NFL in London

National Football League in London

Pittsburgh Steelers

Broncos Jags London

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It’s time for the final London game of the season, as the Denver Broncos visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in England.
Who wins the big game? Will Russell play? What to do in the city?

We can answer that in our Broncos Jags London edition!

Wembley Stadium

Visitors take note, this game is at a different stadium!
While the first two games were hosted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in northeast London, this game will be held at Wembley Stadium in northwest London.
If you go to the wrong stadium, it’s going to take you a wee bit to switch back.

Built in 2007, Wembley is the unofficial home of England’s football, and has hosted numerous NFL games before.

Anyone who visited Wembley for NFL games from 2007-2011 were possibly horrified at how nothing to do there was around the area.
Once the game was over, you got the heck out, and never partied prior to the game.

Boy has that changed! Around the stadium is now a Chi-Pah-Town of possibility, with numerous chains and pubs to entertain you and keep you safe before the game.
There are now lots of safe hotels around as well, which means you aren’t staying in a bedsit with some people who don’t speak the language.

Unlike Tottenham stadium, there is plenty to do around Wembley, and you will have options to look at after the game.
Do remember, London shuts early, so many of these pubs will close by 11.

Stadium Sports Bar near Wembley is very close and advertises that its open late. You will have to ask if they have Redzone, but if they show Skysports, they will have it.
You can find them here.
https://www.stadiumsportsbar.uk/

Mirage Sports Bar is also local and seems basic enough to be a place to occupy sporting bodies, and has reasonable drinks deals. You can find them here.
https://www.wembleyinternationalhotel.co.uk/restaurant-sports-bar/mirage-sports-bar-wembley/

The Game

London games usually bring two things.
One the scores are generally low as teams adjust to a new pitch, country, and fans of assorted jerseys, affiliations and newness.
Two, someone will get fired after this game. (probably Hackett)

Jacksonville are three point faves in this one, boasting a better offence than the Broncos.
Denver has a solid D that will give the Jags some frustrations, but look to Etienne Jr to have a booming day running the ball.

We think that the Jags will win by a bit to cover the spread in a low scoring affair.

After the Game

London has a lot to offer, unfortunately not late at night, and especially on a Sunday.

That being said there are a few cool areas you might want to check out.

Shoreditch

One of the few ares that will be open til the wee hours, there are a scant few places that might even put on NFL games if you ask nicely. (note they will need to have a Sky Sports sticker in their window to show Redzone).

Roadtrip near Old Street is a good old fashioned rock n roll bar that is not only open late on a Sunday, but they show LOTS of NFL. They have TVs indoor and out.
Food is a bit iffy, but loads of nibbles street side if you want to pop out.
Find them here.
https://roadtripbar.com/

Brewdog Shoreditch will definitely NOT show any NFL as they have no TVs. They do however have a great selection of beers, plenty of space, and are open til midnight.
Great place to meet up after the game to get the gang together.
https://www.brewdog.com/uk/brewdog-shoreditch

The Owl and the Pussycat is a fun pub in the hood to snag some beers and hit the garden. It’s open til 11pm on Sundays.
https://www.owlandpussycatshoreditch.com/

Other London

The Sports Bar & Grill was our original location for NFL after party fun. It’s located right in the train station, so it’s a quick blast back from the stadium into the city.
It gets very packed, so you will want to reserve a table. They will have the Sky NFL games plus Redzone.
The food is both lack and luster, so keep that in mind before ordering huge.
https://www.sportsbarandgrill.co.uk/marylebone

The King Sports Bar inside the Empire Casino is right in the filth of Leicester Square.
Americans expecting a Vegas size casino will want to tamper their expectations, as both it and the sports bar are quite modest in size.
That being said, this bustling area of London will most certainly be packed even before you decide to head there.
Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus have become less safe in recent years, so please be wary, travel in groups and avoid the side streets.
https://www.thecasinolsq.com/kings-sports-bar

Enjoy the game, have fun and stay safe and rock on Broncos Jags London!

What the Week?

