NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL 2021 predictions

Sad Nachos

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Good food can help make a great football game better. Bad food turns a bad game into a travesty.
So what quantifies as bad nachos, or even sad nachos?
Pretty much everything you’ll find at a UK pub chain.

Nachos have been a struggle menu item for most British restaurants.
To many it’s just a matter of ‘putting cheese on crisps’, which rewards the eater with bland taste, sharp edges and no reminder of home.

The first time a North American orders nachos from a ‘Spoons, you quickly realise what kind of mistake you have made.
Shortly after a server appears with a plate of Doritos that have been microwaved covered in some cheese slices. No extra toppings, flavour, or even good corn chips…just plain old Doritos.
It’s the NFL equivalent to showing up to a game, only to find out it’s a New York Jets practice, with only 3rd string players.

Expats quickly learn what NOT to order on a British menu to avoid tainting the taste of home.
Hot dogs that come in jars in the canned goods aisle? Hard pass.
Cheeseburgers pre-made and sold in a gas station. No thanks.
Asking for ‘lemonade’ and getting a warm can of Sprite. Oh geez.
Nachos could easily stand for ‘No American Cheese, Habaneros Or Salsa’.

So how does someone learn to just not give a crap about cooking?
Follow the lead of this guy, who apparently is the only one with some kind of cooking acumen at this network.
His nachos recipe looks more like a cry for help or a sign of suicide rather than a cooking segment.

Our man Weber is a microwave kind of guy, and you get the impression that this is not only his ONLY recipe, but that he probably eats this every night sitting in his tight-whiteys watching late night runs of the dating show ‘Studs.’
This is the nacho recipe for the everyman.

If you’re looking for a way NOT to make nachos, or the spirit animal of the sad divorcee, than this is the video for you.

There are some good nachos in the UK by the way. we just have yet to taste them.
If you have any recommendations for the best nachos in the UK, make sure to give us a holler.
We’ll all be eating crap nachos and watching the games together soon.

Meme Marchness

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What a wild week this was in the NFL!
Does anyone else have the cold sweats?
To celebrate, we have compiled a collection of some of the greatest memes from the week in what we call Meme Marchness.

We will of course go into bigger discussion about some of these topics in our podcast, and throughout the week. Some of the hot topics we will be touching on include:

DeShaun Watson

It’s all starting to crumble for Watson, as his exploits at massage parlours makes him the perfect Patriot. The reports that are starting to emerge are troubling, and could potentially spell the end of a career for DeShaun.
Like anything in life, you can rush to hasty decisions without all of the facts-something we don’t have yet.
A truly unfortunate situation for everyone.

Patriots

Speaking of blowing the wad, New England has splashed some cash this week unlike any other time in their history. Bill Belichick got Cam for a nifty deal, then splashed out on enough tight ends to last him 5 years. New England is in a tough division, and we shall see if Belichick still has a magic touch, or if he is truly out of touch.

Trubisky

Ding dong, Mitch is dead. Well, not really. But Mitchell Trubisky is no longer a Bear, as he has shuffled off to Buffalo. After being flogged by Chicago relentlessly since being selected, Mitch should look forward to going to Western New York where the fans are recognised as the nicest in the league.
These good feels might even help Mitch get his confidence back.

Here are a selection of memes for you to giggle yourself over.

Super Bowl Food

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Game day is here, and we’re all stuck at home getting fat.
So what do you have on tap for Sunday in terms of food and fixins?
Since we all can’t gather in public, it’s time to consider your nosh options for watching SuperBowl 55 in the UK.  So here are some ideas for some Super Bowl food to make your Sunday Funday.
It’s great, it’s on real late, it’s Covid times.

Our American counter parts often make us jealous of their hormone laden food choice pairings, meal deals, influence & indulgence, but we’re alone in the UK, so make your own Sunday Funday menu.
I’m a Canadian farm boy, Bears fan, bbq geek, lazy ass, who loves to throw NFL parties, so I’m going to offer my best Super Bowl Food tips for Sunday.
These recipes are based on parties of less than 6, so none of us get arrested.

