NFL in London

National Football League in London

NFL international series

Remembering Wesseling

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The NFL lost a good friend in 2021, as NFL pundit and personality Chris Wesseling passed away after a battle with cancer.

Remembering Wesseling as part of this loveable trio of NFL fans who entertained fans from Lincoln, Nebraska to London, England every week.

An outspoken and ‘big kid’ at heart when it came to the game, Wesseling had a profound impact on not only those who covered the game, but those who played it.

A key member of the ‘Around the NFL’ podcast with Dan Hanzus and Gregg Rosenthal, Wesseling was remembered as being so passionate about the NFL, his knowledge and energy became infectious for fans to watch and listen to.

Although Chris died earlier in 2021, it has only been until now that his wife Lakisha has been able to process this pain into a memorial video dedicated to Chris and their son Lincoln.

“For our son: The story of Chris Wesseling” is a beautiful tribute to Chris and his passion for the NFL and its fans.

We encourage you to watch this video, and remember Chris on Sunday when you’re making your lineups and drafting your picks.

It’s been a tough few years for everyone, but please make sure to check yourself, keep yourself in good health, and hug your families.

Week 6 Review

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The final London NFL game is done and dusted, as we big a fond farewell to week 6 in the NFL.

It was an epic matchup between the Dolphins and Jaguars at Tottenham on Sunday, with Urban Meyer able to slow grind out a ‘W’ to save his job.

Ryan Cull is off to Canada, as Wade is joined by our pal Callum Squires, in this Week 6 Review Podcast.

Among some of the things that the guys chat about in this podcast includes;

London Games

Callum breaks down what the atmosphere was like at Tottenham Stadium, and what it felt like to watch his Dolphins collapse against the feeble Jags.
He also talks beer snakes, the rain of plastic cups, and what it’s like to party around Tottenham stadium.
Did you go to the game? How was your experience?

Chief Concern

Kansas City was able to eek out a win against the struggling Washington FT over the weekend, but there are still major concerns over their team, and in particular their D.
Patrick Mahomes was able to sneak out a win, but Kansas City did not look pretty in doing so. This team is going to struggle when they face some of the better teams in the league.

Viking Fun-eral

What’s going on in Minnesota?
You can’t trust the team to win, and you can’t trust the team to lose!
The Vikings are inconsistent this season, with teams either getting trampled by Dalvin Cook, or ripping holes through their porous secondary.
Minnesota has the squad and the ability to cause some havoc amongst the Packers, it’s just a matter of whether or not they can get their act together.

‘Dem Boyz

Dallas continues to punish teams they face with a relentless attack, and a D that swoops and scoops like a seagull.
The Cowboys continue to push up big points each week, while allowing their defence to swarm opposing QBs as well as create disruptions and picks a plenty.
The real concern here is that former Patriots fans are now emerging from the bushes as Cowboys fans. God help us all.

Packing it Up

Aaron Rodgers continues his cheese head farewell tour by pissing off fans around the league.
With his departure from Lambeau now a mere formality, Aaron is having fun playing the game again, despite not having the same Packers team(s) he has had in the past.
Green Bay was only able to put the game out of reach against the Bears in the last 7 minutes of play, which doesn’t bode well for upcoming Green Bay games against far superior squads.

Sport Bar and Grill

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Sports Bar and Grill Clapham and Old Street last week for an amazing night of NFL games.
The place was rocking until 4am, as fans sunk into buckets of wings, towers of beer, and comradery of meeting new friends.
The Sports Bar and Grill Old Street is open until 12:30am every Sunday (monday), so make sure that you book ahead to get a great spot for all the games.
We will be back with Callum and another podcast this week, as we look ahead to all of the exciting Week 7 games.

Week 5 Review

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What a tough week it was in the NFL!
Especially for the Giants, 49ers, and Jon Gruden!

Wade and Ryan look back at the week that was in our Week 5 Review podcast.

London Game

What a game in London!

A gorgeous, sunny day gave way to an excellent day of football at Tottenham Stadium.

The Falcons were able to squeeze a win over Zach Wilson and the struggling Jets, but that didn’t really matter to many UK fans.

It was also about getting out to enjoy a beautiful day, with new friends, and a heck of a lot of energy in a shiny new stadium.

