We’re half way through the NFL London calendar of four games and the action shifts to Wembley as the NFL
enters the midway point of the season and postseason plans (or Holidays…) start to be penciled in.
Anyone
who attended/watched the previous London games this year will have been
highly impressed by what
Spurs’ new stadium had to offer; the specifically built NFL features
(locker rooms, turf field, higher stands) helped add to what were two
exciting games. Following a short break after it’s two week stand at the
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the NFL heads back
to its International “roots” (so to speak) for two weeks action at
Wembley. YEs Wembley may not have been designed specifically with NFL in
mind but you can be sure it’ll put on a show and figures to have well
over 80,000 in attendance (a few tickets are remaining
if you fancy it… https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl)
for both games!
Up first this Sunday, 5PM (UK clocks go back Sunday by the way!), is the 0-7 Bengals looking for their first win against the Rams who’ve just gained their 4th (4-3). Statistics, bookies and this writer all think this will be a much more open game than the previous two London games this year; the Bengals have plenty of injuries (including star receiver AJ Green and that they’ve struggled to overcome and although they have had chances in games they lack the ability to finish and would probably be quite happy to take the same result back they did on their first, and only, trip to London; a 27-27 overtime draw to the Redskins back in 2016.
The
Rams have had some struggles this season following their Superbowl
appearance last year; former all-pro
running back Todd Gurley is still struggling with Injuries and despite
opening the season 3-0 now sit at 4-3, leaving them in 3rd place in
their division in what looks to be a very competitive NFC. Not wanting
to miss the postseason they acted aggressively
last week trading two first round picks for Jaguars all pro cornerback
Jaylen Ramsey – who having featured a lot this past weeks will be aiming
to be giving Andy Dalton and his friends a nightmare with another week
of Rams practice under his belt.
The following Sundays game figures to be more competitive with division rivals the 4-3 Texans taking on the 3-4 Jaguars (2.30PM). This will be the Jaguars 7th consecutive trip to London and they look to improve on their International record of 3-3, having won three of their last four trips across the pond. There figures to be a good Texans following as this is their first trip to London and will be looking to take the victory to help a push for the top spot in the AFC South.A review of Bengals, Rams will be available early next week along with a more detailed, up to date, preview of the Texans Jags clash.
For all those going; have a great time, be safe and make sure to take some pictures to share with us!