NFL in London

National Football League in London

Packers

TNF Packers vs 49ers

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America is on life support this week, as it flatlines from its most recent election. Biden, Trump, Kanye? It’s anyone’s guess, but the real eyes should be on the Bay area this week, as the 49ers host Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Thursday night.
Sure, American polling stations might be burning, but the real burn will be the anger in Rodgers eyes as he attempts to avenge a week 8 loss.

49ers

The 49ers are a total mess after week 8. Not only have they lost Jimmy G, George Kittle, Wilson Jr, and Mostert, they also lost lost Nick Bosa and Dee Ford on the D.
If you’re on San Fran’s practice squad, there’s a pretty good chance you’re playing on Thursday night.
This really could be the end for the 49ers this season in their competitive division. Losing the next few games will definitely push them beyond repair, as some of their top guys will be gone for the season.
As much as we all would love to see Nick Mullens pull a season saver out of his ass, he’ll need to be able to throw accurately over 8 yards, which has eluded him thus far in the season.
San Francisco is on its way to being the NY Jets of the NFC, they just don’t know it yet.

Packers

The Packers got stuffed last Sunday at Lambeau thanks to Dalvin Cook. They had no answer for him as he romped for 4 touchdowns and 200+ yards. Cook was a fantasy hero, and thankfully I had him on my squad, as well as choosing the Packers not to cover.
Aaron Rodgers is a beast after a loss, going 31-15 against the spread in the week following one.
Green Bay is also hit by the injury/ Covid bug, as it looks like all of their running backs could be out. Rodgers is going to have to toss the ball on Thursday, which shouldn’t be a problem against the 49ers secondary which is down & dusted as well.
No one will be able to smother Davante Adams, which should lead to a stellar game for him.

Prediction

The 49ers are far too hobbled to cause problems for anyone this season going forward. They went from a ‘chasing the playoffs year’, to ‘shut up and rebuild year’ in one single week.
Aaron Rodgers will be looking to avenge his Sunday loss, and the poor 49ers will pay the price.
Rodgers is a California boy, and he should feel right at home in this game.

Packers 31 49ers 18

 

 

Rodgers Lover

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This might be the last article I ever get to write for NFL in London because – WARNING – I’m going to say some nice things about Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. I assume many of you will know that Wade, the boss of this here domain, is a huge Chicago Bears fan. Therefore I am walking on eggshells at best by setting out my stall here and saying I’m going to be positive about the Cheeseheads from Wisconsin… but stick with me.

Sunday Night’s win over the Chiefs wasn’t perfect from the Packers’ perspective, but perhaps that’s what made it all the more impressive. The Chiefs often maligned defense was able to pressure and worry Rodgers, and the usually assured scrambler was hit and sacked at a significantly higher rate than the norm, suggesting the Packers’ O-Line protection needs a little bit of work done to it. But Rodgers was able to use his backfield weapons to great effect. Aaron Jones (I love you) & Jamaal Williams (I don’t love you, STOP taking fantasy points away from my Aaron) both found the endzone twice, and ensured that the team bereft of it’s one truly elite receiver – Davante Adams – still managed to score 31 points in one of the NFL’s most intimidating “home field advantage” stadiums. Jones, especially, is a true livewire, as exhibited on his two huge plays in Arrowhead. The pace he showed to break away from the Chiefs’ secondary will terrify most defenses around the league, and when you have Aaron Rodgers making INSANE plays – like the “heave and hope,” over the shoulder pass to Williams in the very back corner of the endzone – you always have more than a chance.

Rodgers has only one black mark on his surefire Hall of Fame resume. He’s only got one title. ONE. Playing for Titletown. The 2010 run to Super Bowl XLV against the Steelers was fairly magical, with the Packers winning 3 road games against the Eagles, the Falcons and the (sorry Wade) aforementioned Bears, en route to the Lombardi Trophy. But that’s been it. Not just one title. One Super Bowl APPEARANCE for Rodgers. Yep. It’s amazing. Admittedly, he’s not always had the best pieces around him, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but the closest he’s come to glory since 2010 is getting blown out in the NFC Championship game in 2016 by Atlanta. Yes, he’s a two-time League MVP, but only having one Super Bowl win, when you’re considered by SOME to be the greatest Quarterback of all time… It doesn’t quite feel right.

