The wait is over and the 2024 NFL London video games are right here! Right here is your fast information to one of many greatest months on the UK sporting calendar…
A star-studded forged of Aaron Rodgers, Justin Jefferson, Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence will cross the pond because the league continues its dramatic begin to the 2024 marketing campaign within the capital.
It marks the seventeenth yr {that a} common season recreation has been performed in London for the reason that New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins within the first again in 2007, 2020 being the one yr to not have hosted a recreation because of the coronavirus pandemic.
What are the video games?
Lengthy earlier than the times of Worldwide common season video games, the UK notably hosted eight American Bowl pre-season exhibition video games at Wembley between 1968 and 1993.
By Week Eight of the 2007 marketing campaign, the Giants had been transferring to 6-2 with a 13-10 win over the Dolphins on their means in the direction of profitable Tremendous Bowl XLII later that season.
The league returns this yr having performed 36 regular-season video games in London, with groups now on a rotation that may see each facet play abroad at the least as soon as each eight years.
Historical past was made in 2022 when the Inexperienced Bay Packers grew to become the thirty second and closing franchise to make the journey, earlier than the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars met in entrance of a report London crowd of 86,215 at Wembley Stadium.
The Jaguars raised the bar once more in 2023 by turning into the primary group to play back-to-back common season video games in London as they met and beat each the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Payments, lifting their tally of UK video games to a league-leading 11 within the course of.
Wembley is now on account of stage its twenty sixth recreation, whereas Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – the one purpose-built stadium for NFL video games exterior of the US – will host its ninth and tenth video games because the official ‘dwelling of the NFL’ within the UK. The present deal will see two regular-season video games performed at Tottenham annually via to the top of the 2029-30 marketing campaign.
Key statistics
Did any individual say there’s a fourth recreation?
Who is prepared for some Tuesday Night time Lights?! The NFL Academy will play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the second yr working this month after they welcome the California-based De La Salle to London on October 8.
It comes after head coach Steve Hagen’s facet stormed to a 35-0 shutout victory over US opponents Erasmus Corridor in 2023 thanks to 2 touchdowns from Bryan Winter alongside scores from Ben Lax, Justus Seelig and Matthew Okunade for the Loughborough-based Academy.
The worth of the publicity can be underlined after the sport when defensive again Arthur de Boachie grew to become certainly one of a number of Academy gamers to obtain Division 1 faculty gives from Campbell College, whose scouting group had been in attendance.
The Academy continues to function some of the significant indicators of soccer’s progress abroad, as a lot mirrored by the league launching an equivalent programme in Australia.
Already in its brief existence it has seen the likes of offensive lineman Daniel Akinkunmi be part of Oklahoma and Emmanuel Okoye signal with Tennessee, whereas tight ends Peter Clarke and Seydou Traore are at the moment enjoying for Temple and Mississippi State, respectively, amongst a number of life-changing tales.
Meet the groups
The New York Jets arrive within the UK with the NFL’s longest energetic playoff drought having not made it to the postseason for the reason that 2010 marketing campaign, however imagine they’re coming into a brand new chapter of Tremendous Bowl rivalry behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The four-time MVP is in his first full season as starter with the Jets having suffered a year-ending Achilles harm simply 4 performs into his debut in 2023 following his marquee commerce from the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Rodgers pilots a youthful offense spearheaded by star large receiver Garrett Wilson and working again Breece Corridor, each of whom had been drafted in 2022, because the 40-year-old play-caller continues his seek for a second Tremendous Bowl ring.
Rodgers’ former Packers team-mate Allen Lazard at the moment leads the group with 206 receiving yards and three touchdowns, whereas veteran wideout Mike Williams is primed to see his position develop after signing through the offseason.
Will McDonald IV has recorded a team-high 5 sacks and eight pressures thus far this season on the coronary heart of a protection ranked second towards the cross and third in whole yards, with Quinnen Williams a well-known focus at defensive deal with.
Robert Saleh’s facet sit 2-2 as they arrive off the again of an unpleasant 10-9 defeat to the Denver Broncos, with Rodgers and co. nonetheless looking for consistency as they bid to mount a Championship cost.