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Even the most ardent NFL supporter will tell you that this is ‘one heck of a year’ in terms of playability, and Week 6 sure showed us why.

Somehow the New York teams are all killing it, while perennial favourites are struggling to get out of the first weeks’ mud.
And that’s not even mentioning the injuries!

Let’s take a look at some of the cray-cray storylines as we look at What the Week?

Tommy Boy

TB12 is sure trailing a bucket of drama as he heads into this season, with divorce, depleted squads and AB all piling on to make Tommy’s woes even bigger.

Despite losing one of their Watt’s, the Steelers D gave Tom Brady all kinds of headaches in Pittsburgh, and showed Tommy yelling it up on the sidelines at his teammates.

No one should lose to the tandem Mitch Trubisky & Kenny Pickett, but the Bucs took one on the chin from an AFC chump.

The Bucs are going to need to start stringing something together soon if they want to have any hope of pipping the Atlanta Falcons (whelp) to secure the NFC South title.

A Week 7 match-up between the Panthers should get them right, although Tommy sure would have liked to have snagged Robbie Anderson before he left for the Cards.

New York!

The Jets, Bills and Giants all have winning records…and get this…the Jets just walloped the Green Bay Packers.
What kind of bizarre multiverse is this?

The Jets are 4-2, the Bills are 5-1, and the Giants are also 5-1 in a patchwork that no one would thought we would see in decades, but here we are.

The Giants seem like that they are going to be ‘found out’ every week, yet Daboll and the boys keep finding new ways to beat tough opponents. And get this, they still do it with Daniel Jones and few receivers to speak of.

The New York Jets laid a beating on the Green Bay Packers in week 6, making the O-line of the Pack seem more like swiss cheese, than the fine cheddar it use to be.

The Bills are the one team that might bring some worry. Although they were feted to have top honours to take the title this season, there have been signs of weakness that this ride might get bumpy.

Pack Hack

If you were to tell Green Bay fans that they would be sitting at 3-3 after week 6 at the start of the season, they would have been severely ‘cheesed off’.
Surely their beloved Aaron Rodgers would never let the team sink that low…maybe Matt LaFleur…just not A-A-Ron!

The Packers have had a rough start to the season, with their 3 wins not coming easy, and their 3 losses coming effortlessly.

With no O-Line, and a scant supply of receivers, Rodgers like Brady is kind of wishing that this ends up another Covid year.

Green Bay has upcoming matches between the Bills, Eagles, Cowboys, Lions and Titans…with a few L’s anticipated in these tough contests.

Rhule the World

The Panthers took a massive squat on the state of South Carolina this season, by bring in Baker Mayfield and keeping the unpopular Matt Rhule.

After going a pathetic 1-4, the Panthers let go of Rhule, allowing him to collect $800k+ per week to sit on his butt, and field offers from college football teams.

Carolina is in trouble, and will need to unload C Mc if they can find anyone willing to swallow such a massive load.

Salmonella Russ

Russ has been cooking this season, unfortunately all the dishes keep coming out raw, and with no taste, or texture.

Russ has almost single-handedly ruined prime time NFL this season, putting in performances that more likely gift him a ‘Razzie’, than any football award.

The Seahawks are happy-clapping this season, having the weight of Russ lifted off their shoulders, not to mention the nice pay chunk in their pockets.

Will Russ get any better? Is he injured? Did he also get injured on MNF?

It’s tough to be a Broncos fan!

London Game

We still have another NFL game in London, as the Broncos and Jaguars face off at Wembley on Oct 30th in what is being billed as ‘an AFC match-up’.

Given how Russ has been performing as of late, and the sudden scoring demise of Jacksonville, we might expect some baseball like scores in this one.

Giants-Packers London

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Wowza! What a heck of a game that was between the Saints and Vikings last Sunday, as the sun came out to bring London one beauty of a game!

And guess what? We do it all again this week, as it’s Giants-Packers London this weekend!

To help you figure out what to do, where to do, and all the latest news, we have a packed little diary of ‘to-do’s’ to make your trip extra special.

Here’s what you need to know for the weekend of October 7th to 9th.

