NFL in London

National Football League in London

2020 London NFL games

Conference Sunday

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What a wild weekend in the NFL Wildcard Playoffs! The Bills, Chiefs, Packers and Buccaneers all meet next week for Conference Sunday. Are you ready for some football?

The game lines for Sunday’s AFC and NFC championship have been released, with the Chiefs and Packers holding a narrow spread over their opponents. The Packers are favoured by 4 points over the Bucs at Lambeau, while the Chiefs are a scant 3 points favoured over the powerful Buffalo Bills.
Which two teams will be heading to the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay this season?

Here in the UK, those watching the Conference Sunday finals will have to wait until 20:05 for the NFC contest, while the AFC final follows directly after with a 23:40 kickoff. All of the games will be on NFL Gamepass.

Here are some thoughts heading into the final week of NFL playoffs before the SuperBowl.

Packers Offence

Aaron Rodgers continue to blister on at an MVP pace. The neigh sayers who bemoaned the Packers for not drafting a rookie WR to help Rodgers out have been silenced by the fact that he continues to spread the ball around relentlessly. Let’s not forget that the Packers have had the easiest route to the finals, so they will have much more to prove.

So Raven

Baltimore was smothered by the Bills defence on Saturday, forcing Lamar Jackson out of the game, and propelling them into the dank post season. Buffalo sure showed the blueprint to beat Lamar Jackson’s legs, and the Ravens will need a long hard look at what missing pieces they need to pick up in the offseason if they want to have any hope of making a longer playoff push next season.

Buffalo is Warming Up

The Ravens did what they could to throttle Josh Allen and the high flying Bills offence, but just don’t have enough to get it down. Buffalo is really starting to find their confidence now, which should be scary for a Chiefs team that barely escaped a bolstered Browns squad. Allen is also now starting to spread the ball out beyond Diggs, which will cause problems in KC.

We’re Secretly Brownies

As Patrick Mahomes made his way to the blue tent on Sunday night, a feeling started to roll across America ‘I might like the Browns’. Everyone started to root for this team as they showed their pluck and guile under the foot of the Chiefs presence. Cleveland didn’t play that bad. The Browns screwed up 2 HUGE chances in the redzone that would have made the game a totally different beast. Baker’s ill timed cross field interception took the momentum out of a huge drive, while Higgins leap into the end zone only to lose the ball to a touchback was a crappy way to end out the half. The fact that the refs missed a blatant helmet hit in the process means that the league still has work to do.

Henne Ain’t Great

Oooh everyone! Did you see the heroics of Henne? Yes, the 35 year old veteran back up had a few sneaky drives to keep the Chiefs in the win, but he also made some stoopid plays as well. How quickly everyone forgets the lame floater he tossed to a Browns player in the end zone. Not even Johnny Manziel would throw a lame duck like that. Any team that wants to sign Henne after that 2 quarters of mediocre play might be interested in some swamp land in Florida.

Reid’s Balls

Andy Reid has some pretty big balls. Going for it on 4th down with a backup QB, Reid decides to run a shotgun play quickly instead of letting the clock run and try to catch the D offside. The play worked, and sent the Browns packing. Thanks to the gonads of Andy Reid, there might be some big plays ahead.
Here is the play again.

Buc Up

Whoever keeps pissing in Tom Brady’s ‘Wheaties’, please stop. You’re giving him the motivation to star playing angry. While TB12 didn’t look amazing during the Saints game, he was facing one of the best D’s in the league. Tampa made some great adjustments to keep Tom safe, only allowing 1 sack as opposed to 10. Let’s also not forget that it was the Bucs who spanked the Packers huge this season, and with Tommy’s growing confidence, there could be trouble in Wisconsin this Sunday.

Brees Out

Well it looks like Drew Brees will be riding off into the sunset. Despite not officially saying this, every pundit and their uncle made their prediction that this would be Brees’ last game in New Orleans before taking a cushy broadcasting job. Brees has been a hell of a player, and such an ambassador for the city of New Orleans. There will be a big gap to fill after Brees leaves the swamp, and doubtful in Jameis Winston has being enough feet to fill those shoes.
The really classy moment came at the end, with footage of Brady and Brees talking to his family. TB12 throws a touchdown pass to little Brees…and no…you’re crying.

Have a great week, and let’s go Sunday!

Chad & Brandon

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Chad Johnson and Brandon Marshall are some of the most chatty and captivating NFL players who switched to punditry, so we’re proud to share this video of Chad & Brandon.
While both of these two men are known for some of their heroics on the field,  what comes out of their mouthes has also made these guys interesting.
So when Chad and Brandon both come together for a chat, along with fellow former players Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder for the ‘I Am Athlete’ YouTube series.

Have a listen to this, as these ‘older’ guys talk about the league today, as well as all of the social elements that new players have to deal with.

It’s no secret that Chad and Brandon are very smart cookies, and this comes through in the video, as the guys talk about some hilarious topics with great comedic timing.

This is the perfect video to get you though the cold of Covid. The guys explaining what ‘douching’ in will probably knock you off of you seat.

Truly hilarious.