We have amazing nights after, hosting all the fans at the Sports Bar & Grill Old Street, Clapham, and the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End.

Ready to do it all again this week?

Gruden

You should always be careful what you say on emails, especially if they are work emails.

Jon Gruden found this out the hard way this week, when an investigation into the Washington Football Team yielded some hefty words from the trash-talking Gruden.

The 90s’ might be done and dusted, but some of the language and nuance remains.

Gruden will most likely be the tip of the iceberg, with many more in the league likely to face justice for their naughty words.

This Week

Are you going to the bug game this week?
What about after the game?

Head to the Sports Bar and Grill Clapham or Old Street on Sunday, which will be hosting wicked after parties.

See you Sunday!

 

London to do (Oct 14-17)

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What a week it was in the NFL, as London once again hosted a game at Tottenham Stadium.

The Falcons flew supreme in this match, over powering the struggling New York Jets in a tight affair in North London. 

Afterwards, we hosted 3 parties across the city for hundred of NFL fans around the world!
What an epic night!

Ready to do it all again?

It’s the battle of Florida in North London, as the Miami Dolphins take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at White Hart Lane on Sunday October 17th. 

You ready to do this all again?

To help you figure out what to do, what’s on, and where to do on your trip to London this week, we’re here to help you out with all the advice that you need, in our London to do (Oct 14-17) tip sheet.

And of course, once again we hope to see you this Sunday at either the Sports Bar and Grill Clapham, Old Street or the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End. 

Getting to the Stadium

After talking to loads of people last week, it became evident that there are some better ways to get to the stadium that others. 

Getting close’ish, then taking a bus seems to have worked well for many people. 

Seven Sisters tube can get nutty, so consider the overground (White Hart Lane) or even walking from the Wood Green area, which has ample parking on Sundays. 

Thursday

Welcome to London! Are you drunk yet/

Lockdown has changed the working habits of many Londoners, with Thursday being the

optimal day to ‘work from the office’ as they can socialise, hit the bars, and get Friday to sleep in a bit.

With that in mind, hit some of the lovely bars in areas like Old Street, Kings Cross, Angel, Hoxton and Shoreditch. 

Frieze

Get your art on by hitting the Frieze London, a chance to catch art and artists you might never had heard of.
A great way to ease your way by hitting a gallery and satisfying your eyes. 

https://www.frieze.com/fairs/frieze-london

Noche Tardiva at Amazonico

Hit the jungle with some great drum and bass, jungle music, and Amazonian cocktails until the wee hours. Dance the night away in central London to rocking beats, and more in this forest themed bar. 

Downstairs at the Kingshead Comedy

One of the oldest running comedy nights in the WORLD, this new act night is one of the hottest tickets in town, with big telly stars popping in to do guest sets.
Located in leafy Crouch End, this comedy club hosts shows all weekend.
Book here:

http://www.downstairsatthekingshead.com/

Friday

Wendy’s

Missing a taste of America? We have Wendy’s!
They are slowly opening up across the UK, but if you are looking for a quick fix, head to Stratford, in London’s east end. 

Grab a bacon double cheeseburger and wash it down with a frosty as you get your America on!

Here is the address:
52 Broadway, London E15 1XE

BackYard Comedy Club

East is the beast when it comes to live entertainment in the capital, and this comedy club is one to check out!
Head to the hip Bethnal Green hood for a weekend of great comedy shows at the Backyard Comedy club. You never know who might pop in.
Booking ahead is recommended as tickets sell out quickly.

https://backyardcomedyclub.co.uk/

Dave Chappelle

If you’re lucky enough to have scored tickets to this show, good on you!
While many people across the pond are trying to cancel Dave, many in the UK simply just want a chance to see him.

This tour was originally rescheduled from the COVID days. 

https://www.eventimapollo.com/events/detail/dave-chappelle-1

Saturday

Football

The Premier League is back, which means that the pubs will be packed with punters looking to catch up on some footie. 

If you find yourself in London and you’re looking to catch a game, there are two London derby’s on to look at.

Watford will be playing host to Liverpool Sat Oct 16th at 12:30pm. Watford is in the north west of the city, & can easily be accessed by the TFL.