Transit Strike

Get ready to go nowhere, as the transit union is once again using this weekend to try to shame a Tory Party Conference with stagnation, catching NFL fans in the crossfire.

A national rail strike is due to go ahead on Sat Oct 8th, meaning that trains into London, out of London and some of the national rail lines will be affected.
Tubes and buses should be fine, but you might experience a knockoff affect of noticeable gaps.

If you are planning on travelling this weekend, make sure you plan ahead, as it will be a slow start on Sunday before the trains are up and running again at full tilt.

Getting to the Game

There are quick a few ways to get to the game, with the tube, overground and parking nearby all being options.

Direct trains from Liverpool street will have you at Tottenham within 25 minutes, and the busy Victoria line will take you to Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale where you have easy access to the stadium.

Some folks also like to park a few Overground stops away, and just zip south to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

UK vs USA

It’s America versus the United Kingdom in Women’s Football (soccer), with a high profile friendly game kicking off on Friday October 7th at Wembley stadium.

The last time these two teams played was in 2020, when America delivered a 2-0 victory over the Lionesses.

Kickoff will be at 8pm on Friday night, and coverage will be available on ITV.

The game is SOLD OUT, so if you are looking for tickets, make sure you find someone who isn’t going to steal from you.

Football (soccer)

If you’re looking to watch football (soccer) this weekend, you’re in luck!
If you’re looking to watch college football this weekend…you’re kind of SOL.

It’s another big weekend in the Premier League, with some massive London derbys to check out if you can find the time.

Saturday kicks of with some major matches, as posh club Chelsea host Wolverhampton at 15:00GMT, and if you fancy a trip to the coast-Brighton and Hove host Tottenham in the 17:30 match.

There are some great traditional pubs to watch the games in, so make sure you explore the neighbourhoods to find a lovely local boozer.

Sunday might be the NFL, but it’s also a major day in English football, with games on all day-but it’s the later games that might be a problem.

Arsenal host Liverpool in an exciting 16:00GMT match, that will be on most tvs in most pubs across the country.

Later, Everton play host to Manchester United in a 19:00 GMT corker than will also predominate TVs in pubs and bars across the capital.

Comedy

London loves to laugh, so why not check out some of the great comedy on this weekend to laugh it up?

The Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green has a great line-up on this weekend, and it’s one of the places Dave Chappelle likes to warm up before destroying larger venues.
Get your tickets here.

https://backyardcomedyclub.co.uk/event/backyard-comedy-club-saturday-night-427/

American comedy fans will have no idea British comedy icon Stewart Lee is, but they can find out as Lee performs in a series of intimate London comedy dates.
There are still some tickets available, and American comedy fans will be pleasantly surprised at the different stylings of Lee.
Tickets here:

https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/live-dates/

Fair Time

The fall fair is a classic of Americana, with rides, fun games, and novelty foods sure to choke arteries.

South London is hosting its’ own, with Fairgame Funfair setting up in Canary Wharf.

Loads of games, digitally updated games from your past and plenty of booze to make this an all day fun day.

Tickets and info here:

https://www.wearefairgame.com/

Sundays

As we have mentioned in the past, London is not a late night city-and Sundays are the worst of the bunch.

Please be careful in areas like Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, as they are very dangerous at night.

Areas like Shoreditch, Highbury & Islington, and Finsbury Park all have late night options.

Stay safe, and watch this space for more info!

 

 

Vikings vs Saints-London

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It’s time for London to host its first NFL game of 2022, as the Minnesota Vikings visit the New Orleans at Tottenham stadium on October 2, 2022.

Have tickets and going to the game?
That’s great! It should be a fun an exciting rematch of the Minnesota miracle a few years ago.
The game kicks off at 2:30pm BST (9:30am), expected to finish around 6pm BST.

The Stadium

Tottenham Stadium is located in the north-east area of London, the official address is
782 High Rd, London N17 0BX
This is important info for any visitors to London, as postcodes are the easiest way to find something or someone (unless you have what 3 words).

