NFL in London

National Football League in London

Atlanta Falcons London 2021

Draft Review

by

The 2021 NFL Draft is now done and dusted…on with the season!

Ok, so the season is still a summer away, but at least we have this to distract us until then.
Wade & Ryan look at the whole dang draft, (ok-the good bits) in our 2021 Draft Review podcast.

After a year of crappy Covid, it was nice to reach some level or normalcy once again.
Yes, fans were masked and distanced…but they could boo Roger Goodell again!
Say what you will about RG, but his playfulness with the fans on his likeability is refreshing.
He seems to even relish in it year on year.
Keep it up Rog, we need a heel these days.

(but we’ll get to Aaron Rodgers soon)

In terms of winners of the 2021 NFL Draft, the guys will look at all the teams, but also focus on what teams did to enhance their whole squad.
Our 2021 NFL Draft Review winners are:

  1. Chicago Bears

    The Bears came out on top of a draft? Is this some feverish dream? In some sort of odd Tetris scenario, Justin Fields fell to the Bears in an opportunity.
    While the Broncos could have grabbed Fields, they allowed the Bears to move up to swap with the Giants and snag this Ohio State great.
    Add to this a solid OT, and the Bears were able to make something out of nothing.
    Now…what will they do with it.

  2. Miami Dolphins

    Too gets his Waddle, as well as a whole host of talent. Miami is looking to add to a surprising 2020 team by adding more depth in D and the offensive weapons.
    The Dolphins got sweet heat for that pre-Draft trade with the 49ers and Eagles.
    Miami made enough moves to make the AFC East interesting…now it’s only up to Tua.

  3. Cleveland Browns

    The Browns have added more danger to their 2021 squad in their vision for a shot at the AFC title this year. With 8 picks, Cleveland immediately spent 5 of those on D, all of whom could feasibly start this year.
    Where Cleveland really shone was some offensive line steals early on.
    James Hudson will give Baker plenty of protection…and time.

  4. NY Jets

    Will the Jets squander all of their picks only to end up back here in a few years? Sadly, it’s possible. The Jets have the control and responsibility of a crack-head when it comes to their draft picks.
    They make them, break them, then line up again at the trough complaining that they ‘didn’t get a good one.’
    Even a petulant child should only be given so many toys.
    With Adam Gase managing a local Wendy’s, it should give the Jets plenty of inspiration.

  5. LA Chargers

    Are you ready for some support Justin Herbert? The Chargers made some great moves to not only protect Herbert, but to also give him a bit of mustard on D.
    LAC fizzled out on injuries as the season drew on, so it’s good that they found some fresh meat to give Herbert some time downfield.
    With Lynn out, the Chargers could make a hefty push for the AFC playoffs this season.

Have a laugh and a listen to this weeks 2021 Draft Review podcast. Please feel free to share, care and listen in your underwear.

The NFL schedule is released on May 12th, so we should have a better idea of who is coming to London this season.

Draft Hangover

by

Draught can give you a wicked hangover. It could be the hops, the barley, the sugar, or the fact that you drowned 13 of them quickly to try to numb the pain that is your NFL fandom. Like the liquid draught, the NFL Draft can bring with it a mighty wallop of a hangover.

So which teams were able to handle the draft, and which ones got so tuned out it may affect their next few years?
Not surprisingly, there were a few boneheaded moves from the draft that could have plenty of reverb in September.

Among some of the hot topics to emerge from the 2021 NFL Draft include.

Pack it in Aaron

If ever there was an NFL model for a tortured relationship, it would be the Green Bay Packers. Despite having a solid QB who tops the league every season, the Pack continue to starve Rodgers as if they are testing him to see how well he will perform without some of his talents.
Green Bay COULD have taken one of the many wide receivers on offer at the draft, and opted to snag another defensive member of the backfield.
The Packers could have let this drama simmer another season had they just given the guy some sign that they were keen on him, and the team making a solid playoff rush in 2021.
Instead, Green Bay now has a pissed of QB who is not only ready to leave, but also point a target on their heads for the rest of his career.
With the amount of cap space the Packers have to eat to deal with Rodgers, you would think that they would have thought this through a bit more.
Ready to suit up Love?