On the other hand, there’s another guy out there who is widely considered the GOAT, who seems to be blazing his annual trail straight back to the Super Bowl in his search for his SEVENTH Championship and the destruction of the planet as we know it. Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr & The New England Patriots. Brady’s run is almost the antithesis of Rodgers’. Brady has usually been supported by a solid team, whilst Rodgers has often had to make more than the sum of the parts around him. Brady can also be glad for the elite coaching staff he’s always had alongside him, and therefore the ability to be good enough in the regular season to almost guarantee home field advantage for his yearly hunt for gold. Since 2008, Brady has played in just THREE true road playoff games. Interestingly, he has a 1-2 record in those games, with the only win being that travesty against the Chiefs last year. And before I hear ONE COMPLAINT from Patriots’ fans, that pre-snap penalty saved you and was an absolute travesty. Ugh. So he’s actually beatable if you can drag him away from Foxborough. He’s just too good to let that happen often. Ugh again. Anyway, basically Brady hasn’t even had to be that good this year so far because the Patriots defense is absolutely mauling all teams unlucky enough to be put in front of them. Seriously, “lambs to the slaughter” comes to mind every time I watch a team try to score against them. But the point is, Brady is rolling towards another AFC Championship game, without really breaking much of a sweat.

But IF the Patriots make it to the big one again this year… could it be Rodgers waiting for him? The NFC is seemingly stacked with very viable teams, but Green Bay – who for once have a defense to support Rodgers – could be the one. We’ve only ever seen Rodgers vs Brady twice (1 win each for the record, don’t all great things come in threes?!), but wouldn’t it be poetic to see these two face off for the biggest prize in North America? There would be a LOT of conflicted people who wouldn’t know who to cheer for… but it might just end up being that way. What a spectacle it would be. Maybe Brady vs Rodgers on the biggest stage in American sports is what we truly deserve… Or worse… maybe it’s what we all secretly want.

Callum Squires
@callumjdsquires

Lions vs Packers

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Who likes garbage?
Nobody except NFL referees, as they tossed garbage around the field in the name of penalties.

This was an atrocious day for refereeing in the NFL and they should either be shamed, blamed, benched or fired.
Having ref’d a few high school games in my day, even I would walk off the field if I was dinged for a ‘too many men on the field’ call.

The Detroit Lions feel robbed, and rightly so.
The officiating in the NFL is getting worse, how does this happen?
How do we have more scrutiny on the game and in their ears, and they continue to make horrible and dishonest calls.

Either they’re too dumb, or they’re on the take.
When you’re making $200,000 a year, your eyes and your ears should be on form for the game, but not these guys.

Someone needs to start a ledger of which refs continually screw up, and then trash them.

It’s really starting to ruin the game, and someone has to do something.

Now the Packers are 5-1. Way to go refs!

 

Week 4-Belushi’s

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It’s Week 4 already! Whew-this season has been blowing by!
Join us at Belushi’s Hammersmith for a great Sunday of NFL action.
Boasting 22tvs and one of the biggest projectors in the city, Belushi’s is the perfect sports bar for your NFL nights.

Want to watch your own game with your mates on a 50′ TV? Get in touch! The Belushi’s team can set you up, and get you all the food and drinks you need for a truly magical Sunday night.

Best of all, it’s open until 1am, so you can still make it back in time to enjoy your hangover the next morning.

Belushi’s has Sky Sports; Redzone plus NFL Gamepass for selected areas.
Some of the games they will be showing on Sunday includes:

Bills vs Patriots-6pm
Browns vs Ravens-6pm
Chiefs vs Lions-6pm

See you Sunday!

https://www.belushis.com/bars/london/hammersmith

TNF-Eagles vs Packers

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The Eagles steamed into Lambeau Field on Thursday to face the 3-0 Green Bay Packers.
With a beat up squad, limping WRs, one wondered if Carson Wentz would have the tools available to be able to keep up with the strong arm of Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers D has been phenomenal this season, scarring QBs from around the league with their insane pass rush.
One thing that the Packers D hasn’t been tested on, was a good running game.
Jordan Howard certainly showed them what that looked like, with an incredible amount of line-breaking first downs.

This loss for Green Bay certainly adds some hubris to the season, after a loss to the injury ravaged Eagles, and adds a certain jump in the step to all of the NFC North contenders who are looking to gain ground on the cheeseheads.

Not they have 10 days off to see what they can put together.
The Eagles are certainly happy after this.