The best way to get to the stadium will be via the Overground, the Tube, as well as national rail and buses.
There is NO TRANSIT STRIKE set for this weekend, (Giants vs Packers won’t be so lucky).

Tottenham Stadium is NOT a place where you can tailgate prior to the game, but there are local pubs on the high street that will be packed with fans.
Alternatively, go to an off license and snag some beers to walk around prior to entering the stadium.
It will be a cheaper buzz than the £7 pints you’ll pay inside.

Apps

If you’re coming to London, there are a few useful apps you might want to add to your device to make your trip to London easier.

CityMapper

A useful app to help you find out how to get from point A to point B.
For newbies to London, this is a very vital app to help you navigate the busy streets, as well as construction that might impede your journey.
https://citymapper.com/?lang=en

London Tube Map

There are many variations, just grab one of the freebies here to help you plan your London get a round.
In many areas of central London, you will be surprised how much quicker it is to walk, as distances can be deceiving when you’re underground.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/tube-map-london-underground/id320969612

Bus Checker

Looking to grab a bus somewhere in the city? This handy app will let you know when the next one is coming, and how long you’ll have to wait-or how to find alternative routes.
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/uk-bus-checker/id899757264

Saturday

So you’re in London, and looking for something to do in the city?
Luckily London is a massive city, so we have a few tips and hints of what to do and where to go.

Football (Soccer)

The Premier League is back on Sat October 1st, after a wee break, and there are some great games to catch.

The north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham kicks off at 12:30pm, and will be one of the hottest games to watch that day.
Most pubs will be showing the game, and it will get you into the spirit for what will happen in north London the next day.

Other London games you might want to check out: Crystal Palace host Chelsea, West Ham host the Wolves, and an epic Man City vs Man U will kick off at 2pm.

Oktoberfest

Germany might be hosting an NFL this game, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t catch a bit of Bavaria in the UK.

Between the Bridges in Southbank will be hosting a massive Oktoberfest celebration, along with the musical hilarity of Massaoke.
Get your tickets for it here:
https://betweenthebridges.co.uk/oktoberfest/

Pergola Paddington will also host a massive Oktoberfest party in the west end of the city.
Ooom Pah Pah bands, sausages, lederhosen and plenty of cold beer to wash down your worries.
More info here:
https://wunderbar-oktoberfest.designmynight.com/

Taste of New Orleans

Looking to get in that Big Easy spirit for the big game?
Then you might want to check out this authentic New Orleans bar Sweetwater, located near Kings Cross station.
Great cocktails, reclaimed wood and low ceilings make you feel like your right back on the bayou.
Book a table here:
https://www.kingscross.co.uk/sweetwater

After the Game

Sundays are definitely not Fundays in London.
Despite the size of it, London is definitely NOT a 24 hour city, and Sundays bear the brunt of this.

While the NFL is big on the day, most pubs will not only refuse to show it, but will also close by 10pm.
Given you won’t get out of that stadium until 7pm, that could limit your after fun time.

If you’re looking to watch other NFL games after the Tottenham game, your best bet is to ask your hotel to put it on.
Downloading NFL Gamepass will also allow you to watch the games with your friends, and not have to worry about it getting turned off.

Where you might want to go after the game.

Fabric

A late night dance party open until 4am.
If you want to party all night long to the cool kids to amazing music, this could be the pace for you.
https://www.fabriclondon.com/

The American Bar

Feeling swanky and looking for some delish cocktails?
Head to the American Bar at the Stafford Hotel in central London, where they serve Americana until midnight.
https://thestaffordlondon.com/american-bar/

Aspers Casino

Aspers Casino in Stratford is not only a quick journey from Tottenham Stadium, but also the best place to try to catch the NFL after the game.
Open 24hrs, this casino is close to major transit, as well as being right in one of the biggest malls in Europe.
https://www.aspersstratford.co.uk/

London has changed post-Covid, with some areas that use to be busy and safe, now eerily quiet and there’s a good chance you will be robbed.
Heading out to Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus or Soho after the game is a bad idea, as these areas are notoriously stabby late at nights.
Casinos in the area are very dodgy, and you will most likely lose something leaving there in the wee hours.