Bear Down

With the Packers struggling (yet still winning) in the NFC North, it was up to Chicago to make something in the 2021 Draft.
Chicago was gifted the chance to move up for Justin Fields at number 11, and traded with the Giants to get him at that spot.
Within a fortnight, Fields went from number two pick, to rumours of him having a heart condition, & other ill health tweets.
This is the kind of crap the Patriots usually spread before using the opportunity to cash in on their needs.
With Nagy and Pace dangling by a career thread, they will need Fields to light them up to the playoffs if this deal is to be considered a success.
The real question is…can they protect him?

Return of the Mac

Mac Jones has a draft body like Tom Brady.
Mac Jones is the new Tom Brady.
Following this logic won’t get you far in correctly making NFL picks, but it might make you feel warm and fuzzy inside if you’re from New England.
New England didn’t even have to make a move to get Jones, as they watched the freefall happen in front of them.
Cam Newton now has a young man he can guide and nourish over the next 5 years before eventually handing the reins to him, or so he might think.
The Patriots splashed on big TE’s and defensive options with their free agency wad, now comes the real test.
How quickly will the Pats be ‘Bills Ready’ for 2021?

Jag Offs

It was no secret that Trevor Lawrence was on the wishlist of the Jags as they kicked off the 2021 Draft.
The Clemson Kid should be the answer to their QB woes, he is the 4th Jacksonville QB selected at number 1.
Urban Myer will be looking to get a little ‘country’ this season, battling elite NFL teams with his collegiate pluckiness and guise.
Where the Jags really went ‘boom’ was their second pick in the first round, taking Travis Etienne at number 25.
This former Clemson running back has played with Lawrence for years, and these two should be able to get back to business quickly.
Florida fans will be looking for a return to the playoffs this season, and anything short of that will have to be considered a massive set back.

 

Ladies and Gettleman

Did Dave Gettleman do good? It’s hard to tell through the ire of the New York sports media, but it seems Dave did good.
Eager to capitalise on Chicago’s need for a QB, the Giants were able to channel the Bears desperation into a good future.
By trading the eleventh pick to the Bears, the Giants were able to parlay this into getting the Bears 20th pick, a 5th round pick and 1st and fourth round picks in 2022.
Not to mention drafting stellar Florida speedster Kadarius Toney, who should offer Daniel Jones a target he can under throw.
Now the Giants just need to shake off that stink of the NFC East.

That’s it for Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft, we will have more action throughout the weekend.

 

 

2021 Draft Preview

by

With the NFL Draft only days away, the excitement and anticipation brings with it numerous questions.
Will Trevor Lawrence still be Jagging his way to Florida?
Are there enough quarterbacks to go around?
What kid of mischief and mayhem do the Patriots have planned?

We will take a look at these and many more in our NFL Draft Preview Podcast.
In this episode, Wade McElwain & Ryan Cull are joined by Chapman Maddox, a diehard Falcons fan, and good friend of NFL in London.

Everyone and their uncle has their thoughts on who should take whom in the NFL Draft this year.
With many teams desperate for a new franchise quarterback to lead them out of the mediocre standings, it’s easy to forget that one man doth not makeith’ the team.
Sam Darnold couldn’t save the Jets, Johnny Manziel bust out of 3 leagues, and let’s not even talk about Mitchell Trubisky.

In this NFL Draft Preview podcast, the guys go through the first round of the draft and make their predictions for the choices and needs for each team.
Obviously the draft is going to have some drama worthy enough for TMZ, so our pundits have focused on the picks rather than the moves.
Someone is going to trade up, someone already has some potential trades slotted up, and all of us will be ‘wowwed’ when a team makes a truly bone headed call. (looking at you Bears).

The podcast clocks in at just over an hour, so make sure you put on your comfy pants and settle in with a cup of happy to get you in that zone.
We will have more draft coverage throughout the week, but let this podcast ease you on down the NFL Draft road.

