bring it on!

Our Predictions

Every year we here at NFL in London make our picks for who will be playing in the capital and when, and this season was as hit as miss as any.

We did correctly guess that the Bills would play on Oct 8th and the Titans on the 15th, as well as picking that the Ravens would be one of the teams to visit.
Other than that, we got it all wrong.

The Jags will be coming early October, (not late like we thought), and they are playing back-to-back in London, which fits given their current home stadium situation.

We had also heard that the Bears would be coming to Germany, but it seems like we weren’t the only ones, after Donna Kelce give us some insider tips.

Oh well, you can’t get them all right.

Oct 1- Falcons vs Jaguars (Week 4)

Atlanta is back in London after only a year away, as the Falcons look to take their ‘rebuild’ team to Europe to take on the AFC’s new/ old darling.

With Jacksonville struggling to get their home stadium affairs in order, they begin the nomadic hosting of games as Wembley, in a battle of the south.

Trevor Lawrence & Bijon will be some of the big names to to attend, and it will be fun to see Calvin Ridley play his old team in a country where betting is completely legal.

Should be a great game to kick off the season!

Oct 8- Jaguars vs Bills (Week 5)

Bills Mafia will be in full force, as they host the Jags in an awesome AFC battle that should be a decider in both of their divisions.

Josh Allen and the boys will be riding the blue high into Tottenham stadium for this 2:30pm kickoff, and expect a massive home crowd of Bills UK and Buffalo supporters making the trek.

With Jacksonville playing two games in row, they should be comfortable on London turf, and it will be a nice surprise for them to actually be the visitors in London for the first time ever.

Unlike many previous London games, this one could be a shoot-out.

Oct 15- Ravens vs Titans (Week 6)

Lamar is coming guys! Lamar is coming.

The Ravens have tidied up all of their drama, secured some new receivers, and are ready to ‘ahem’ their way into the AFC again this season.

Sure Joey B and them cats are getting all the love, but the Ravens know that every AFC win this year is key to moving into the top 4 discussion.

Tennessee has Billy Jeans, sorry Will Levis, so they will be ready to bring the Music City if fun to London for the final of the London games.

A great way to end the last of the London games, and this one sure should be full of excitement in North London.

Germany

The Germans proved to be exceptional hosts when the NFL came to Europe, and has set a bar to English fans that we need to sing, and smile more if we want to up out game.

With two great games set to touchdown across Germany in November, fans there are in for a fall treat of some pretty amazing games.

Nov 5- Dolphins vs Chiefs (Week 9)

It’s Tua vs Patrick, as the Fins head to Frankfurt for the first of two games in northern Germany.

This will not only be an incredible game, but full of atmosphere as well as two hot teams will be cheered on by fans from across Europe.

Expect big crowds, and an even bigger score.

Nov 12- Colts vs Patriots (Week 10)

The AFC is all over Europe this year, with a shut out of NFC teams coming across the pond. Sucks on them for doing the league late.

Indy will be recharged and super soaked in Jim Irsay’s passion and maybe some alcohol too, as the Colts are ready to rock a crappy division.

Bill Belichick wasn’t happy to travel to London a decade ago, so let’s see if the old guy softens on his return trip.

While not a marquee game like the rest, expect the Pats to draw a large Europe contingent, and the Colts to perhaps tap into the bustling equestrian scene. Who doesn’t love horsies?

Frankfurt will look to put the ‘F’ in the NFL this year, football and fun.

London Fun

We will be throwing a few parties around the London games this year, with tickets on sale shortly.
Watch this space.

Make sure you check out our Facebook page as well for more details.

https://www.facebook.com/nflinlondon

 

Top 10 London Games

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What have been the best NFL games to have been played in London?
Has there been a game that sticks out from memory based on how truly awesome it was?

We asked ChatGPT to detail the ‘Top 10 London Games‘, and the answers probably won’t surprise you, as it was written by AI.

Which game did you enjoy the most?

London has been the destination for some of the most exhilarating NFL games in history. From unforgettable touchdowns to nail-biting finishes, these games have kept fans on the edge of their seats. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 NFL games played in London.

1. Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders, 2014

In a game that went back and forth, the Miami Dolphins ultimately came out on top, thanks to a last-second touchdown by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The game had it all: big plays, turnovers, and a dramatic finish that left fans breathless.

2. Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons, 2014

The Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons treated fans to an offensive shootout in this 2014 game. The Falcons came out on top, but both teams put up impressive numbers, with the Falcons’ Matt Ryan throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

3. New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2009

In a game that had all the hallmarks of a classic matchup, the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put on a show for fans at Wembley Stadium in 2009. The Patriots’ Tom Brady threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the Buccaneers who emerged victorious.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 2013

This game featured two of the NFL’s most storied franchises, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers’ defense was dominant, forcing four turnovers and holding the Vikings to just 10 points in a 34-10 victory.

5. New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams, 2016

In one of the most exciting games ever played in London, the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams battled it out in a game that featured five lead changes. The Giants ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to a touchdown catch by Odell Beckham Jr.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys, 2014

In one of the most shocking upsets in NFL history, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a game that saw the Cowboys commit three turnovers. The Jaguars’ defense was the star of the show, sacking Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo three times and intercepting him twice.

7. Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2015

In a game that saw the Jacksonville Jaguars play in London for the second consecutive year, they faced off against the Buffalo Bills in 2015. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows throughout. In the end, it was the Jaguars who came out on top, thanks to a game-winning field goal by kicker Jason Myers.

8. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans, 2018

This game saw the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Tennessee Titans in a contest that had major playoff implications. The game was tight throughout, with the Chargers ultimately coming out on top, thanks to a late-game touchdown by quarterback Philip Rivers.

9. Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders, 2019

In a game that featured two of the NFL’s most historic franchises, the Chicago Bears took on the Oakland Raiders in 2019. The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to move the ball. In the end, it was the Raiders who came out on top, thanks to a game-winning touchdown catch by Tyrell Williams.

10. Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders, 2018

In the final game on our list, the Seattle Seahawks took on the Oakland Raiders in a matchup that saw two of the NFL’s most exciting quarterbacks face off. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the Raiders’ Derek Carr both put on impressive performances, with Wilson throwing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. In the end, the Seahawks dominated with a 27-3 final score.

That’s it for our AI inout on the best London games. We look forward to seeing what kind of delights we will get this year!

London Games 2023

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Alright NFL fans, the Draft is done, the season schedule is about to be released on May 11th, and we are due to know who is playing in the London Games 2023 on May 4th.

Prior to that date of course, we like to make our own predictions on who is going to play in London, and when.
It’s an annual fun tradition for us, and in no way is meant to confuse, or claim that these are the real games.
Although we have benefited from some great press from US media personalities reporting our news as gospel. (which it ain’t!)

Much like the Pro Bowl, this is just for fun, not to be taken too seriously, and forged under the influence of alcohol.
Funny enough we have gotten a few right in the past, let’s see how we do this year.

Methodology

No, we didn’t smoke ‘meth’ to come up with these, but we did look at schedule, past London appearances, recent team changes, and potential strength of travel schedule to determine who we think will be making it to the UK in the fall.

The London games have been moving steadily towards a two-chunk set at Tottenham early in the month, and a late October Wembley game in between the time changes.
This time change is a big part of the UK games, as it represents a 4 hour time difference between the east coast, and more appetising for networks schedulers.

We also asked ChatGPT but it got all weird and porny, so we just went back to our old faithful methods.

Again, no real science behind it.

If you want to listen to our DraftOver podcast, and our NFL London picks, listen here:

London Games 2023?

Raiders vs Bills-Oct 8, 2023

First up at Tottenham stadium this year will be the Buffalo Bills hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct 8, 2023 at 2:30pm. There are no tickets, because this is a guess.

The Bills are set to host the following teams in 2023, with their previous London visits in brackets:
Broncos (’22), Jaguars (’22), Giants (’22), Cowboys (’14), Bucs (’22*), Raiders (’19), Jets, Dolphins, Patriots.

Given the toughness and ticket sales of the AFC East this season, it is very unlikely that NFL would schedule a divisional game abroad in 2023.
Each one of these games is going to be very important, and not one they want to lose out on big rivalry matches.

Given that the Broncos & Bucs were in Europe recently, that leaves the Jags, Raiders and Cowboys as top targets. The league could surprise us by having the Jags play twice in London this year, but it feels like a bit of an odd bunching.

With Jerry Jones and America’s team commanding such presence, it would seem unlikely that they would travel from Texas to London as visitors. Jones has a lot of pull with the league, and he would probably poo-poo this quickly.

It would seem likely then, that the struggling Las Vegas Raiders would be the most likely candidate to play the Buffalo Bills in October 2023.

Panthers vs Titans-Oct 15, 2023

We know that the Titans are in a building year (again), so while this might not be a HUGE loss to Tennessee home fans, they will want to see a good game out of it.

The Titans have the following Home opponents for 2023:
Chargers (’18); Seahawks (’18); Bengals (’19); Ravens (’17); Panthers (’19); Falcons (’21); as well as the Texans, Colts and Jags.

Again, while a divisional game sounds appetising, and their division truly sucks, it would seem unlikely that owners would offer that up, as the Jags played the Texans in 2019 in a craptastic result.

The Bengals, Falcons and Seahawks will be looking to tap into their heat, and would probably push back to a Europe trip after having been here only a few short years ago.

Carolina has been making massive changes to the team, which always doesn’t translate that well into fan support, which is why we think that they will be the ones making the trek to London town in 2023.

Ravens vs Jaguars-Oct 29, 2023

The Jags ended the 2022 season quite respectably after stagnating under Urban decay. With Dougie P leading the way, and Lawrence finding his form, Jacksonville might not be a chore to trek to Wembley to.

Jacksonville has some tough teams on tap in 2023 with: Chiefs (22*); Bengals (19), 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, and their division tripe as well.

The one team that does stick out here are the Baltimore Ravens, who haven’t been to the UK since 2017.
With Lamar firmly in control, and the team now ready to rock to the playoffs, it seems tempting to think that the Ravens will be facing the Jags in north London under a harvest moon.

That’s it for our predictions for the London Games 2023.
Who do you think will be coming to the UK?
Let’s see how we do!