NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL in london

Head Gase

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Adam Gase still has a job, which might be one of the more messed up things to happen in 2020. The Jets are the worst team in the NFL, which makes Gase the de facto worst coach in the NFL, so why is this happening?
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why:

Woody Johnson

Ambassador Johnson is a busy man. The Jets owner is not only an Ambassador to the UK, but also the scion to the Johnson & Johnson empire. Johnson has been busy working as a British interpreter to Donal Trump, as well as helping the US navigate the upcoming Brexit.
Johnson was supposed to devolve all Jets activities, but you have to wonder if his touch is missing on the team.
It’s like having your neighbours train your puppy. It might be convenient now, but what kind of dog are you going to get?
In the case of the Jets, a bad dog. A very bad dog.

Sam Darnold

Gase chose a solid rookie QB in Sam Darnold, now we can all watch as Gase slowly crumbles the young mans career. Darnold is getting absolutely smoked with no O-line to protect him, and he is aging far too fast in NFL years. Giving Darnold to Gase was like giving a Fabrege Egg to a toddler. He’s just going to smash it up, then ask for a new one.

Player Vacation

The Jets are jettisoning players like someone threw a grenade in their fuselage. They have lost talent on every side of the ball, and it will take years to recover the amount of guys who had fled the sinking Jet. In doesn’t instils much confidence in fans when no one wants to play for your team, as well as thinking that you have the worst playable field in the league. Until Gase leaves, this haemorrhaging will continue to bleed New York of talent.

Play Calling

Someone needs to take Gase off the play calling role. He has too many fingers in too many pockets, which ultimately leads to step in and take the reigns away from him. The Jets plain old suck across everything, so it might make sense for him to take a step back and let someone else tank the team.

Adam Gase will probably make it until the end of the NFL season. The Jets are unlikely to fire the idiot, which means that they will be looking to destroy a new QB next year. Stay in school Trevor Lawrence.

 

Week 7 DraftKings

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There were some beast Fantasy Football scores in week 6, did you put together an amazing DraftKings line-up? If you didn’t, don’t worry-I have some top tips for you to make the most out of your Fantasy NFL contests.
Week 7 has some amazing games lined up, so you need to check out the value picks that are floating around, while still keeping your budget afloat for some of the key earners on Sunday.
Here are some of my top picks for Week 7.

QBs

Josh Allen $7700

‘Who’s playing the Jets this week?’, should be your go-to question when it comes to devising your NFL fantasy line-up. Luckily it’s the Bills, who are coming down from 2 weeks of beatings.
Allen should be fired up for this game, and the Jets should be worried about the vengeance he will inflict on the hapless Jets on Sunday. A little pricey, but worth it.

Justin Herbert $6400

The other question you need to ask is ‘Who is playing the Jags?’, which this week is the LA Chargers. Herbert has been the best rookie QB so far this season, and he grows in confidence every game. The Jags looked plucky at the start of the season, but now look more like sucky. Having Allen would be great for Justin, but he should be able to spread the ball around to the rest of the receivers for a good day.

RBs

D’andre Swift $5400

Swift is back for the Lions, and the poor back of Adrian Peterson must be happy for the break. Swift adds a new dynamic for Matt Stafford, allowing him to time and moves to be able to spread the ball around. Swift is a good deal at $5400, as the Falcons suck against the run, so he should have a good day as RB1.

Devin Singletary $5800

The Bills are playing the Jets, which means that their top R should figure in some of the beating that the Jets will be taking on Sunday. If John Brown is out, the Bills will focus on Singletary in a slot/ receiving role, meaning he should get at least a TD on Sunday.

Aaron Jones $7200

The priciest RB in DraftKings this week, he will factor in heavily in Aaron Rodgers attack plan against the Texans. Houston has a tough D, but struggles against quality RBs who gash them for continuous yards. Jones is a good flex option if you save your pennies, as he looks to have a monster performance on Sunday.

WRs

Stefon Diggs $7000

Pairing Diggs with Allen will get you some big-ass points this weekend, as the Jets will struggle to contain this duo. Diggs is looking to have his best game of the year, and if John Brown is not 100%, he will see even more action. A little expensive, but you’re worth it, aren’t you?

Tee Higgins $5300

With a name like an English stripper, how can you not love Higgins? Joe Burrow certainly does, hooking up with the speedy rookie consistently every game. The Browns got opened up last week by the Steelers, and the Bengals have the tools to continue the operation.

