NFL in London

National Football League in London

tom brady

AFC East Peek

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August is in the air folks, as we excitedly present to you the AFC East Peek podcast to celebrate!

Wade and Ryan are ready for the season to begin, and have even taken the time to do some research for this episode (kidding!)

So make sure that you find a comfy chair, a beverage, and take a sip at the latest episode right here:

Among some of the things that the guys talk about in this episode includes:

Bunged Bengals

Poor Joe Burrow is injured again, and this time the prognosis is to finally take some much needed time off. But a calf injury is a whole new kind of horse, as these often recur due to how deep they can go.
Joe has been told by coaches and a very vocal Jamar Chase that it’s time to take a breather until he is fully healed.
With the Bengals due to play the Ravens and Browns within the first two weeks of the season, things could get tricky as they will need JB to be back in time so as not to drop two in the division.
All eyes on Cincy this year, as they have the Chiefs directly in their sights.

Trading Places

The often overlooked, and never really producing in terms of fantasy, N’Keal Harry is off from Boston, and on his way to Minnesota.
Despite making much hype when he was drafted, Harry has struggled in New England, and the only threat he displays is to fantasy owners who make the mistake of trying to play him.
Kareem Hunt is rumoured to be making a trip to New Orleans, as the Saints look to fill the three week hole left by Alvin Kamara for his Vegas fight.
Hunt would definitely add a new level of excitement to the Derek Carr offense.

DAZN Drama

Streaming giant DAZN have finally taken over the mantle of Gamepass stewardship this year, and judging by the feedback we have received, it isn’t going well thus far for some.
Several years ago, we were remonstrated by the NFLUK for being too harsh on Gamepass, when it continually crashed every week, costing us thousands.
It’s a whole new company though, as Italian stumps Deltatre no longer hold the rights, with a US sports company running it now. Touchdown!
While most complaints centre on billing and communication, no one really has an issue with streaming quality or resolution. Which is really good, because that’s what we all want!
It’s still early days, but given the track record of DAZN, it seems likely that Gamepass will be fine once the season kicks off.
Given the communication we have experienced with DAZN as well, they seem to be on top of things, and ready to kickoff the season.
If we’re wrong, let us know.

AFC Sneak Peek

Ryan and Wade also include a little preview in this episode, giving their prediction of how they think that they AFC will end up in the standings.
Bills fan Ryan unsurprisingly has Buffalo to top the division, which he has done for the past decade or so. Luckily, the Patriots aren’t as dominant as they once were, and both guys have the Pats to finish in the basement of the division.
But what about the NY Jets? Won’t Aaron Rodgers save us all from football boredom?
Will Tua crack his noggin again and send him on a Humpty Dumpty trip to the offseason?
Just have a listen to the podcast, and you can hear it all!
We will have more divisional preview podcasts coming up in the next episodes.
Watch this space for more!

Bear Down

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We swapped out one Ryan for another, on this special Bear Down podcast!

Bear Down

Usually our podcast is bolstered by a Bills and a Bears fan, but with Ryan Cull still on vacay with the fam-jam, we’ve brought in our friend, and Bears fan Ryan Andrews on this one. It feels all NFC North!

To listen to the latest edition of the podcast, just click here and let your worries wash away in this engaging new edition.

Among some of the things Ryan and Wade talk about in this one includes:

Where the Bears

With two Bears fans on, the big elephant in the room needs to be addressed: ‘Are the Bears going to stay in Chicago proper?’

Ryan is from Illinois, so he has his own thoughts on Soldier Field, as well as the potential of moving the team up to Arlington Heights where they are looking for some state help in financing.

How long will it take to put this whole thing together anyhow?

Offseason Idiocy

As far as off-season arrests have been, this has been one of the quieter years than past. Have young NFL players stopped doing stupid things? Have mobile phones made it tougher to be clean in the offseason? Or are young players finally fearful of losing a career path?
Kinda, sorta.

Vikings rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison pulled a bonehead move this week, when he was caught speeding over 140 mph in a 50 zone. Not so bright. Luckily, no one was injured, but still a stupid move for someone trying to make a team impact this season. Hopefully the veterans in the locker room are relentless to Jordan.