Among some of the hot topics that Wade, Ryan and Chapman touch on in this podcast includes:

Trevor Lawrence

Sure, TL will be going number one to the Jaguars, but what are we missing?
While Ryan and Chapman gush over the flowing locks of Lawrence and his date with NFL destiny, Wade is a bit more skeptical and thinks he will be the next ‘Jimmy Garoppolo’ of the league. Too many injuries and too much hype.
The guys all agree that Trevor will be hitting the Jags this season, and hopefully we will see him in action sometime in London soon.

J-E-T-uggh

The Jets have proven what not to do with top NFL picks. They have ridden the pines of the league for the past few years, adding more laughing stock to the soup of their woes.
New coach, new team, new focus…who dis?
It’s one thing to take new talent from the NCAA, it’s another to develop and encourage it.
Wade, Ryan and Chapman all think that the Jets will scoop up Zach Wilson at number 2.
Where he is in 3 years is anyone’s guess.

Poisoned Fields

It wouldn’t be a draft without drama, and this week we had plenty of that.
It turns out that Justin Fields might have an electrical condition (?), a heart problem (?), something that could ruin his career (?).
NFL fans know that when rumours of ineptitude surface prior to something big, the Patriots must be involved.
Pissing on a prospect for the good of the empire is a total Belichick move.
The guys all have Justin Fields on different teams, where do you think he will end up.

Bold Predictions

The podcast has loads of bold predictions for the NFL Draft, among some of the crazy ideas the guys banter in this one includes:
-Ryan and Chapman like Pitts making his way to Atlanta.
-Wade likes the 49ers to move up for playmaker Trey Lance.
-Carolina will trade their 8th pick away to a QB hungry team
-Roger Goodell goes in for an awkward hug, still gets booed.

Make sure that you listen to the whole NFL Draft Preview podcast and share it with your friends!
We will have more NFL Draft predictions throughout the week.

2021 Wins

by

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
A phrase you might hear ripping through the cavernous casinos of Las Vegas of olde, but not so much these days.
But now we’ll take a look at the 2021 wins.

British betting giant William Hill has already taken a look at the 2021 NFL teams, and released a set of projected win totals for teams this season.
If you’re a betting fan, you can look at these odds and think ‘malarky, I’ll have a bet on that!’
Or you might get pumped up with anger that the betting world thinks so lowly of your team.
Or…you might be a Jets fan.

It comes as no surprise that the ‘super league’ teams of the NFL have the most predicted wins for the 2021 season.
The Kansas City Chiefs once again emerge as the big favourites, with the pundits picking them to win 12 games in 2021.
Of course, it doesn’t matter how many wins you get if you’re going to eventually lose to the Buffalo Bills.

Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heralded to win 11.5 games this season (yes, .5 of a game), in a testament to the champs tuning up their late season surge in 2020 to open a bigger can oh whoop-ass.
The champ always has a target on their head, and the Bucs will be ‘the team’ other teams will use to set as their playoff bar.
This number might even go up higher if Julian Edelman decides to jump out of the broadcasting booth.

Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens are both predicted to win 11 games by William Hill, despite lingering questions on both sides.
Aaron Rodgers has been asking questions all off-season like ‘Why am I filling in for Alex Trebek?’, ‘Why do people care about my personal life’, ‘Can I host Jeopardy full time’ & ‘They’re never going to get me a #1 receiver, are they?’
Lambeau is turning into an NFC north drama, and if the Packers don’t make it far enough to choke in the NFC final again, maybe they will show Jordan some Love?

Baltimore is an interesting pick for 11 wins given their up and down past 2 years.
The Ravens are missing several key players to make a threatening push for the playoffs, and unless Lamar Jackson is given a porta-potty-tent on the sidelines, his heroic ‘number two’ performances may become less frequent.
Baltimore feels like they’re still discovering the pronoun that they want to describe them.
Are they a ‘running team’, a ‘passing threat’, ‘Lamar’s Lament’ or a ‘Harbaugh-apocalypse’?

Pumping out with a projected 10.5 wins are the LA Rams and Buffalo Bills, both of whom will be massive threats to the two previous teams.

The Rams finally have their QB to go with that staunch defence and solid coaching by McVay. Unlike the previous Rams appearance in the Super Bowl, this feels like a whole new team with more options and attack than ever seen before.
LA will be looking to showcase their ‘post-off’ body, and the NFC is going to see a whole different Rams team.
Look out Green Bay.