Keelan Cole $4700

With DJ Chark struggling in the past few games, Cole has emerged as the go to target for Gardner Minshew. The Chargers have a solid D, but Cole will be the guy on the Jags who will be making the biggest plays. He has wheels and good hands, something Minshew is going to need under constant pressure on Sunday.

TEs

Hunter Henry $4500

Henry is the perfect pairing for Herbert, as the two of them will connect frequently on Sunday. With Keenan Allen potentially limited, Henry will be used often in mid range downs, as well as red zone attempts. He is a great value at $4500.

George Kittle $6500

The most expensive TE for week 7, Kittle is an absolute beast after the catch. The Patriots showed their wounds last week, and Kittle is the perfect guy to throw salt in them. The only problem? Bill Belichick will throw everything at Kittle this Sunday, so he might be in for a tough day.

DEF

Chargers $3400

Keeping on with LA, the Chargers are facing the Jags, who haven’t really ripped anyone this season. The Chargers have a fast front which will cause problems, and potentially INTs for Minshew.

Packers $3100

The Packers may have lost last Sunday, but it wasn’t really the fault of their D. Rodgers threw 2 picks back to back, and then couldn’t really find his mojo. Their D was able to hold Brady in check for a while, and should rebound this week to stifle DeShaun Watson.

DraftKings

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The Picks Six

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Yo! Welcome to the first edition of The Picks Six. This is a new concept, so bare with me whilst I figure it out. But each week I’m gonna give 6 types of picks or tips for the upcoming slate of games. Each category is a little different; some are sure fire “this is definitely going to happen,” and some are long shots “this is a bit of a dream but it’s plausible at least.” Like for example last week. I thought the Dolphins had a great shot at upsetting the 49ers. And they did. Wish I’d started this column last week now… We’ll keep track of how I do in each category so you can know which ones to trust and which ones to laugh at. 

Anyway… for us Brits, this week’s Sky Sports Slate of games is absolutely electric. Steelers vs Browns, Buccaneers vs Packers, Rams vs 49ers (ehhhh okay not great), Bills vs Chiefs AND Cardinals vs Cowboys? 4 out of 5 are legitimately must see. But if I can avoid watching Jimmy G I will absolutely do so, so let’s just pretend that game isn’t happening for the rest of this article? Cool! Let’s get stuck into my picks. 

1) The 1st and Goal from the One 

This is my lock of the week. A sure fire winner surely. 

I’m very tempted to pick the Panthers to beat the (extremely fraudulent, sorry not sorry Wade) 4-1 Bears, but I’m not quite as confident in that as a couple other options this weekend. It’s two AFC East teams, and I just cannot see any way they lose this weekend. I’m talking about the Patriots and the Dolphins. New England have seemingly survived Cam’s corona scare… and he’s back this week to face the fairly unfortunate Broncos, who have been decimated by injuries and then this week had the story of Melvin Gordon getting a DUI. It’s not been great for Denver, and I don’t think their luck changes on Sunday. Belichick can see a glimmer of light at the top of the AFC East after the Bills lost on Tuesday night. I’m taking the Patriots to win in comfortable fashion. BUT – as a bonus for the first week of this column, I’m also taking the Dolphins, who face the newly LeVeon Bell-less Jets. Adam Gase man… where do you even start? Probably best to make this quick. Brian Flores has the Dolphins playing great football and winning games. The Jets are absolutely horrific. I feel (for once) very confident that my Fins get their 3rd win of the season on Sunday.

2) The 45yd Field Goal (around even odds)

This is my mid-range, toss up of the week. 

So my pick is going to Green to beat Tampa in the matchup I’ve dubbed “battle of the bays.” I’m sure that’s copyrighted by someone else but hey, it sounds good. Tommy B has been up and down since relocating to Florida, and AA Rod is in the middle of his “how dare you not rank me in the top 10 of the NFL 100” revenge tour. It’s hard for me to understand why the Packers are ONLY favoured by a solitary point here coming off a Bye last week. I know the Buccaneers defense is tasty, but Aaron Jones and the (hopefully) returning healthy Davante Adams are too electrifying to stop, and they’ll both benefit from having the other in the lineup. Let’s go for Green Bay -1.0.

3). The Hail Mary (4/1 or longer)

This is my shot from half field. Unlikely, but you never know. 