Topping this stunt isn’t hard if you’re Jaguars player Chris Claybrooks, who has been arrested on domestic violence charges for the second time in four months.
It’s doubtful that Jacksonville will want to hang on to this liability with anger management issues.
Hopefully he can get the help he needs, but it won’t be in the NFL.

Comm and Go

Dan Synder is finally out, as the Washington Commanders sale has finally been approved to billionaire Josh Harris.
Most in the league are happy to see Snyder go, after tanking a venerable franchise through shadiness and a ‘hands on’ approach to coaching, despite having no training there.

For many fans, comes the real question. ‘are you going to change the team name again?’
While some harken for a return to the classic ‘Washington Football Team’, others are pushing for a name that addresses reparations (a buzzword in America these days).

However it goes, Washington still has a lot of rebuilding to do. With one of the worst stadiums in the NFL, declining numbers, and the lack of a real fan draw could see them fall back into a purgatory of trying to fight the NFC East, while battling themselves.

Giant Fail?

The NY Giants are currently dealing with the Saquon situation which is quickly spiralling out of control.

To mitigate the damage, and offer a little roster hope, the Giants signed Cole ‘anti-vax’ Beasley, and often cut running back James Robinson.
Robinson was the belle of the Jaguars ball only a few years ago, that has seen him slip and slide around the AFC East.
As for Beasley, he’s just there to slop up from the injuries.

Madden 24

Madden is back, so warm up you thumbs and prepare to get whooped online by some 10 year old in his basement.

Of course the big thing about Madden these days is ego, as players toss the toys from the pram as soon as they don’t secure that sweet 99 rating.

The new Madden has been released, and only a few are elite members of that 99 club. So congrats Patrick Mahomes, and Justin Jefferson, you deserve it.

We’ll also have more NFL fantasy news coming up in the next few weeks, so watch this space!

London Ballin’

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Normally we would be gushing about all things NFL in London, but after taking a trip to the MLB games at WestHam stadium this past weekend, we thought we would touch on baseball with a little London Ballin’ news.

Baseball was back in London after taking a Covid break following their first games in 2019.
Back then, we were treated to the Yankees and BoSox blasting so many homers, they actually scored more runs than the first NFL game here.

The 2023 series featured two teams at the bottom of their division, as the St Louis Cardinals hosted the Chicago Cubs in an NL Central dumpster fire across the pond.
Sure the teams might be struggling to make the post season, but that should be nothing new to NFLUK fans who have witnessed some truly dire games.

Despite the premonition that this might be a ‘sucky series’, the games delivered, and all of the fans seemed to thoroughly enjoying the novelty of having baseball in London, with the weather helping to make the whole weekend magical.

That being said, we did have a few thoughts on how the games went down.

The Good

MLB Europe

Wow, they really can put on a show! From the games themselves, to the craziness of Trafalgar Square takeover, London really went big baseball for the weekend.

Having the benefit of the NFL hosting games for a few decades is obviously going to help, but the MLB seemed to go above and beyond in putting it all together.

Unlike early NFL games which seemed a bit chaotic when Wembley was still growing,  the MLB seemed to have a finger on all of the action, making everything feel quite seamless.
As a fan, it’s nice to have consistency from North America, and for European fans to get the real deal experience.

The Games

It was quite the dinger fest on Saturday, as the Cubs took advantage of the short wall, to pop a few over the fence.

St. Louis rebounded in true form on the Sunday, given midwest fans a chance to salivate in the fact that they were able to snag a win abroad.

While there might have been more pomp and circumstance poured into the trip than the games itself, they certainly didn’t disappoint.

Celebrities

The NFL usually brings over their usual slug of ex-players and hangers on, but with baseball, everything is a little different.

The Cubs have a legacy of some great celeb fans, so when Bill Murray and Nick Offerman showed up to offer support to battle the heavyweight status of John Goodman and his Cards, it all started to feel quite Hollywoody.

Add to this was Bill Murray’s hilarious and rambling appearance on BT Sport during the game. Not only was Bill too quick-witted for the hosts, when he finally had enough, he just walked away.
Classic Bill.

The Bad

It’s never fun to crap on someone who goes out of their way to host you, but sometimes you need to address the mighty elephants in the room.

Atmosphere

While it certainly looked like a baseball game, in no way did it feel like one inside the stadium.
A lack of home field announcer, walk on music, or any vibe was quite shocking, as it just felt silent and awkward.