Brentford celebrates their promotion to the PL by hosting Chelsea this weekend, in what looms as a ‘Ted Lasso’ type match of epic proportions. 

NCAA Football

If you’re looking to watch college football in the UK, be aware that nobody really cares about it here.
A pub will never switch off a footie game to watch American college kids, so it’s good to find a location that shows this type of stuff.

The Sports Bar and Grill Clapham and Old Street will show the games that air on BT Sport/ ESPN.
They will be showing Kentucky vs Georgia on Saturday at 5pm, so that should keep you busy for a few hours. 

Bloomsbury Festival

Bloomsbury is a weird area of London that has a high density of businesses and residents, giving it a very unique vibe, and worth a walk around. 

The Bloomsbury Festival will be blasting lights, and action all weekend as you can explore the area, as well as hit some of the green restaurants in the area. 

Check it out here.
https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/2021-events/

Sunday

It’s gameday!
Remember that the game kicks off at 2:30pm GMT (9:30am EST), so make sure that you plan your journey there accordingly. 

Sunday’s are notoriously slow in the UK for travel (replacement buses everywhere), so give yourself a bit more time to get around. 

Double check your route using CityMapper so that you know exactly what your options are for getting to and from the game. 

PreGame

Looking to soak up the beer in advance by filling up?
Head to the Sports Bar and Grill Old Street, Clapham or the Princess Alexandra in Crouch End for breakfast, or beers prior to kick off. 

The forecast for Sunday is calling for rain, so make sure that you bring an easy jacket/ jumper to throw on, as bringing umbrellas is a pain in the butt. 

All 3 pubs will be showing the NFL game between the Dolphins and Jaguars, but book ahead if you want to make sure that you get a seat. 

The Princess Alexandra is a direct bus ride to the stadium, and there is plenty of parking in Crouch End around Priory Park if you’re looking for a direct route/ option to the game. 

Gametime

Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Stadium at 2:30pm GMT, so give yourself a bit of time to get to the stadium and go through the security protocols. 

Check ahead with the stadium to make sure that you don’t bring TOO MUCH.

The forecast for Sunday October 17th is mostly cloudy, with a 40% chance of rain, and a high of 17c (64F).

After Parties

London is NOT a late night city, so make sure you plan ahead if you want to avoid going from closed door to closed door in shady parts of London you don’t know. 

Sports Bar Clapham

South London will be full tilt with action, as the SB&G Clapham will host south London’s most epic after party. 

With ALL of the NFL games on plus Redzone, the bar will be open late to make sure that you and yours can watch all of the NFL games. 

Loads of TVs, cold beer and hot wings will make this your best Sunday Funday option south of the Thames. 

https://www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/clapham/party-booking

Sports Bar Old Street

The OG of sports bars, this Old Street location will be open until 4am Monday, so that you can get your NFL on for the big game. 

With over 50+ TVs and room for 300 people, this bar will get packed quickly, so make sure you book ahead first. 

We will be accepting people on the door, although there will be a cover charge and seating isn’t guaranteed.
The pub has a late license until 4am, so you can stay for as long as your coherent, and be back in bed late if you want to avoid the rush. 

Book here now!

https://www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/oldstreet/party-booking

Princess Alexandra

Jump on the W3 bus near the pub, and you’re dropped off directly in front of White Hart Lane. 

An easy 15 minute journey will see you avoiding the direct traffic and at the stadium every 10 minutes. 

To get out of the stadium, just grab another W3 bus just across the road, and you’re back at the pub in time for the 6pm kickoffs. 

Areas to Avoid

Leicester Square

After hearing the horror stories from fans from week 1, we can only caution you about going to Leicester Square at night. 

Many fans want to crush down there after the games, only to find that the area is dead, and the only places that are open are packed and crazy expensive. 

Wembley

Did you book a hotel near Wembley instead of Tottenham? It’s a lot better than it use to be!

Not much going on unless you’re a student or work around the stadium.
Luckily you are now closer to central London than you were a few years ago. 

Tottenham

10 years ago, venturing outside to the side streets of Wembley would be lunacy.
Today the stadium is safely surrounded by a skyline of condos, busy franchises, and a bustling new community. 