Buffalo Bills predicted to win less games than the Baltimore Ravens? Pishaw! Josh Allen was the sweetheart of the league last year, racking up loads of touchdowns, highlights and ‘aww shucks’ moments.
Buffalo has always been that underdog team that America forgets about, and Canada wishes was theirs.
Although their stadium sucks, it starts snowing in September, and Rachel Bush posts more Insta than the city itself…they have wings.
Both chicken and spiritual wings that guide them through collapsable tables.
And this season, the Bills should be flying high.

Among some of the other win projections that seem off:

Cleveland Browns-10 Wins

The Browns won 10 games in 2020, so why are they predicted to win the same amount this year? Cleveland is a way better team than last year and were a victim of circumstance as much as they were tools of their own ineptitude.
Browns will win more than 10.

Indianapolis Colts-10 Wins

It’s the Carson Wentz led Colts, with a projected win total of 10. Really? The Colts limped into the last half of the 2020 season like they ran half the Grand National before dumping the rider and trotting along to the finish.
They had one of the best O-lines and used Jonathan Taylor well to gash for yards…then they lost tough games.
With other teams spending huge and others looking for fresh blood, it’s hard to believe that they can win 10 in 2021.

Are you ready for the NFL Draft?
We will be making our predictions shortly, as well as on our next podcast.

Make sure you like our Facebook page as well!

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

 

Spring Loaded

by

Spring has sprung, the grass is rise, when the heck is the NFL Draft finally going to happen?!?
We look at the Draft, the League, London Games, and so much more in our Spring Loaded podcast.

In this episode, Wade McElwain and Ryan Cull look at some of the biggest news heading into the final week before the 2021 NFL Draft.
Covid still reigns supreme but the league has other plans, how much normal will fans see at games this season?

Some of the other big issues that Wade & Ryan look at in this podcast includes:

Aaron Donald

When everyone first heard the news that Aaron Donald was in a fight, the collective consciousness could be heard to say ‘yeah, right.’
Donald does not only strike you as a street fighter, but the way that the fight was described just smelled of fish.
Turns out, the guy was making it up.
A new video has emerged of Donald rushing to help a friend get out of the situation and to safety.
A full on blatant lie to attempt to condemn a young man who wants nothing more than to play the game he loves.
When will we (and the league) start holding these accusers more accountable for the damage that they do?

Browntown

The Cleveland Browns have a stacked team ready to deliver some results this season.
They have the most first round picks of any team on their roster, yet still wouldn’t be the top pick for AFC champ next season.
Is this the year for Cleveland, or are they lined up for another year of disappointment?
Wade & Ryan break down some of the team, and what they need to do to make sure that they come out on top next year.

Blarty-Gate

Paul Blart Mall Cop is back, and this time he is taking on the Saints.
Comedic actor Kevin James will be playing Saints head coach Sean Payton in a new direct to VHS movie.
Fans will remember that Payton was suspended for ‘Bountygate’, in which he put prices on the heads of opposing players, so that his players would collect by injuring them.
Classic New Orleans!
This movie however will focus on Payton’s choice to coach his 12 year old son’s football team during his downtime.
No word if there will be children being paid to injure each other.

Washington Football Chumps

So the Washington team has finally buried the ‘Redskins’ in a dusty plain somewhere near Wyoming.
Now that the team has officially decided to move on, they have pitted 4 new team names for DoC residents to vote on.
Given that the names sound like that they were developed by a Chinese AI that had never seen an NFL game before, there might be a few more votes down the line.
‘Wild Hogs’ in a gesture to the feral pigs of Maryland, ‘Demon Cats’ as an homage to the imagination of a 3 year old, ‘Presidents’ is a reflection that the whole city is ‘fixed’, or the simple ‘DC Football Club.’
Of course most Washington fans would probably happy with ‘Time to go Dan Snyder, you Creep Machine.’
Or just ‘Creep Machine.’

Have a listen to the Spring Loaded podcast, and share it with your friends.
We keep creeping up the charts and adding new listeners every week, so thanks a bundle for that!