NFL in London

National Football League in London

Miami Dolphins

Sky Week 2

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For those of us that live in the UK, there is a tinge of sadness that we don’t get to watch all the NFL games.

To find out which games will be blacked out in England, we point you to the games on Sky Week 2.
Luckily, some of them stink so there are others to watch.

A true NFL fan abroad will invest in Gamepass, which is a way to watch MOST of the NFL games, as well as a whole host of replays, options and other programs.

Sadly, if Sky Sports is showing a game, it will be blacked out on Gamepass, forcing viewers to either fork out money for Sky Sports, watch another game, or just flip on the VPN.

The gang on Sky Sports bust their humps every week to push out of a broadcast from their Osterley studios.
For many viewers, they are a UK institution…for others….well, just read the forums.

TNF

Sky Sports shows TNF, as does Gamepass and Amazon.
To be honest, Amazon offers the bets show here, as the streaming quality and broadcast team are heads and tails above the rest.
With rumours circling that Amazon is planning on buying ALL the NFL rights, it seems logical that they play around with it to get it right first.

49ers vs Eagles

6pm GMT

20 years ago, this would have been one heck of a contest…in 2021…not so much.

Both teams are coming off of wins, but also coming off of a playoff less season.
Everyone is throwing heat at these two franchises early on, forgetting what a steaming pile that they both were only a few months ago.

In week 1, both of thee teams won…beating Detroit and Atlanta…dumpster fire central in terms of franchises.
Now they get to beat up each other…except it won’t go as easy, and as fun to watch as last week.

Sky Sports will be showing this game which looks to be a defensive battle of few points, turnovers and oodles of penalties.
Given this, there should be plenty of commercial breaks, which gives the Sky team a little more face time.

Like a child’s drawing, this looks good on paper, but there’s nothing else really to do with it.

Cowboys vs Chargers

9pm GMT

Dak & the boys head to the coast to take on the fast paced LA Chargers in a half empty stadium, in a game that really isn’t the best of the rest.

After getting humbled by TB12 & the Bucs last week, the Cowboys will be looking to use that extra time to plug some holes that Tommy boy shredded through their back side.

Justin Herbert and the boys will be smarting from a tough Washington game last week, that saw them rip Fitzmagic from the fabric of space, time and shoulder.
Joey Bosa and company are going to make Dak’s life hell for the second week in a row.

If you DO want to watch this game, just an FYI that it is on Sky Sports, and you WON’T be able to access it regularly through Gamepass UK.

Chiefs vs Ravens

1:30am GMT

Who stays up at this unGodly hour?
True NFL fans!

There won’t be too many places that show this game live in London on a Sunday night, and if you go, you might be missing an internal organ or two.
(Central London late at night gets stabby)

This game is also on Sky Sports as well as Gamepass.
You won’t have a delay on Gamepass.

That’s it for the Sky Sports schedule this week for week 2.

Hope you join us this Sunday at the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street for 40+ TVs of NFL action.

See you Sunday.

 

 

Why do UK sportsbooks suck at NFL?

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With sports betting exploding around the world, we often get asked ‘what are the best websites for NFL betting’?
Surprisingly, there aren’t very many available to UK fans that actual focus on NFL games, odds and options.
In fact we always find ourselves asking ‘Why do UK sportsbooks suck at NFL’?
There are a few reasons for this, which we will explain, as well as point you in the direction of our Top 3 NFL betting websites. 

Betting Britain

Britain has been betting on sports for decades, so one would assume that the betting product would be sleek, slick and easy to navigate.
Nope.
Betting in Europe is more ‘football focused’ (aka soccer) meaning that many of the betting options and parlays simply aren’t available to the public.
While the NFL betting options accelerated during the 80s’ NFL boom in the UK, it didn’t really translate into dedicated product.
Even as UK sports books increase their offerings in the face of American growth, they still lack the gumption to tailor their products to North American sports. 

Moneyline

One of the biggest issues for NFL betting fans comes down to formatting.
Europe and the UK prefer the use of ‘Decimal Odds’ or 

‘Fractional Odds’ when it comes to setting their weekly lines, whereas North Americans prefer the standard ‘Moneyline.’