The AFC North is fast confirming itself to be – alongside the NFC West – the best division in Football. The Ravens, Steelers AND (surprisingly) Browns are all proving themselves to be playoff calibration teams, with potential SuperBowl aspirations. Big Ben’s comeback player of the year campaign is off to a flyer, and rookie WR Chase Claypool set the Fantasy Football world on fire last week with 45 points in his 4TD demolition of the Eagles. Cleveland faced their toughest defense (since the Ravens in week 1) and dismantled the Colts with relative ease. Baker looked good, Kareem Hunt is running like he did in Kansas City, and OBJ has maybe got his mojo back. I’m so excited for this matchup. BUT I think this really means a lot to the Browns. They’re used to getting eviscerated by Pittsburgh and, after the “contentious” ending to last season’s second matchup (you know, the one with the attempted murder??), I think Myles Garrett will be out for… errr… sacks!? Cleveland are the underdogs but if they can get the run game going they can limit the Steelers’ time of possession. Ben will always air it out to try and catch up but I think the Browns have enough to not only upset the Steelers but win by a wider margin than expected.

We’re gonna go Cleveland Browns to win by 7-12 points. 

4) The Over

I like points. Sue me. Give me 45-44 over 17-14 every day. I’m a Big XII guy. Points points points. Throw the ball. So, I’m using this section to look at the points totals and pick an over that I like. 

Cardinals @ Cowboys – Over 55.0

Yeah, it’s a high line, but this has “shootout” written all over it. I love the Cardinals. I absolutely love them. They’re so exciting. Kyler is a speed demon. Hopkins is – for me – the best receiver in the league. Their run game has struggled but we all know Kenyan Drake could just turn it on one week and blow people away again. And then you’ve got Dallas. Firstly, get well soon Dak. Secondly, Andy Dalton is… not Dak Prescott, but has a better set of weapons in Dallas than he EVER had in Cincinnati. Lamb, Cooper & Gallup can cause Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals DBs a lot of issues, creating space for Zeke between the tackles, especially now Chandler Jones is done for the year. But Kyler and Hopkins will feast on a suspect Cowboys secondary that made the Giants look like an offensive powerhouse at times last week. I’m excited to see these two offenses beat up on the defenses on Monday Night. 

5) The Parlay

A little 5 team accumulator for the people. 

Titans -3.5 (how are Tennessee, who are 4-0, only -3.5 against a 1-4 Houston team?!)

Dolphins -10.0 (yeah, it’s A LOT of points for the Dolphins and Fitzmagic to cover… BUT… I mean… have you SEEN the Jets?)

Patriots -9.5 (Cam’s back, and the Broncos are broken. Even if Drew Lock plays, the New England defense is nasty enough to give him nightmares)

Browns +3.5 (I think they win outright, but the FG + a half point here makes this feel like a safe bet)

Lions -3.0 (Golladay back, Sacksonville ain’t what it used to be, Lions managed to beat the Cardinals – a GOOD team – earlier this year. I trust Stafford to win this game)

£10 on this pays about £260 depending on your Bookmaker.

6) The Full English

This is just gonna be my straight up, nice and simple, prediction for who wins every single game each week. We’ll keep a rolling total and win % for me and hopefully it’ll be a number significantly higher than 50…

ATL vs MIN – Atlanta

BAL vs PHI – Ravens

CHI vs CAR – Panthers

CIN vs IND – Colts

CLE vs PIT – Browns

DEN vs NE – Patriots

DET vs JAX – Lions

HOU vs TEN – Titans

WAS vs NYG – Giants

NYJ vs MIA – Dolphins

GB vs TB – Packers

LAR vs SF – Rams

KC vs BUF – Chiefs

ARI vs DAL – Cardinals

And that’s it! Can’t wait to get absolutely none of these right this week. Hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts. Fingers crossed you come back next week. I’m @callumjdsquires on Twitter and Instagram if you wanna chat further. Have a good one!

All Lines and Totals accurate as of Friday 16th October at 15:00. 

Callum Squires is a London based writer, Dolphins fan and regular contributor to NFL in London. 

Jaguars Leave London?

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The Jacksonville Jaguars contract with the NFL quietly ended this week, with many UK NFL fans wondering if this is the end of an era for the Jags in London.
The Jags have been playing regular season games in the capital since 2013, solidifying a new fan base, and fostering a reputation as the first potential UK franchise.
But then 2020 came along.

Will the Jaguars sign a new contract, or is this the end of the Florida/ UK NFL experiment? Let’s take a look at some of the factors involved in this.