The Minnesota Vikings have emerged as one of many shock packages of the 2024 NFL season having constructed an ideal 4-0 report throughout the opening month of the marketing campaign regardless of the departure of quarterback Kirk Cousins earlier within the offseason.
The Vikings chosen quarterback J.J. McCarthy within the first spherical of the Draft, solely to see the previous Michigan man endure a season-ending knee harm. It could pave the best way for Sam Darnold to resurrect his NFL profession as he prepares to tackle the Jets, six years on from being drafted by the New York franchise.
Darnold endured three tough seasons with the Jets earlier than being shipped to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, the place he spent two years till heading to San Francisco as back-up to Brock Purdy with the 49ers.
Having signed with the Vikings this offseason, he has since thrown a league-high 11 landing passes whereas thriving in a Kevin O’Connell offense led by the NFL’s highest-paid large receiver Justin Jefferson.
Working again Aaron Jones, in the meantime, has starred with 464 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns after transferring throughout from the Packers earlier this yr.
However whereas Darnold has been the headline-maker, the Vikings’ early success has additionally been constructed on the blitz-heavy assault from Brian Flores and his protection.
Star cross rusher Danielle Hunter departed in free company, however Flores has discovered manufacturing from an ‘everyone eats’ forged that includes Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Patrick Jones II, rookie Dallas Turner and all-action utility man Josh Metellus.
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Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars towards the Atlanta Falcons from Week 4 of the NFL season
The Jaguars are again for his or her twelfth recreation in London having loved back-to-back wins over the Falcons and Payments on their two-week keep this time final yr.
How they might like to match that this season, with Doug Pederson’s facet nonetheless in search of their first victory of the marketing campaign after struggling late heartbreak within the closing seconds towards the Houston Texans in Week 4.
Trevor Lawrence is in his fourth yr with the Jaguars after turning into the No 1 decide on the Draft in 2021, with the previous Clemson quarterback signing a five-year, $275m contract extension through the offseason.
Amongst his weapons on offense is spectacular first-rounder Brian Thomas Jr, who’s already on his solution to establishing himself as Lawrence’s major goal with 17 catches for a team-high 275 yards and two touchdowns via 4 video games.
Travis Etienne leads the best way out of the backfield with 47 carries for 214 yards as a part of a stuttering offense that’s ranked twenty fifth in whole yards.
Jacksonville’s protection has additionally confronted a equally sluggish begin, rating thirtieth in yards whereas struggling to hurry the passer because it awaits extra from 2022 first-round decide Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. There is not a group within the league extra in want of a win upon touchdown in London.
UK followers will get a glimpse at one of many potential future faces of the league as Caleb Williams leads out the Chicago Bears towards fellow No 1 general decide Lawrence.
Williams was drafted out of USC earlier this yr as some of the highly-regarded quarterback prospects in recent times, with Chicago transferring on from Justin Fields with a view to put their religion within the former Heisman Trophy winner.
His status out of faculty was that of a Patrick Mahomes-esque creator, with the flexibility to devastate defenses off-script, the arm expertise to defy passing angles out of construction and the athleticism to pose a dashing menace on the bottom.
Williams finds himself surrounded by as a lot expertise as any No 1 decide quarterback might want for, the Bears buying veteran large receiver Keenan Allen and drafting first-round receiver Rome Odunze to bolster a receiving corps already together with DJ Moore.
Ryan Poles additionally signed dual-threat working again D’Andre Swift and veteran tight finish Gerald Everett in free company.
It has been a blended begin to life within the NFL for Williams, whose accuracy and decision-making has faltered at instances whereas he continues to regulate to not solely the velocity of skilled cross rushers but additionally the coverages being thrown at him. Inside that, although, have been indicators of the explosive performs that fuelled his inventory.
League royalty heads to London when the six-time Tremendous Bowl champion New England Patriots face the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium this month. However for all their historic success, that is very a lot a brand new period for the franchise amid their first yr underneath head coach Jerod Mayo following the departure of the nice Invoice Belichick after 24 seasons on the helm, the final of which resulted in a career-worst 4-13 report.
Mayo had beforehand served as Patriots inside linebacker coach earlier than being promoted to the highest job as one of many league’s most highly-regarded footballing minds.