For anyone not used to seeing odds formatted in ‘Decimal Odds’ style, it can be a confusing and intimidating style of play.
Many European sports books lazily refuse to add Moneyline odds, which essentially deprives them of a new, hungry audience.
North Americans are new to NFL betting, and intimidating them right off the bat is no way to sign up new customers. 

Options

Any NFL fan who has ever walked into the sports bar of a Las Vegas casino, knows that a magical experience is about to happen.
Not only do Vegas sports bars display countless betting options, the employees who work at sports books are all too happy to help with the numerous different ways you can wager.
UK casinos rarely even sports books, as was the case when we ran events at the Hippodrome in Leicester Square.
Fans who were desperate to wager on games were pointed to the Ladbrokes down the street, which benefited HUGE from the thousands of fans who wanted to throw down money each week.
Betting became so big there, that Ladbrokes employees from down the road would attend viewing parties because they had ‘so many people coming to bet on games’, they wanted to see what it was all about. 

Authenticity

Real NFL bettors usually have a weekend plan for success.
If you know which of the games on Sunday are ripe for betting, you will work out how many parlays, over-unders, and long shots you are willing to make.
Attempting to then make those wagers on a UK betting app then begins the problems.
Not only are the odds radically different from the US, but the ability to make ‘out there’ bets is only possible if you go into a shop, and find a competent worker.
While it is rewarding to burn a lazy bookmaker for not paying attention to NFL news across the pond, it’s frustrating to have to Scooby Doo down all the information from an app. 

Over the years we have tried to discuss the poor NFL betting options with bookmakers, but it has always fallen on deaf ears.
Either they don’t care about making money from a massively untapped market, to they’re just lazy.

So what betting websites would we recommend?
They’re pretty limited, but here you go.

1. Bet365

When it comes to NFL betting in Europe, Bet365 seems to be the only one with their head in the game.
Not only do they offer the best betting options for the NFL, but they also have a wide selection of parlays and novelty bets on offer.
Sure, the layout is a bit laborious, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to get betting.
You can also switch between betting pricing, allowing players to compare moneyline vs decimal options.
The best past about Bet365 however is the ability to watch the games.
Provided that you have bet on some NFL matches, bettors have the option of being able to stream the game to their phone or device.
With limited viewing options in Europe, this is a ‘MUST HAVE’ feature for NFL fans, as it allows you to watch the game in real time, for no extra cost.
Expats in Europe have been raving about this option for years, as it also extends to MLB, NBA and NHL games, which are hard to find across the pond.
Bet365 has pretty good customer service as well, which is really helpful if you are looking to bet on specific options. 

2. Betway

Second on the list is Betway, which has seen a drop in its NFL product in recent years.
With a very simple and straightforward layout, Betway’s NFL betting is a far simpler option than that of Bet365.
Parlays are quite easy to manipulate, and the overplay is quite crisp and simple.
Betway’s NFL product dropped in quality in 2020, so we are curious to see if they are going to improve on it.
Customer service is slow, but effective once they’re on it. 

3. Paddypower

Remember when Paddypower use to be edgy and funny?
Good times.
The Irish lads have gone corporate, and it shows in their North American sports betting options.
Like Betway, the NFL offerings on Paddy are pretty straightforward.
Nothing too fancy, and there are some muddled parlays and novelty bets in the mix, although they usually look like they were assembled by a soccer fan.
Customer service at Paddy is hit and miss, and on a busy game day, you’re more likely to encounter snark than satisfaction. 

We are still holding out that one day a UK sports book will actually take North American sports in Europe seriously.
With bookmakers on the continent on a frenzied mission to gobble up as many American betting properties as possible, you would think that they would actually look at what is successfully stateside and try to replicate it in Blighty.
 
The NFL is only going to get bigger in Europe, which bookmaker is finally ready to take it seriously?

NFL Pride

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The offseason in the NFL is usually just a slew of arrests, mental breakdowns, and ego posturing of young men, suddenly flush with cash.
Occasionally, some truly cool news will come out of the league, which is why we call this podcast NFL Pride.

In this podcast, Wade McElwain and Ryan Cull look at some of the top stories kicking around the NFL while we wait for the season to officially start.