Tottenham is Wembley 10 years ago.
The area is still very rough on the surrounding streets, and gentrification has yet to take hold , allowing Tottenham to maintain a tough, local vibe.
White Hart Lane is a notoriously rough area, and even less desirable at night. 

Get to the game and get out while the sun is still out, the Spurs vampires await. 

That’s it for this write up of what to do in London, have fun, enjoy the game and stay safe. 

See you Sunday at one of our NFL in London events! 

Week 5 Tips

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The NFL is finally in London, with the Falcons and Jets throwing down at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Who will win the big game? What are the inside tips for week 5 bets? What should you do after the London game?

We got it all in our Week 5 Tips! Take some of Wade & Ryan’s betting advice, then meet us on Sunday at the Sports Bar Old Street!

NY Jets (1-3) vs Falcons (1-3) -3  +46

US fans might bemoan the level of the teams playing at Tottenham on Sunday, but UK fans are just happy to have a live game to watch again.

Technically the Falcons are the ‘home team’ in this one, as they look to right the ship and get out of the losing doldrums.
It’s been a rough season thus far for Atlanta, as injuries and O line have made Matty Ice quite luke warm in the 2021 season.

For the Jets, this was supposed to be a rebirth year with Wilson and Saleh.
Sadly, the Jets look like the same old Jets, as they haven’t really found what makes the team unique, instead waiting to see if Zach is going to develop in time.

Ryan is big on the Jets in this one, as he vowed to never back the Falcons ever again after they let him down again in week 4.
He thinks that they will grind out a victory and thwart the home town birds.

Wade likes the veterans on the Falcons to deliver a victory on Sunday. Matt Ryan should have some time to deliver the ball against a stiffening Jets D.
The game will likely start slow, and end on a zip, with the Falcons causing to an easy victory.

Ryan-Jets 24 Falcons 23
Wade-Falcons 24 Jets 20

-4 Titans (2-2) vs Jaguars (0-4)  +48.5

Urban Meyer is a dead man walking. With 4 bad losses in a row, and a grinding session with a college girl on the internet, the fat lady must be warming up her pipes in Jacksonville.

This must be a do or die game for Urban, as an 0-5 start with Trevor Lawrence at the helm is truly unacceptable given the resources allocated to this rebirth.

The Titans too are in difficult situation given their slow start. Key wide receivers are down, the O line is a mess, and Tannehill looks like he is tumbling from his 2020 numbers.

Ryan likes the Titans to turn this one around, pegging the Jags in a blowout.

Wade too thinks that the Titans and the legs of Derek Henry will gash the Jaguars all day long.
He also predicts that Urban Meyer will be fired Monday, and won’t make the trip to London.

Ryan-Titans 33 Jags 21
Wade-Titans 31 Jags 20

-3 Packers (3-1) vs Bengals (3-1)  +49.5

Aaron Rodgers is coming down from a flirty filled victory over the Steelers last week, as he showboated for his potential new coach Mike Tomlin in an easy victory.

The Packers are 3-1, but with injuries to Alexander last week, plus a weak secondary, make them a bit more accessible to teams that can chuck the ball.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals are off to a wicked start. Cincy has added more protection to Burrow, allowing him to find his speedy receivers down field, as well as open up more holes for their running game.

Ryan thinks that A-A-Ron will come into the cat house and kick the litter all over the floor en route to tight victory over the Bengals. He thinks Rodgers and Adams will have a big game.

Wade likes the hometown Bengals for an upset here. With Tee Higgins returning, the Bengals have enough tools to keep tossing it to the backfield to give the cheese heads trouble.

Ryan-Packers 30 Bengals 23
Wade-Bengals 30 Packers 28

Sunday Night

Looking to party Sunday after the London games?

Sports Bar Old Street is open until 4am. The tables are now sold out, but there will be plenty of standing room and counter space to watch the game on 50+ TVs.

Sports Bar Clapham is open until 1am, and has a great selection of games, beers and food. There are a few tables available, but book now!

The Princess Alexandra is a pub that’s a quick bus ride to the stadium, and open until 1am Monday.
It’s in Crouch End, which is also an easy place to park, and hop on transit.

See you Sunday and enjoy the game!