The downfall of Belichick in Foxboro had in the end stemmed from the failure to discover a long-term reply at quarterback for the reason that exit of Tom Brady, with 2021 first-round decide Mac Jones unable to construct on the promise of his rookie yr.
Mayo sought to discover a resolution this offseason by drafting North Carolina’s Drake Maye with the third general decide, electing to let him sit and study behind veteran Jacoby Brissett via the opening weeks of the marketing campaign.
New England are 1-3 within the opening month as they proceed to battle on offense, Rhamondre Stevenson accounting for 267 dashing yards and two touchdowns however 4 fumbles on the bottom, and tight finish Hunter Henry posting a team-high 14 catches for 148 yards amid restricted alternatives for Demario Douglas.
Amongst their notable performers has been second-year edge rusher Keion White with 4 sacks as a part of a protection ranked second-worst in strain price, whereas Christian Gonzalez is a reputation to observe as one of many league’s slickest downfield cowl cornerbacks.
Will Louis Rees-Zammit play?
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Former Wales rugby participant Louis Rees-Zammit performed in 4 completely different positions in his Kansas Metropolis Chiefs debut!
Briefly, it’s extremely unlikely. Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit is ready to journey with the Jaguars as a part of the group’s observe squad for his or her two-week keep within the UK. He signed with the group earlier this summer season having frolicked with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on the again of his shock transfer to step away from rugby and be part of the NFL’s Worldwide Participant Pathway programme.
The 23-year-old performed in all three pre-season video games for the Chiefs in August, seeing snaps at working again, large receiver and on particular groups as a punt and kick returner. Having primarily labored out as a working again with the Chiefs, he has since switched to large receiver in Jacksonville.
NFL groups are sometimes granted 16 slots on their observe squad, with an extra seventeenth spot created for worldwide gamers. Rees-Zammit would should be elevated from the observe squad to the energetic roster with a view to be eligible to play through the common season.
The NFL’s world tour continues
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Neil Reynolds, Jason Bell and Dante Corridor could not assist however dance alongside because the Frankfurt crowd all joined in a rendition of ‘Take Me House, Nation Roads’
The street journey continues later this season when the NFL heads to Germany for a 3rd straight yr because the Carolina Panthers tackle the New York Giants at Munich’s Allianz Enviornment on Sunday November 10, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL.
It continues as a part of the German metropolis’s alternation with Frankfurt, which hosted two video games in 2023 after Tom Brady had led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Munich in 2022.
The league’s worldwide enlargement took new strides this yr because the Philadelphia Eagles and Inexperienced Bay Packers confronted off within the first regular-season recreation to be held in Brazil at Sao Paulo’s Enviornment Corinthians in Week One.
It was additionally confirmed in February that the league will stage its first recreation in Spain on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, dwelling to Actual Madrid, through the 2025 marketing campaign.
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The NFL performed its first recreation in Brazil throughout Week One of many season
What else is occurring?
The annual return of the London video games presents a singular window during which the league is ready to have a good time and champion its devoted UK fanbase.
The Vikings are set to take over Outernet London for a full-day interactive occasion on Saturday October 5, with followers capable of get pleasure from actions on the LED screens whereas diving into the historical past of the franchise.
The Jets, in the meantime, are internet hosting their very own interactive fan expertise at Ely’s Yard, the place followers of all ages can participate in quarterback challenges, compete for unique Jets merchandise and meet group legends.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will then play host to the Women NFL Flag Continental Collection Europe on Monday October 7, bringing collectively ladies aged underneath 14 from the UK, Germany, France, Austria and Spain to compete, with Crew UK represented by London’s Ealing Fields.
Easy methods to watch on Sky Sports activities
You’ll be able to watch Williams and the Bears face Lawrence and the Jaguars from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reside on Sky Sports activities NFL on Sunday October 13, with kick-off at 2.30pm.
The reside protection then continues with Sky Sports activities NFL’s unique 6pm and 9.25pm matchups, earlier than the Giants tackle the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday Night time Soccer.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and shall be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app – giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra reside sport this yr at no additional value. Stream The brand new EFL season, Take a look at cricket and extra prime sport with NOW.