Some of the biggest news that the guys ramble on about this week, includes:

Carl Nassib

Some heart warming news from Las Vegas this week, as Raiders DE Carl Nassib announced he was gay.
While Nassib might not be the first openly gay player, he does help push the conversation forward, as well as serving as an inspiration for any gay players out there who might be nervous about coming out in their sport.
Even bigger and better news was that Nassib’s jersey quickly jumped to the top of the sales charts, evidence that the fans are proud of Carl.
It’s nice to see that we have moved beyond the myopic sexual hysteria of our early ages & into a generation where we judge players not on their sexuality, but on whether or not they play for the Patriots.

Frank Clark

To some more consistent NFL news, Chiefs player Frank Clark was arrested once again for gun violations.
Clark’s bodyguard apparently was in possession of an ‘uzi’, taking this case back to the 1980s’.
This isn’t the first time that Clark has been in trouble, with gun and domestic violence issues following him since his Michigan days.
What will Kansas City do here?

Guice

Derrius Guice has had various charges dropped stemming from a past domestic assault issues. Guice was also dropped by the Washington Football club after the incident, and might have teams looking at him to bolster their 2021 squads.

AB

Antonio Brown also got some lucky law this week, as his probation for assault was reduced.
You might remember Brown moved to Florida to be closer to TB12 and the Bucs, when he was arrested for assaulting the guy delivering his furniture.
Not surprisingly, Brown will have to attend MORE anger management classes, and potentially face a civil suit from the driver.
Oh AB!

XFL

Former XFL players hoping to get paid took a shot in the chin this week, as it was announced that outstanding fees owed to the players would be reduced.
Brokeass amateur athletes hoping for the $14,000 that they were owed to pay off their bills were told that they can now only expect $580.00, minus fees.
On the bight side, the new league is due to form next year…so maybe they can apply to be a part of that one?

London Games

The London NFL games are still good to go for October, so fans should start to get ready!
While we don’t know too much information yet, it’s looking like fans that are fully vaccinated will be allowed to attend.
Given that many people under 18 haven’t been given the shot, there is no word yet whether they will be required to do so.
Honestly, with this summer of sport on, and variants popping up like incarnations of ‘Loki’, we won’t know much until end of August.
When we do, we will let you know.

Here is the latest episode.
Have a listen, a laugh, and maybe even a guffaw.
As soon as more NFL news pops up, we will let you know!
In the meantime, make sure you follow us on social media for all the latest news about the 2021 London NFL games.

Summer of Sport

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What a bounty of gameplay we have ahead of us in 2021!
All hail the Summer of Sport!

From the NHL and NBA playoffs, to the 2020 Euros (what?).
Baseball is back, and so is TB12 to take on year another QB foe in a golf off.
And let’s not forget those Tokyo Olympics! Sure, they were off last year, but this year they are back with trepidation.
That leads us all the way into September for the big show in sport.

Wade & Ryan look at some of the scant trickling of NFL news that trickles down the wall in June.
The OTA’s are on, but who is really watching them?

Among some of the other big stories the boys talk about are:

Julio Jones

Me and Julio are heading down to the Titans yard, after a big swoop in by Tennessee to secure the veteran WR.
AJ Brown did everything except promise his first born to JJ, becoming the fan boy who made us all a little creeped out.
Julio has a new home, now let’s see what he does this season.

TB12 Joker

Tom Brady doesn’t seem to get an F anymore when it comes to social media. He is the embarrassing dad of the NFL, posting half baked memes, sly digs, and shots across the bow at former foes.
Isn’t it grand?
Brady is obviously having way more fun than in Boston, which should be scary for everyone.

Who stole the Wilfork’s?

Poor Vince Wilfork. There’s nothing worse than that violating feeling of being robbed, only to find out that the thief was your very own spawn.
The children of rich kids, huh?
Vince’s son stole all of his jewellery to pawn off, not really thinking the whole process through.
Instead of therapy, why not put them on a reality TV show?

Kyler Hates Dallas

Everything is bigger in Texas, except Kyler Murray.
Jumping onto a soundbite, Murray was quick to diss ‘America’s Team’, and the hype that surrounds them.
If only Kyler was a wee bit bigger, he might be able to see over that O-Line of his.

