THE London The games are back with perhaps the best NFL the quarterback of the last decade and the highest-paid wide receiver in the league are expected to be featured. This leaves the prospect of Aaron Rodgers‘ majestic passage and Justin Jefferson executing a series of electric routes. It’s enough to make this die-hard fan base salivate before the New York Jets against Minnesota Vikings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
These are just two titles from two teams rather optimistic about their playoff hopes and the road to Super Bowl LIX next year in New Orleans. A storied history of regular season games, expected to reach 40 this weekend since the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins in 2007, leaves the NFL with a vital question regarding London and its international future.
Not that the NFL doesn’t love London, it clearly does, but the league’s appeal now extends around the world. As cities line up to host games, the Shield may be less city-dependent than before, with new fans popping up elsewhere.
THE Jacksonville Jaguars have parked themselves at their second ‘home’ at Wembley Stadium for over a decade, but the prospect of a London-based team has faded somewhat. A large portion of fans on this side of the Atlantic have no desire to own their own team, but their loyalty deserves some form of recognition, as illustrated by the city’s ability to sell out the least three games each year. Mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed its bold plan for the capital to host a Super Bowl in the future. “The Super Bowl is really important to us,” Khan said Athletics. “We have a number of American football matches and I want them to take place here because we want American sports fans in Europe to come to London to watch them, not just America.”
This weekend’s opener in north London offers an intriguing encounter, but there is perhaps also an element of luck surrounding it. JJ McCarthy, the former Michigan star and 10th overall pick, had his rookie season ended before it even started due to injury. Enter, Sam Darnold. Aside from a revenge mission against his former team on Sunday, the Vikings can thank the San Francisco 49ers for rebuilding his fragile confidence after a heartbreaking experience with “Gang Green” after being taken out of the draft at No. 3 overall in 2018.
Kevin O’Connell’s common sense lifted his team despite this early adversity. While forcing 17 turnovers on defense, the Vikings maintained an explosive advantage on offense thanks to Jefferson, fresh off a record four-year, $140 million contract, and running back Aaron Jones, sidelined by rival Green Bay division and capable of offering another dimension on the field.
There’s also a hint of desperation around Rodgers, with the two-time MVP now turning 40 after last season’s serious injury. The offense has yet to go four games and star receiver Garrett Wilson has complained about a lack of creativity on that side of the ball. Rodgers also responded to head coach Robert Saleh’s explanation regarding his players struggling with false starts against the Broncos. Rodgers bluntly emphasized the need to “hold them accountable.”
This brings an element of peril to a match, which should reveal the true potential of each team’s hopes this season.
Further afield, London will host Jaguars against Bears and Patriots against Jaguars. Two good games, but neither got the heart racing, especially with Trevor Lawrence’s struggles in Jacksonville and a poor Patriots team in transition that has yet to release third overall pick Drake Maye behind the center.
These two matches could test the patience of UK-based fans, especially after witnessing the controversial season opener in Brazil. With heavy security and a slippery field, Super Bowl contenders the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers faced off in Sao Paolo. The first game of the season naturally attracted a huge crowd, but London also watched with envy as a brilliant match not seen at Wembley or Tottenham for years.
Walk the Seven Sisters Road to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday and you will feel the true essence of a passionate fan base built over generations. Spurs Stadium is beautiful and perfect for hosting the gridiron, but it’s on this walk alone that you’ll likely spot a jersey from every NFL franchise and names, including a string of legendary players and rookies making their debuts not.
Kickoff will mark the start of nearly 15 straight hours of football until the Cowboys vs Steelers game concludes into the early hours with Sunday Night Football.
While Madrid have already secured a regular season match for 2025 at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, there is a risk that London could withdraw to just one of the many host cities. A fascinating decision on the remainder of next season’s regular season games will reveal just how much the NFL values London.