Maybe other people could hear, but where we seated up by the Cardinals Wags, it was shockingly quiet.

To that, it did seem that there was a caste system of enjoyment for MLB fans on the night.
Those seated near the first base line were treated to t-shirts, appearances and engagement, while the rest of the stadium looked on in a ‘what’s going on here’?

There was also a ‘house band’ which not only no one could see, but barely hear. The might have been there to pump up the crowd, but no one could hear or care.

Food

For all the talk of bringing the baseball to Britain, maybe they should have left the food at home.

A much touted ‘2 foot hot dog’ with all the toppings seemed a bit much, and they were, as people littered them all over the stadium. You didn’t need to walk far to spot lost weiners all over the place, and needed to address you walk to avoid stepping on them.

All of the food sampled by our group was cringe enough to add plans of ‘stopping at McDonald’s’ on the way home.

Don’t even get us started on the Dorito Nachos…they were everywhere too!

Dirty Dirty

Unlike other stadiums, it seems like the staff at WestHam stadium don’t clean up during the games.

In fact one toilet near our gate was NEVER cleaned the entire game. By the 7th inning they might as well have locked the doors, as the bins were over-filling, plastic cups and food littered the floor, and just so much piss everywhere.

It could be that there were staffing issues, as we encountered some of the rudest stadium employees ever.
Turns out you can’t ask questions of staff manning the doors to the numerous private rooms on the upper decks.
Asking something like ‘are there bars on this floor’ were responded with such venom, one would think we asked if Ted Lasso was here.

All in all, it was a great series of games, and an enjoyable weekend of baseball in the capital.

But like anything, there is still a learning curve here to climb.

 

 

Top 10 London Games

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What have been the best NFL games to have been played in London?
Has there been a game that sticks out from memory based on how truly awesome it was?

We asked ChatGPT to detail the ‘Top 10 London Games‘, and the answers probably won’t surprise you, as it was written by AI.

Which game did you enjoy the most?

London has been the destination for some of the most exhilarating NFL games in history. From unforgettable touchdowns to nail-biting finishes, these games have kept fans on the edge of their seats. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 NFL games played in London.

1. Miami Dolphins vs. Oakland Raiders, 2014

In a game that went back and forth, the Miami Dolphins ultimately came out on top, thanks to a last-second touchdown by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The game had it all: big plays, turnovers, and a dramatic finish that left fans breathless.

2. Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons, 2014

The Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons treated fans to an offensive shootout in this 2014 game. The Falcons came out on top, but both teams put up impressive numbers, with the Falcons’ Matt Ryan throwing for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

3. New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2009

In a game that had all the hallmarks of a classic matchup, the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers put on a show for fans at Wembley Stadium in 2009. The Patriots’ Tom Brady threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the Buccaneers who emerged victorious.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings, 2013

This game featured two of the NFL’s most storied franchises, with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers’ defense was dominant, forcing four turnovers and holding the Vikings to just 10 points in a 34-10 victory.

5. New York Giants vs. Los Angeles Rams, 2016

In one of the most exciting games ever played in London, the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams battled it out in a game that featured five lead changes. The Giants ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to a touchdown catch by Odell Beckham Jr.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys, 2014

In one of the most shocking upsets in NFL history, the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Dallas Cowboys in a game that saw the Cowboys commit three turnovers. The Jaguars’ defense was the star of the show, sacking Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo three times and intercepting him twice.

7. Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2015

In a game that saw the Jacksonville Jaguars play in London for the second consecutive year, they faced off against the Buffalo Bills in 2015. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows throughout. In the end, it was the Jaguars who came out on top, thanks to a game-winning field goal by kicker Jason Myers.

8. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Tennessee Titans, 2018

This game saw the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Tennessee Titans in a contest that had major playoff implications. The game was tight throughout, with the Chargers ultimately coming out on top, thanks to a late-game touchdown by quarterback Philip Rivers.

9. Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders, 2019

In a game that featured two of the NFL’s most historic franchises, the Chicago Bears took on the Oakland Raiders in 2019. The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to move the ball. In the end, it was the Raiders who came out on top, thanks to a game-winning touchdown catch by Tyrell Williams.

10. Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders, 2018

In the final game on our list, the Seattle Seahawks took on the Oakland Raiders in a matchup that saw two of the NFL’s most exciting quarterbacks face off. The Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the Raiders’ Derek Carr both put on impressive performances, with Wilson throwing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. In the end, the Seahawks dominated with a 27-3 final score.

That’s it for our AI inout on the best London games. We look forward to seeing what kind of delights we will get this year!

London Games 2023

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Alright NFL fans, the Draft is done, the season schedule is about to be released on May 11th, and we are due to know who is playing in the London Games 2023 on May 4th.

Prior to that date of course, we like to make our own predictions on who is going to play in London, and when.
It’s an annual fun tradition for us, and in no way is meant to confuse, or claim that these are the real games.
Although we have benefited from some great press from US media personalities reporting our news as gospel. (which it ain’t!)

Much like the Pro Bowl, this is just for fun, not to be taken too seriously, and forged under the influence of alcohol.
Funny enough we have gotten a few right in the past, let’s see how we do this year.

Methodology

No, we didn’t smoke ‘meth’ to come up with these, but we did look at schedule, past London appearances, recent team changes, and potential strength of travel schedule to determine who we think will be making it to the UK in the fall.

The London games have been moving steadily towards a two-chunk set at Tottenham early in the month, and a late October Wembley game in between the time changes.
This time change is a big part of the UK games, as it represents a 4 hour time difference between the east coast, and more appetising for networks schedulers.

We also asked ChatGPT but it got all weird and porny, so we just went back to our old faithful methods.

Again, no real science behind it.

If you want to listen to our DraftOver podcast, and our NFL London picks, listen here:

London Games 2023?

Raiders vs Bills-Oct 8, 2023

First up at Tottenham stadium this year will be the Buffalo Bills hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct 8, 2023 at 2:30pm. There are no tickets, because this is a guess.

The Bills are set to host the following teams in 2023, with their previous London visits in brackets:
Broncos (’22), Jaguars (’22), Giants (’22), Cowboys (’14), Bucs (’22*), Raiders (’19), Jets, Dolphins, Patriots.

Given the toughness and ticket sales of the AFC East this season, it is very unlikely that NFL would schedule a divisional game abroad in 2023.
Each one of these games is going to be very important, and not one they want to lose out on big rivalry matches.

Given that the Broncos & Bucs were in Europe recently, that leaves the Jags, Raiders and Cowboys as top targets. The league could surprise us by having the Jags play twice in London this year, but it feels like a bit of an odd bunching.

With Jerry Jones and America’s team commanding such presence, it would seem unlikely that they would travel from Texas to London as visitors. Jones has a lot of pull with the league, and he would probably poo-poo this quickly.

It would seem likely then, that the struggling Las Vegas Raiders would be the most likely candidate to play the Buffalo Bills in October 2023.

Panthers vs Titans-Oct 15, 2023

We know that the Titans are in a building year (again), so while this might not be a HUGE loss to Tennessee home fans, they will want to see a good game out of it.

The Titans have the following Home opponents for 2023:
Chargers (’18); Seahawks (’18); Bengals (’19); Ravens (’17); Panthers (’19); Falcons (’21); as well as the Texans, Colts and Jags.

Again, while a divisional game sounds appetising, and their division truly sucks, it would seem unlikely that owners would offer that up, as the Jags played the Texans in 2019 in a craptastic result.

The Bengals, Falcons and Seahawks will be looking to tap into their heat, and would probably push back to a Europe trip after having been here only a few short years ago.

Carolina has been making massive changes to the team, which always doesn’t translate that well into fan support, which is why we think that they will be the ones making the trek to London town in 2023.

Ravens vs Jaguars-Oct 29, 2023

The Jags ended the 2022 season quite respectably after stagnating under Urban decay. With Dougie P leading the way, and Lawrence finding his form, Jacksonville might not be a chore to trek to Wembley to.

Jacksonville has some tough teams on tap in 2023 with: Chiefs (22*); Bengals (19), 49ers, Falcons, Panthers, and their division tripe as well.

The one team that does stick out here are the Baltimore Ravens, who haven’t been to the UK since 2017.
With Lamar firmly in control, and the team now ready to rock to the playoffs, it seems tempting to think that the Ravens will be facing the Jags in north London under a harvest moon.

That’s it for our predictions for the London Games 2023.
Who do you think will be coming to the UK?
Let’s see how we do!