Oh Aaron

Aaron Rodgers is still holding out, preferring to spend his summer watching Myles Teller get popped in the mouth around the Caribbean.
All signs point to Rodgers NOT returning this year, perhaps he’ll spend the fall watching Jeopardy reruns and hoping that they would give him that forever call.

Le’Veon Bell Ringing

Le’Veon Bell knows how to talk his way out of a job.
All you have to do is attack one of the nicest coaches in the league, and accuse him of ‘hating’ you.
Bell already led his own face out of Pittsburgh with idiocy, so it goes to figure that Bell would do the same to screw his way out of KC.
What’s the end game Le’Veon?
Do you really think that teams are that desperate for an overweight, and needy RB?
Maybe by week 6.

London Games

Freedom Day is here…almost…sort of.
The UK was due to open up like a beautiful flower on June 21st, 2021, but now that all got scuppered due to another ‘variant’.
This means that the UK is ‘due’ to return to ‘normal’ by the end of July 2021, giving us plenty of time to welcome fans in for the October NFL games at Tottenham.
Of course there is a whole summer of virus ahead of us, so we will take it one down at a time.
When we know something, we will let you know as well.

Here’s the podcast for this week.
It’s short, sweet, and misses the mark on many occasions…just like Kyler Murray.

Have a great summer, stay safe, stay sane…and get ready for some football!

2021 Team Schedules

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The NFL has released the 2021 Team Schedules, and all signs point to football coming back.
Boy are we ready!

Much like every incarnation of the NFL, the release of the season schedule brings with it much pomp, circumstance, and privacy.
In years past, NFL season schedules were typed, printed, faxed, and usually made it to a 4×4 square on page 98 of the sports pages.

Oh how times have changed!
Teams are now adding a bit of pizzazz to the proceedings, with great graphics, poignant puns, and plenty of trash talk when targeting their opponents on twitter.

We’ve added some of the team schedules of all the NFL teams, so that you can plan your viewing excitement come September.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo opens up their 2021 season with a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This should be a great test to open up the playoff chances of the Bills against a team that went 11-0 to start off the season.
The Bills end their season with the Jets, which is always nice for an easy ‘W’

Cleveland Browns

The Browns added some style to their 2021 Schedule release, with some throwback graphics and helmet overlays for their opponents.
Sadly for the Browns, their season starts with the Kansas City Chiefs, who gave the Browns a right kicking last time.
Fortunately, they end the season off with a game against the Bengals.

Carolina Panthers

Keeping it simple, the Carolina Panthers threw down the blue and black for their 2021 schedule. First up is Sam Darnold and his ‘ghosts’, as the Panthers face the New York Jets in an anticipated match-up. The Panthers also have a Boxing Day game against the Bucs, which should be exciting as well.
Sadly their last game of the season is also against the Bucs.

Chicago Bears

The Bears went all ‘Insta’ on their schedule release, with a simple image that looks like Jackson Pollock doodled all over the bottom of the page.
The Bears have one of the toughest schedules in the league for 2021, and an opening game against the LA Rams will certainly be a test.
Chicago also has to face the Vikings in weeks 15 and 18, which could have playoff implications.
Unless they totally suck.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos are a team in need of direction, which shows in their 2021 schedule release. Plenty of space, but not a lot of info-fitting for this Denver team.
Denver still has that begging question ‘Are we getting Aaron Rodgers’, which could add to the team drama.
With a regular season game against the Kansas City Chiefs, an Aaron Rodgers led team could lead to an epic finale.

Green Bay Packers

Get your cheese-heads ready, we’re in for a wild ride Green Bay.
More drama than your mama, the Packers are watching their dirty laundry bounce around the neighbourhood.
Even if AR does return, what kind of toxicity will be in that locker room?
Fortunately for the Packers, their last game of the season is the Detroit Lions.

Indianapolis Colts

What can the Colts do this season? They have been ‘luckless’ as of late, with Phillip Rivers dribbling in the cup on the way to a lack lustre season.
They’ve got Carson Wentz, and the Seattle Seahawks as their first opponent.
The Colts finish their season with a divisional matchup with the Jags.
Are the Colts playoff bound this year?

There are 272 games across 18 weeks.
Some will be amazing.
Some you will only watch on catch-up the next day.
Isn’t it great to have the NFL back?