Divisional Weekend

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Well that certainly put the ‘Wild’ in ‘Wildcard weekend, as it’s now time to move on to the NFL  Divisional Weekend.
Eight teams are left, as they all vie for the final two spots to the Superbowl. Who will have what it takes to be able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and claim top spot in a truly wild and wacky NFL season.

Superbowl Odds

Now that the Steelers are riding the bus home, many of the odds have now changed. It was only a few weeks ago that Pittsburgh fans were proudly proclaiming how that they ‘could go all the way’ in an undefeated season. They are going all the way…home.
The odds to win the next Super Bowl are as follows:

  • Chiefs +200
  • Packers +375
  • Bills +600
  • Saints +600
  • Ravens +800
  • Bucs +900
  • LA Rams +1600
  • Browns +2500

Obviously the Chiefs are the big faves heading into this weekend, but given how many fewer points they have been posting compared to last season, there will be lingering questions about how effective they are this season.
What a snub for the Bucs! Las Vegas obviously isn’t a TB12 devotee, but it will be a great rematch between the Saints and Bucs.

Divisional Games

Saturday

LA Rams vs Green Bay Packers
Packers -7.5  +46.5
21:35 GMT

The Rams proved you don’t need a QB so long as you have Aaron Donald to pound the crap out of the other team. The Seahawks are done, so now it’s up to the Rams to travel to Lambeau and thwart the tough as nails Packers. Good luck.
For us in the UK, this will be the first game on Saturday night.

Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills
Bills -2.5  +49.5
1:15am GMT

These late games can be really tough on us Brits, as these games don’t finish until close to 5am. Luckily there is a lockdown on, and it’s a Saturday night-so go wild. You might want to make sure that you get your afternoon nap prior to this one, as it’s going to get a bit wild.
The Ravens dropped a deuce on the Titans on Sunday, and should matchup well with Josh Allen and the Bills.

Sunday

Cleveland Browns vs Kansas City Chiefs
Chiefs -9.5  +55
20:05 GMT

Holy Cleveland! They came out firing and laid a filthy smack on the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not even Juju’s dancing could save the Steelers season, as they limp out to the offseason.
The Chiefs are heavy favourites in this one, but that might just spur on the Browns players even more.
This is the first game of the Sunday sessions, and reckons to be a high scoring affair in the cold.

Tampa Bay Bucs vs New Orleans Saints
Saints -3.5  +51.5
23:40 GMT

The Bucs survived the Washington team, while the Bears held the Saints close for 3 quarters and had a chance to win. Sure, the Saints have pissed off TB12 all year, but will they be able to do it when it counts. As you can see by the odds, Vegas doesn’t believe that the Bucs will make it past this game, despite Tom Brady saying that he was waiting for this rematch.
A late start for a Sunday night, again you’re probably not working so why not start Monday late?

We will have more info on these games as the week progresses, as well as updated odds and injuries. Make sure you also play along in our weekly DraftKings contests, where we host loads of weekly FREE and PAID contests so that you can win money with your NFL brain every week.

Sadly it doesn’t look like that we will have a SuperBowl event this year, but we will try to offer something interactive to you guys prior to the big game.
Hopefully the billionaire owners of the NFL can put their resources together and do something no one else can do…get fans in the stadiums next season!

We also have an NFL in London Facebook Group, so that you can stay up to date on all of the latest news and info regarding NFL activity in London.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NFLinLondon

 

 

2021 Predictions

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Thank God 2020 is done! Who invited that idiot to the party anyway? Geez.  Now that the worst year ever is done and dusted, it’s time to look ahead to the year that will be, as we make our 2021 Predictions.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that you should never know what to expect in the NFL.
Covid was the main factor in the 2020 season, taking fans out of the games, and featuring a series of checks and balances that kept every team on their toes.
We’ve seen dynasties rise (Chiefs), fall (Patriots), continue to fall further (Jets), and teams that just implode on themselves in pressure situations. (Browns/ Falcons/ Jags).

So, what can we expect in 2021? Here are out top predictions.

No London Games

Covid 19 is still on the field, which means that everything planned is once again on hold. The London NFL games involve travel, meeting new people, and engaging with fans…all things that we still aren’t allowed to do under this new normal. With the London games usually announced in the spring, it would seem highly unlikely that the league would risk pushing ahead with UK games given the uncertainty of next season. It’s no secret that players and coaches aren’t fans of traveling across the pond to play games, so the looming spectre of 2021 Covid will be enough for the NFLPA to pump the brakes on London games. Teams would also find it difficult to get insurance for such a trek, not to mention the potential of having zero fans at Wembley, which would make it feel like a ‘Little Mix’ concert.

Covid Rules

It seems highly unlikely that we will have a vaccine and protocols in place for live sports viewing completed within the next few months, which means we will be once again under stricter protocols. While 2021 might be less rigorous in Covid control, there are still several billion people on the planet who are potentially at risk. We’ve already seen how the virus adapts to stay alive, which makes it the New York Jets of infections. Like the Jets, hopefully Covid still won’t have a chance next season.