Jacksonville

When the NFL first started hosting the Jaguars in London, their team was in a very different state of affairs. The stadium was a mess, the city was reeling from economic hardships, and the fan base was one of the lowest in the league.
Shad Khan injected much needed funds and energy into the franchise, and used international expansion as a way to not only drum up press, but also explore the potential of a European operation.
As the Jaguars continued to play London games, dissension was building at home. The new stadium with its shimmering pools was drawing bigger crowds, and the Jags themselves began to reach the NFL playoffs.
When the team announced that they would be playing two home games in London in 2020, local press and ardent fans rebelled, signalling that they wanted their home team home.
While the London games represented 11% of home ticket revenue, Jacksonville locals lobbied state and city government officials to help out.
They listened too, with plans to revitalise the downtown around the stadium, bringing in over $2 billion in salaries and over 10000 new jobs.
Urban Jacksonville would be a new ‘Shi Tpa Town’, so why would locals want to lose that momentum?

Khan

Shad Khan may be the 4th richest NFL owner, 66th richest person in America, but like many over the past few years, he’s taken a hit to his back pocket. He even recently has had to sell his 300 foot yacht the Kismet , which can be yours for a cool $166 million.
With xenophobia rampaging across America, you can see why he might just want to keep his nose down and focus on his franchise during an election year, and Trump-Mania spreading across Florida.
The impending noose of Brexit  is threatening to choke out international business opportunities, which has left many multinational companies to adopt a ‘wait and see’ policy when it comes to moving to the UK.
Wait til the dust has settled and see what kind of deals a desperate UK government is willing to offer.

Covid

Did you know that there was an a virus epidemic going on? No, it’s true. Although not much in the news, apparently some nasty bug has been disrupting our way of life.
Businesses hate surprises, and Covid 19 is one of the biggest viral-reveals we have had in our lifetime.
Like Brexit, no one wants to make long term plans when infections and rolling shut downs continue to affect and infect our way of life.
Until we have a vaccine or this nasty sucker under control, all UK-US sports matches will be put on hold.
Can you imagine if they had gone ahead with the London games, and had to postpone at the last minute?
It would be a logistical nightmare.

Tottenham

With the NFL and Tottenham stadium agreeing to a 10 year NFL deal, it doesn’t really make sense to negotiate separate matches with Wembley. If the league is all in this together, then maybe spreading out the games and structure doesn’t really fly in the face of the new normal.
The Spurs have spent a lot of time and money on the new stadium, and fan reaction has been wholly behind the new digs in favour of crusty old Wembley.
Tottenham have a massive vested interest in developing and hosting the games there, so the Jags could save a lot of time and money on working with the league as bubbles and lockdowns become part of the new NFL dynamic.

In the end Shad Khan might just want to take some time off and reflect on the London experiment. Covid has provided a timely opportunity to gauge the want of international expansion, with the need for keeping the home fans happy.
We (should) have NFL games in London in 2021, but with the way 2020 has been going, we need to learn to expect the worst.
That’s what Jets fans do.

 

New Week 5 Schedule

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It’s been a topsy-turvy week in the NFL, as they tweak the schedule due to Covid 19 tests. It turns out that those pesky Tennessee Titans were practising without masks, and in close contact throwing the whole damn mess into the air.
So what will happen Week 5 in the NFL?

Broncos vs Patriots
Tues Oct 13/ 12am GMT

Stefon Gilmore tested positive for Covid, so they dumped him in a trailer out back until he gets himself fixed. There was a picture of Stefon in week 4 hugging Patrick Mahomes after their loss, and you can only image that Bill Belichick ordered this to get some favourable games in the future.
This game was originally slated for Sunday, but has now been moved to Monday at 5pm EST, or 12am GMT.
Yes, this makes it tough for fans to watch the games in the UK, but given the amount of people being made redundant, late nights have become the new normal.

Bills vs Titans
Wed Oct 14/ 12am GMT

Damn those Titans and their dirty play. Sadly this could really come back to bite them in the butt, as they have had to lose one of their bye weeks as a result of the positive Corona test. If the Titans can’t play this game, then they will have to forfeit the game. This also sucks for Bills players, because they won’t get paid if Tennessee forfeits.
This also makes things even trickier for the Bills, as they were due to play the Chiefs on the following Thursday. That would mean that Buffalo would play on Tuesday night, then play the defending Super Bowl champions 2 nights later.
Luckily the NFL has said that the Week 6 TNF game would be moved to another time on Sunday.
It’s a good thing that fans aren’t being issued tickets, as we would be hearing from a whole whack of Karen’s and Ken’s moaning to speak to a manager.

Watch this space for more NFL news. We have no idea what will go down, but we will keep our finger on the button of all news and post it all here.
Imagine what this will be all like if the virus hits hard in the winter?
Eesh.