Transport shuts very early on Sundays, so make sure you plan ahead.

Enjoy the game y’all!

 

Week 2 Picks

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What a week that was in the NFL!

The Saints survive a sweaty one in Hot-lanta, The Fins toss around the Pats, Baker gets baked at home, and the Bears toss around the 49ers for fun.

If you thought Week 1 in the NFL was a tasty treat, wait til you see what the boys have cooked up for you in their Week 2 Picks!

Get all the info in lustrous form, by listening to our Week 2 Picks Podcast!

Among some of the games that the boys look at this week for your betting pleasure, includes:

Dolphins (1-0) vs Ravens (1-0) -3.5 +43.5

Miami and Tua made short work (get it?) of the Patriots last week, while Baltimore took out the Flacco trash quite easily in a beat down of the Jets.
Are the Ravens ready to roll over the fish on Sunday?
Lacking the sweaty balls heat of south Florida, the forecast for Sunday is a wet one, which could lead to more runs than passing.
Ryan likes Lamar and the boys to put Tua and co. on the shelf, as they chase win number two in week 2.
Wade thinks that the Dolphins will prove too much for Baltimore’s D, and that they will struggle to contain the slew of receivers ready to rock.
Ryan-Ravens 27 Dolphins 23
Wade-Dolphins 24 Ravens 21

Washington (1-0) vs Lions (0-1) -1.5 +45.5

Despite being fuelled by 300 litres of caffeine on Sunday, the Lions were unable to make it rain against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
This week the get Carson Wentz and the Commies, as the Lions head home to the dome.
Can Detroit motor boat this lack lustre Washington squad?
Ryan thinks that is a sweet payback game for Dan Campbell, to trash Dan Snyders’ team. With such a loaded squad, how can the Lions lose?
Wade agrees that Washington got lucky with some of the Jag-off mistakes last Sunday, and that Detroit has the superior squad to get the W on Sunday.
He also predicts a bucketload of points to make your fantasy heave.
Ryan-Lions 27 Washington 21
Wade-Lions 33 Washington 30

Panthers (0-1) vs Giants (1-0) -2 +43.5

What the heck-a-money? The Giants are favoured in a game? Stop the presses.
Baker and the Panthers had a tough spot last week, facing his former team in his first game, that saw his old boys pretty much call every play he ran.
Things should be a bit easier this week, not having to face that Browns D again.
Wade is all over the Panthers this week, as the numbers in Week 1 don’t really bely the truth.
Look for Baker and Robbie A to light it up, with Christian grabbing at least 1 TD with this massive legs.
The Giants will not be able to compete.
Ryan agrees-and he thinks that New York being favoured with 1 win, is a sign of troubling times.
Some good fantasy value in this game as well.
Ryan-Panthers 20 Giants 17
Wade-Panthers 24 Giants 20

Falcons (0-1) vs LA Rams (0-1) -10.5 +43.5

The defending SuperBowl champs are crying in their rings, after taking a beating from the Buffalo Bills in week 1.
Limp, inept, and ineffective, and those are just the side effects of some of the American medication advertised!
Atlanta kept it close in a Mariota Moment game, which saw the eventually fall to Jameis and the sloppy D. This isn’t a sluggish Saints D that the Falcons are facing this week however, it’s a very angry, Super Bowl defending team.
Ryan likes the Rams to whoop the Falcons around on Sunday, with Allen Robinson finally paying off some fantasy points for some of his fans.
He doesn’t think that the Rams will be that dominant, and likes Mariota and Patterson to bring the points.
Wade too likes the Rams to win, and thinks that this 10 point spread is easy-peasy for a vengeful team.
LA lacked that killer spirit in week 1, and they will be uber focused this week against a sad sack bird team.
Yes, the Rams will win-and they won’t struggle
Ryan-Rams 30 Falcons 24
Wade-Rams 28 Falcons 10
That’s it for our Week 2 picks, let us know how you did.
Another great podcast up in a few days, enjoy week 2!