Sports Bars Die

Don’t mix with other households. Don’t scream or yell. Don’t stand at the bar.
We got a brief glimpse of this in 2020, as governments cracked down on public gatherings in an effort to control the spread. With the virus still with us for the foreseeable future, these restrictions will continue to flex in and out as our frontline workers battle the ever changing nature of the beast.
Sadly sports bars will continue to suffer under this weight. Fans have already started to get use to watching at home, as well as saving money drinking at home.
While nothing can replace the excitement of watching sports with mates, the NFL will be a casualty to football.
We’ve already seen the Premier League move later on Sunday nights, making it an easier choice for bars to go with the low-hanging fruit of a football fan, rather than cater to niche American football fans.
The sports bar is in for a rough ride in 2021, and the NFL right along with it.

Not the Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs are primed to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2021…or are they. If the year has taught us anything, it’s that anything can happen. Pittsburgh went undefeated to then lose to a bunch of losers and put their playoffs at risk. The Bears blew a huge run of games to expose their true talent. The Jets couldn’t even properly tank to get the best new player next year.
Everything you think is going to happen…doesn’t.
With that in mind, this year’s Super Bowl will not be made up of favourites.
Can the NFC East mount a challenger to go all the way? It’s happened before, and it can happen again.

Sam Darnold

‘To me, you are perfect’. Those are the kind of ‘Love Actually’ signs that Darnold could find popping up on his back porch. Adam Gase took a perfectly good, shiny new toy, and left it outside to rust. The Jets will move on from Gase and Darnold, which will allow a new suitor to pick him up and mould him into something other teams will fear.
That team? Why not the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rivers Retires

Old Man Rivers has been fortunate to get another run at the game after leaving the Chargers. Sure, the Colts have looked goodish, but Rivers isn’t the passer he once was. Like any man in his late 30s’, the balls are starting to drop and wobble more. Rivers has already hinted that this might be his last season, so a big Colts loss in the post season could have him call it a day.
Like other former Colts QBs who retire, he will be taken out behind the shed and shot in the head.

Bears Keep Trubisky

You can’t get rid of herpes, you can only contain its flares. Mitch has itched his way to the top of the shaft once again, pushing out points as the Bears make a late playoff squirt.
The best discharge scenario is to scrape Mitch from the tip, and start fresh and clean again…or is it?
No one is going to want to take a Trubisky Ride after seeing him spooge bad decisions every week, so the Bears might just want to wrap him up and keep him in the back pocket.
The Bears will need to rebuild a are program under a new QB, but until then, you gotta itch Mitch.

Bye Bye Julio

Julio Jones is as much Atlanta as a peach tree, but it’s time for this little peach to leave the farm. After all, what’s more vulnerable than a peach? Julio is getting on in years, and you wonder how much more he has left in the tank? With Hopkins and other older receivers still finding ways to make hay, it would seem logical that he test his skills on a new team in 2021.
Which teams would Julio make interesting in 2021? The Chargers, Broncos and Jaguars all could be interesting spots in 2021.

Among some of the other bold predictions we have for the 2021 season include:

-The Jaguars will make the playoffs in the 2021 season.
-Jimmy Garoppolo returns to the 49ers who mount a decent comeback.
-Matt Stafford moves from Detroit to either the Colts, Broncos, or Patriots. 
-Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will turn the XFL into a viable spring league. 
-Dak resigns with the Cowboys, but they have another frustrating season. 
-Allen Robinson leaves the Bears for the Dolphins.
-Shaq Barret leaves the Bucs for the Patriots. 
-Kenny Golladay signs with the Colts.
-Tom Brady retires after the end of the 2021 season after losing once again in the NFC Championship final. 

Those are our predictions for the NFL in 2021, hopefully it’s not all that bleak and sad.
We all want the NFL to return to normal, to have games back in London once again, and for all of us to meet up together to share in the joy of the NFL games.
The sooner this happens, the better a place the world will be.

Good luck to everyone in 2021, happy new year.

London Throwback

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With the 2020 NFL season almost done and dusted, we thought we would hit you with a bit of nostalgia, as we give you a London Throwback video.

The year was 2018. Trump was still president, the youth were still glued to their phones, Corona was still a watered down Mexican beer, and we could watch the NFL in public.
Oh what a time to be alive!

This game would be later known as the ‘Minneapolis Miracle’, for an incredible game which saw the Minnesota Vikings come back after being down to the New Orleans Saints.
Those of us gathered in a former London casino in the wee hours of a cold January night were in for a treat of a game.
Who could forget the heroics of a certain Case Keenum  who took over from Sam Bradford & Teddy Bridgewater to mount a comeback against the plucky play of Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

The last play brought with it a ‘Buffalo Right-Seven Heaven’ which saw Case toss the ball to a leaping Stefon Diggs who would go on to score.
Marcus Williams would go on to be a 2018 meme for his missed tackle, and last efforts that saw the Vikings move on.

Where were you for the Minneapolis Miracle? Did you join us at the casino to watch the game? Who was the guy at the end screaming at Saints fans? Did you happen to say hi to Cecil?

The NFL is better when we can all watch it with you! We look forward to that potential in 2021.

Stay safe, sane and have a happy new year everyone!