NFL in London

National Football League in London

New England Patriots

Sunday NFL-unday!

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Where are you watching the games on Sunday?
The clocks change, so you SHOULD be able to watch most of the NFL game son tap this Sunday, but where?
If you’re going to the game, lucky you. There are still loads of tickets available, so you can still go to the game if you use the right ticket resellers.
We recommend this Facebook group which has a legit record of tickets.
www.facebook.com/groups/nflfansukbuyandsell/

Princess Alexandra
Crouch End’s premier sports bar will be showing games until 1am. A 30 minute Uber from Wembley, this North London boozer has loads of tvs and all the games you need.
Traditional Sunday roasts, cask ales, wings, burgers, and 4 screens dedicated to NFL action.
Book a table in now so that its ready for you after the game.
princessalexandran8.co.uk

Wingman’s Chicken
Who wants chicken? We all do. But even if you’re a veggie, this joint has food for you as well.
This place has great food and cocktails, plus a few screens so that you can catch the games.
It’s located near Kilburn station, which is lickety-split close to Wembley.
Pop there before the game to tailgate inside, or head there after.
Closes at 10:30pm so you won’t catch the late games.
wingmans.co.uk

Roadtrip Bar
Head to Old Street for late night action at this rock’n’roll bar that shows NFL games.
Open late and close to all major transport, this hipster dive is a great place to catch games until the wee hours.
There may not be sound on-but if you ask the bar-they will probably turn off the music.
roadtripbar.com

Duck and Waffle
Hungry for 24 hour food in one of the coolest spots in the city?
Head up the tower to Duck and Waffle, an all night restaurant that overlooks all of London.
Great views, good food.
They won’t show NFL, but if you have a tablet just tap into Gamepass, a 24hr Skypass, or Reddit to stream a game at your table.
Definitely a good last stop to fill up your belly after a night of drinking.
duckandwaffle.com

The Palm Beach Casino
Want to watch the NFL in a 24 hour casino that oozes swank and sophistication?
Head to the Palm Beach Casino in Mayfair to indulge in a sexy night of football fun.
Loads of TVs, blackjack, poker, and an all night menu.
You might need to ask the manager to turn on the sound, and hats will need to be taken off inside.
Book a table ahead of time so it’s set up for your group for the night.
www.thepalmbeach.co.uk

Bar Italia
There won’t be any NFL on in this Soho bar, but it is a great place to people watch and sozzle back some nosh. It’s open 24 hours, so you can guarantee it’s a good place to set up as a meet up spot for your friends should you ever get lost in the city. Friendly staff, loads of characters.
baritaliasoho.co.uk

A few late night Sunday thoughts for your consideration.

  • London is not a 24 hr town, plan ahead. Download a tube map app, Uber (or other taxi), Citymapper, Buschecker & what3words.
  • Leicester Square is very busy and grimy. You probably won’t get in, and you might get pick pocketed.
  • Football rules. Premier League games start at 4:30pm, which means they end at 6:30pm. If you go to certain bars-they won’t switch the NFL on until after the match. Plan ahead.
  • If your table has a number on it, order from the bar. Table service is not like home.
  • The tube shuts around midnight at most stations. Late buses go 24 hrs. Download Citymapper so that you can plan your route home.
  • Watch yourself. Keep your eyes up, your phone in your pocket, and don’t take unlicensed taxis. Or rickshaws.
  • If you’re too drunk, go home. It’s bad for everyone.
  • Have fun, treat people nicely and enjoy. It’s a gorgeous city, and we’re glad you’re here!

Podcast-Week 7 Review

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What a wild & wacky week in the NFL!

Tom Brady and the Patriots continue to crush through the opposition with ease-but who have they really faced?

The Bears continue to struggle and the lynch mob is out for Mitchell Trubisky. Can that D hold on forever?

The Bengals & Dolphins continue to slide, will they win a game finally?

Wade & Ryan break down all of the games, plus they preview the Thursday night match up between the Redskins vs Vikings, as well as talk about the upcoming London match between the Rams & Bengals.
Subscribe-listen, laugh-love, Karen.

MNF

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Monday Night Football

I’d like to apologise. I’d like to formally apologise. I’d like to formally apologise to Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and the entire New England Patriots organisation. I’d like to formally apologise to Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and the entire New England Patriots organisation for having the gaul to believe that for one second the Jets might have stood a chance in last night’s game.