Delivery

Seriously the best option for the lazy Super Bowl watcher. Pop & lock your phone to Grease Street and Delivepoo or Must Eat yourself to ease. Problem is that kickoff is 11:30pm GMT, so you won’t really get something warm and ready.
Consider the indie. There are loads of great independent restaurants that are offering eat in options of their food. This makes it easy for anyone to follow instructions and heat up when needed.
Timing is everything, so make sure that you balance the warming times of your meats and sides.
Don’t try to pull off the fact you didn’t make it though. In a game of transparency, call out the teammates of delivery.

Wings

Chicken wings are easy to do, and a staple for NFL viewing. Wings are full of fat, so it’s good to boil them first for a few minutes to render it off for a crispy result.  Throw them in heavily salted boiling water until white, then dab, and oven dry at 30c with a few pats of a towel to get all the water out. Put the wings in a bag of seasoning to rope up the goodness & put in the fridge to cool before cooking. Baked wings work best with this method, but make sure you get the air flow going to circulate the meat. As soon as they’re crispy to your liking, pull them out and shake them in a bowl of your best sauce. Serve hot.

Nachos

Nachos are a tough treat in the UK, because we lack some of the basics to make them really cook.
A proper corn tortilla is key to nachos, as well as knowing what stays dry and what stays wet.
Nacho amateurs will be quick to splooge the nachos in salsa, dips and juices prior to cooking, but you need to be patient. We all have our ideal nachos, so listen to your crew who is going to eat it.
As for chips, Marks & Spencer sells a close to authentic Cantina Tortillas which are more viable than the UK Dorito options. Salty, crispy and a solid balance.
Nacho reminder…
It’s better to basic and cheese first…then to toss a bunch of shit on and piss everyone off.

Chili

I’m doing a beef short rib chili for Super Bowl Sunday, and a slow cooker/ crock pot is key here. A good chili ideally takes at least 8 hours to cook, 24 if you want full flavour, and 48 hrs if you’re cooking human (wikipedia).
If you’re cooking ribs get a butcher to help you out. Trim all the fat first as it makes for greasy chili, then braise the meat by either a bbq or in an oily pan. Don’t cook it fully, just give it a crisp then trim the fat again and put in in the slow cooker. Add beans, tomatoes, lentils, whatever the flock you want for a chili. Have fun with it. The idea of a chili is to cook all the crap you couldn’t eat before, but you boiled it down with some stuff.
As a Bears fan, that’s my season.

BBQ

Cook meat like you want to eat it, not like you want to hurt it. Living in Britain for 15 years have shown me how mean some foodies can be to their potential next course. Chicken is supposed to have moisture after being on the bbq, not to look like it’s a chimney sweep apprentice.
If you want to eat it, watch it, and give it time to rest.

If you’re going to Super Bowl BBQ, keep it quick and focused. All beef hot dogs are a great treat if you can find them in the UK, although a package of 5 cost me £10, so be prepared to pay. They’re good quality too, not just regular old lips and assholes

Enjoy your Super Bowl and reach out for any menu tips.
If you want to learn how to cook any other greasy, comfort food, let me know.

Good eating everyone, and enjoy Super Bowl 55. We’ll all be back eating with each other again soon.

 

 

SuperBowl 55 Preview

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And then there was one game to define it all.
One final match for the 2020 season, before we all slug back to hibernate for another 7 months of no NFL.
It’s the Tampa Bay Bucs vs the Kansas City Chiefs, as we bring you our SuperBowl 55 Preview podcast.

Wade McElwain & Ryan Cull are ready for Sunday, as they break down all of the factors that will come into play for SuperBowl 55 in Tampa.
Who do they think will win the big game? You’ll have to read further.

The guys touch on all kinds of fun in this podcast, among some of the issues they discuss in detail includes:

TB12

Sure, he makes half the SuperBowls of his career, but is he really that good? Brady has thrown a bunch of INTs throughout the playoffs, and it’s hard not to think he won’t be tossing one away in this game. Where Brady shines is under pressure, and leading an underdog charge.
Tommy boy knows how to manage the clock and the big stage.

Mahomes

Patrick has surely accomplished a lot for a young man his age. He shows a certain poise and commands the pocket expertly as he moves down the field. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his issues however. If the Bucs put enough pressure on him, he might throw an errant pick down the field. Or he might find a seam and run for 40 yards on you. That’s why he’s so fun to watch.

