NFL in London

National Football League in London

FOX NFL

Top 5-Embarrassments

by

Okay, what on earth was that Sunday? Just when you think the NFL is starting to make a little bit of sense, days like yesterday happen. I mean, we must be in some kind of alternative universe when MARVIN JONES JR has four touchdown catches. Don’t get me wrong – he’s a good receiver, earned his spot as a weapon for the Lions, but that was crazy. Especially when you consider that the Lions didn’t even win that game. Kirk Cousins beat the Lions on the road. Huh?! Then you see the Seahawks be made to look anaemic, with Russell Wilson actually throwing an interception?! Someone has done something really wrong to the planet… I can only hope it carries over to Monday night and Sam Darnold finds a way to beat Brady and the Patriots. We can have hope, right?! But there’s one most confusing of conundrums that trumps all others…

I just cannot figure the Chargers out. The San Di- sorry – Los Angeles Chargers are the most frustrating conundrum in the NFL right now, and they’re not even my team. For all the talent they have, it’s outrageous that they stand at and are one of the top 5 embarrassments in the NFL.

Obviously the Washington team are number 1, because of course they are. Everything about them is an embarrassment. Change the name.
Number 2 are the Broncos because if Joe Flacco is your quarterback then you’re embarrassing by default, and that’s before we even mention the names Trevor Siemian, Chad Kelly, Paxton Lynch or *whisper it* Brock Osweiler…
The Dolphins are number 3 only because they at least have a direction and are not even trying to conceal their tanking which I kind of appreciate. If you’re gonna try to lose every game, at least let us know that from the outset, which they definitely did Week 1 against the Ravens.
Number 4 is the Bengals because they’re simply awful but…
NUMBER 5 IS THE CHARGERS. HOW? Phil Rivers, Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Thomas Davis… How much talent does a franchise need to be successful? Their record is 2-5. It’s insane. Everyone around the league seems to think Anthony Lynn is a good coach, and I don’t disagree, but it’s incredible how the sum of these parts is often significantly less than the supposed value of them.

I was all in on the Chargers before the season. I thought they’d bounce back nicely from their capitulation in Foxborough in January. But instead, Melvin Gordon decides to hold out for the first 5 weeks of the season and it’s been a disaster from start to finish. But yesterday’s Titans game was something truly special. Down 23-13 with less than 6 minutes to play, it looked like the Chargers were dead and buried. Then, they started stirring. Philip Rivers hit Austin Ekeler (who had made a fool of the Titans linebacker) for a 41 yard touchdown; a beautiful play, built with speed and guile and a cunning double move from Ekeler, who continues to look like a very useful player when he’s given the chance. The Titans were just stopped on 4th and inches and the Chargers had the ball back. Game winning drive incoming, right? WRONG.

The Chargers again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Look, I know they were unlucky. Ekeler was maybe three inches short of breaking the plane and winning the game on the pass from Rivers. But then along came the bad part. The Chargers false started, got a defensive pass interference penalty, ran for no gain and then fumbled the ball into the end zone on four straight plays to lose the game. Melvin Gordon looks a shadow of his former self – maybe holding out through pre-season wasn’t a good idea? He looks rusty and has surely now decreased the value of his next contract for looking so inept in his first few games back. All in all, it was an absolute shambles. Yes, they have some injuries that are hurting them on both offensive and defensive fronts, but this should be better than it is. Rivers deserves better. He’s not got many more years in him, and I think he deserves one last deep run to try and win the Lombardi trophy he desires. But – for now – it seems like the Chargers embarrassment might continue… they face a wounded, hurting and angry Chicago Bears defence next weekend. Yikes. Bears by a billion. (I’m trying to reverse jinx the Chargers into playing well… you’re welcome Mr. Rivers)

Callum Squires
@callumjdsquires

MNF-Pats v Jets

by

It’s MNF mofos, and the Patriots look to silly-slap the NY Jets.
Will they win?
Yes-according to our pundit Wade McElwain.

He predicts the Patriots to beat the Jets, but barely in a hotly contested home match.
The Jets are coming off an emotional and needed home win, and host their division rivals who are spotted 10 points in this.
Tom Brady and his wicked D will bring mayhem to New Jersey, but will prove to be too much for the Jets.

The Jets will come out swinging, the Patriots & Billy B will look to shut down Sam Darnold and his passing options.
If the Jets can slot to Bell, they should get enough points to stay in this.

Take the Jets to cover, 10 points is too much for a Monday night contest.

Get your Tom Brady gear with our Fanatics link here.
Use promo code NFLLONDON10 for 10% off Fanatics purchases.
Fanatics UK“>Fanatics

Blowing out Kids

by

‘They’re just kids.’
That’s the rallying cry of any youth sports game that gets out of end.
Too often we hear about belligerent parents who get heavy-handed in sporting events, or even start getting into fist fights in the stands with each other.

But what about a coach who runs up the score in youth football?
Kyle Williams is a coach for an under 7 team in Philadelphia.
His team went up by 30 points, in a league where that’s not considered ‘fair’ and teams get penalised for it.

So coach Williams did what any good coach would do, he benched his starters-and put in his 5 year olds. Yep, those pissy pants 5 year olds.
Sadly one of those 5 year olds can ball, and was able to run the ball back for a TD.
That put the team up 36-0, and coach Williams in the dog house with the league.
He now faces a $500 fine for running up the score.
$500?
He’s going to need to sell their Christmas presents to pay off that debt.

Podcast-Week 6 Review

by

Another exciting week in the NFL, with another great game in London.
Sure, the Bucs barely showed up-& when they did they made more turnovers than a Gregg’s bakery-but it was a good game.

In this podcast Wade & Ryan review all of the games, and Ryan apologises for missing the podcast last week as he was in a ‘drunken haze for a week.’

Wade hits another successful week of betting, going 11-4 for Week 6 and pushing him further up the ranks of fantasy-land.
Have you taken any of his picks to make money each week?
You should-he has been crushing it in fantasy all season long!

 

Giants vs Patriots

by

And just like that the Patriots are 6-0.
Who saw that coming?
Everyone.

What people hadn’t thought of, is just how damn good that defense is.
They stunt, swarm and pick like Japanese hornets feasting on worker bees.
Tom Brady looked stunned by that Giants D who was able to rattle him, but it was his D that saved the day.

Not to mention some idiotic plays by the Giants special teams, who punted into their own guys head.
Look, you practice enough when punting to know NOT to blop your lineman in the head with the ball, and as the guy on the line-to push a bit further back.

Watch the highlights, then dream of a team that might be able to beat their D.
Got to give it to olde Billy B, he compensates.
Guess he learned that from Kraft.

Here’s the Japanese hornet eating bees just so you get the full picture.