New England

I mean… wow. That defence is nasty. It pains me to compliment the Patriots: I’m a Dolphins fan. How could I possibly like them? They murder my team every year, and are pretty much the only reason why I’ll likely not see the Dolphins make the playoffs in the next 50 years, until Belichick finally retires having won 24 Super Bowls and building a new dynasty with Tom Brady’s son Benjamin at Quarterback. I can’t cheer for them. But I can’t argue with greatness. If anything exemplified the Patriots mean streak it was Bill Belichick using NFL rules loopholes to run a whole extra 90 seconds off the clock up 33-0 and smirking about it when the Jets allowed him to do so but declining the penalties the Patriots had committed. They are stone cold killers. They suffocated the Bills into submission and made a talented young quarterback look like he was 6 years old and throwing the football for the first time. And then I wake up this morning and they’ve added Mohamed Sanu to their already impressively deep and varied receiving corps. However, I do think talk of a 16-0 record is a little premature – they have a significantly tougher second half of the season schedule – and the Ravens, Cowboys, Texans & Chiefs could all rest this defence in very different ways. However it isn’t outrageous to suggest already that the road to the AFC Championship will absolutely run through New England. 

NY Jets

Let’s talk about the Jets. I actually thought their defence played relatively well. Brady was finding holes in their zones, but wasn’t lighting them up. The New England defence won them that game. Okay, fine, they had some help. Sam Darnold was bad. Really bad. When you throw four interceptions and lose a fumble, it’s never gonna be a good night, but when you’re wearing a mic and admit to “seeing ghosts” you’re reeeeeeally in trouble then. The memes, the tweets, the mockery… oh Sam. I’d stake a rather large amount of money that a lot of Jaguars fans (the Jets’ week 8 opponent) turn up wearing bedsheets with eye holes cut out of them. And on the weekend before Halloween as well; spooky and topical, you’re welcome Duval. 

But, in the interest of fairness, let’s say some nice things about the Jets… Errrrr, LeVeon Bell was good! The lone bright spot in an otherwise terrible offensive display. He was his usual patient self, waiting for the right time to scythe through the defence. In stark contrast with Melvin Gordon’s current form, Bell’s holdout doesn’t seem to have curtailed his ability to be a playmaker. Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder are good receivers who will have better nights against people not named Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty. You just beat the Cowboys! That’s no walk in the park. Furthermore, just as the Patriots schedule worsens, the Jets looks more favourable! Jags, Dolphins, Giants, Washington, Oakland, Bengals & Dolphins again are their next 7 games. I’m gonna boldly predict the Jets win… at least 5 of those!? Miami twice, Washington and Cincinnati seem like free wins right now, and you’d have to hope Jamal Adams and Quinnen Williams could get one of Andy Dalton, Daniel Jones or Gardner Minshew to turn the ball over a few times. It’ll be too late for them to make a playoff push this season, but at least the future is brighter for the Jets. Darnold, Bell, Anderson, Crowder, young and exciting Tight End Herndon is back next week too… that’s a decent offense, and the defensive side is growing stronger too.

The only problem is, the Patriots aren’t going anywhere. And they might just be getting better.

Callum Squires
@callumjdsquires

DraftKings Advice

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I started playing daily fantasy football after I won my league for the first time in its 17 year existence. I was the Chicago Cubs of my league, mocked by other teams, prone to unbelievable collapses but on one Christmas Eve, I did the impossible. I won my league for the first time. Best. Christmas. Ever.

I thought to myself, “I know a lot about football, I watch all the fantasy shows, listen to all the podcasts. Easy money!” It didn’t take long for me to realise that even though I may know a lot about football, I don’t know enough to beat a computer algorithm. When I realised I was going against Skynet I changed my strategies and it’s worked out. It’s not big money, but it makes Sunday more bearable when each week you watch your chance of winning another league championship disappear. Here are a few tips from a guy who won’t win you a lot of money, but can win you tiny amounts at a time.

Double Ups

These are my favourite kind of tournaments. Basically, all you have to do is finish in the top half everyone. You bet $10, you win $10. This was actually how I played online poker back in the day when that was popular. Member poker? Anyway, if you think you are an average player with a few good instincts, then these are your tournaments. Don’t be stupid, do a bit of research online and you should double your money a majority of the time. Unless you suck. 

$3 Mega Tournament

Think about this tournament in the way you would think about a lottery ticket. You could hit the big one, but the chances are very slim, but if you did, it wouldn’t be because of luck. It would be because of your big, beautiful brain. Assume you’re going to lose this every time and when you win anything it feels nice, and it’s still because of you!

Do Your Research

There are so many websites that offer DFS help, tips by people that are way better then you at fantasy. (Yes, I know you won your league, shut up already) Use these resources. If a bunch of people tell you not to play Todd Gurley, and you play Todd Gurley because you’re a Rams fan, then gambling isn’t for you. Watch YouTube videos as well. The internet has all the answers, you just need to sift your way through the shit to get to the diamonds! 

And the last tip which always comes into play once a week – Go with your gut!

 

Top 5-Embarrassments

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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