Chiefs O-Line

You’re going to need to protect Patrick Mahomes from one of the fastest D’s in the league. The Bucs were able to get to him in week 12, and it should be eve easier if 3 of the starters are out.
Mahomes is a phenom anyway you slice it, but if you can get to him early and often, it will mean he has to take deep shots down the field.

RBs

Both of these teams will have all of their backs healthy and ready for the big game. With such a high powered passing attack on both sides, the running game could be overlooked. This would be a mistake, as both teams will want to ‘ground and pound’ to soften the defensive line up a bit.
Where this will get interesting is how often these RBs are used in play action and as receivers.

Gronk

Gronk is always on Tommy’s mind when it comes to the SuperBowl. In the previous Patriots games, Rob was a big factor finding open field and busting a few big gains and even a TD against the Rams.
Betting that Gronk gets a TD is a solid prop bet, and it may have something to do with TB12 helping his buddy’s get their post season bonuses.

Home Field

It may not feel like much, but home field does play a huge factor in Sundays outcome. Knowing every facet of a stadium, how the wind rolls in, where your family are sitting, and how close the toilet is, all help a player out mentally to calm down.

So with all of that in consideration, the guys have made this Super Bowl 55 predictions.

Ryan

Ryan likes the kid Mahomes in this one, as the Chiefs just have too many tools to be stopped. He likes both teams to hit the over here, but Kansas City will just be too much for the Bucs to handle.
Chiefs 31 Bucs 27

Wade

Wade is going with defence, home field advantage, and experience, which is why he likes Tampa Bay to win this at home. Defences win big games, and this will be the one where the better one steps up. The Chiefs might build a lead, but TB12 and co. will work to erase and overcome just like in Super Bowls of past.
Bucs 28 Chiefs 24

That’s it for the final prediction of this NFL 2020/21 season.
Huge thanks to the NFL for making it all feel ‘normal’ again. What are we going to do without you?
Thanks for listening, please share and we will continue to make more during the offseason.

Season Review Podcast

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And just like that another NFL season is done and in the books, as we take a look back in our Season Review Podcast.
It certainly was one of the oddest seasons, and will definitely be the lowest attended by fans on record.
From Covid to injuries, Covid to the New York Jets, the season got messy real quick.

Wade McElwain and Ryan Cull look back at the season that was, and highlight the stories that shaped the year. The guys also make a team by team analysis of each team, what went wrong, and what they will need to do to right the ship for next season.

Some of the other things that the guys touch on in this podcast includes:

Stafford/ Goff Trade

LA got the QB that everyone wanted, but they really only have two years to pull it off. Detroit loads up on draft picks, and can start to whittle through the loads of ex Patriots players taking up valuable space. McVay now has a tough QB with a heck on an arm on him, if they can add a few more pieces to keep him safe, the Rams could be headed to a Super Bowl in a few years.

DeShaun Drama

Who wants a talented 24 year old QB with a big chip on his shoulder? Most every team would love Watson on their team, but no one really has the money to swallow him up. Despite every move made by the Texans, it will be tough to keep him happy and motivated.

Brady Bonuses

Did you know that TB12 was making some serious paper during his first NFC playoffs? Brady banked $500k for making the post season, $250k for beating Washington, then a further $500k for taking out Drew Brees. Severing the head of Aaron Rodgers brought Tommy another $500k, with the Super Bowl throwing a further $500k into the kitty. All told Tom Brady will make $28 million this year. Wowza.

Who Dak?

Dallas has a pricey bill to settle up. Throwing the franchise tag on Dak will be costly, especially when they have other expensive toys like Cooper and Zeke on the squad. The Cowboys are going to need to figure out what’s in their bank account for the next few seasons going forward.

QB Fiesta

There are loads of other teams and QB options to explore and the shifting sands of it all is really quite intoxicating. Aaron Rodgers has already started to massage his moustache as he looks if being a cheesehead for life is the best option. Goff is off to Motor City, but maybe he won’t be the starter? The Colts NEED a QB, the Bears aren’t going with Mitch, and what on earth are the Patriots are going to do? What about Carson Wentz?
The start of the 2021 NFL season is going to see a lot of guys in jerseys we never thought possible.

Offseason

The guys also talk about the big elephant in the room…the offseason. What the heck are we all going to do once this season is over? Do we all just go back to sleep or something?

Facebook Page

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