This Sunday will see the Seattle Seahawks pitted against the Oakland Raiders in London, marking the first of four NFL International Series games this season. We are all united in our collective groan right now.
It may not be fair to players, home fans, or anyone on the west coast, but international games seem to be growing every year, we might as well learn to accept it, and maybe even enjoy it. After all, in weeks 7 and 8, you’ll be able to start your Sunday with a beer and some football over breakfast. It doesn’t have to be 5pm somewhere, when there’s football on TV!
Also, it’s important to remember that while most international games tend to be predictable one-sided smackdowns, there have been a few memorable moments over the years…
New York Giants v Miami Dolphins – The other kind of butt fumble
With the NFL launching their International Series on October 28 2007, 81,176 fans filled Wembley to watch the New York Giants take on the Miami Dolphins. A steady drizzle of ever-so-British rain ensured that both the ball and turf remained slippery, putting a literal dampener on each snap. However, things seemed to pick up for the second half when a ‘half-time show’, was provided by professional streaker Mark Roberts.
Initially, not an eyelash was batted as he stood on the sideline, dressed as a game official. However, eyes soon widened when he tore off his clothes, running on-field to join the players. Possibly feeling emasculated by the size of the athletes staring in disbelief, he stopped to do some press-ups, before being tackled by security, and dragged from the pitch.
Jaxson de Ville – Cats always land on their feet
As one of the most active, engaging and controversial NFL mascots, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ infamously eccentric De Ville was always going to make his entrance one to remember. However, when the Jaguars went head-to-head with the San Francisco 49ers on October 27 2013, he took showmanship to new heights: 170ft of new height, actually. Kicking off the show with a Super Bowl-worthy stunt, Jaxson leapt from the stadium roof and slid the width of the stadium along a zip-wire to leave fans of both teams stunned and thrilled in equal measure.
Rob Gronkowski – New England celebrating in Old England style
With the largest victory margin in an International Series game (37 points), the showdown between the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams was not exactly filled with surprises. However, when Gronkowski scored his first touchdown of the game, he surprised fans and teammates alike by preceding his famous “Gronk Spike” with a changing of the guard march. When asked after the game where the inspiration came from, he gave the fantastically Gronk response: “That little nutcracker dude that’s guarding the house”. The hip-thrusting dance moves following his second touchdown weren’t too shabby either!
Le’Veon Bell – Jumping for joy
After taking running back Bell in the second round of the 2013 draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers expected big things from the MSU alumni. Following a preseason foot injury, he was sidelined until the fourth game of the season. However, when the Steelers faced off against the Minnesota Vikings on September 29 2013, Bell made his long-awaited debut one to remember. Taking the hand-off from the other Big Ben, he cut right, shedding a defender, running eight yards to the end zone, performing a somersault over the line. He may have been late to the party, but Bell arrived in style.
William “Refrigerator” Perry – Demolishing everything but the kitchen sink
Long before the International Series graced the UK, the NFL dabbled in “American Bowls”. Essentially a fifth preseason game without any impact on the regular season, football’s finest played international exhibition matches. On August 3 1986, a sold-out Wembley hosted the first of these as the Chicago Bears faced the Dallas Cowboys. While the roster boasted greats such as Walter Payton, it was Bears’ defensive lineman/full-back The Fridge who electrified those in attendance. He showcased the skills which had made him a household name, when ploughing into the end zone from a yard out.
San Diego Chargers v New Orleans Saints – When the Saints go marching in
Following a shoulder injury in 2006, the San Diego Chargers released Drew Brees, anointing his understudy, Philip Rivers, as their new offensive signal-caller. Two years later, Wembley Stadium hosted a tense showdown between the pair as the San Diego Chargers faced off against the New Orleans Saints, who edged a 37-32 thriller. Unsurprisingly, the game was packed with heart-stopping, nail-biting moments. With the action leaving every seat only partially filled, mouths remained agape, until the final 70 seconds of the fourth quarter when Rivers was picked off by Saints’ linebacker Jonathan Vilma, ending the Chargers’ incredible comeback drive and providing a well-earned win for the adopted home team.
Chicago Bears v Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The coming back and the almost comeback
The 2011 International Series game saw the return of the Chicago Bears to Wembley, as they faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Although the Buccaneers were the ‘home’ team, the Bears certainly seemed comfortable when roaring cheers accompanied their entrance. Chicago kept their momentum, as the first quarter alone featured a safety, two interceptions and a touchdown.
The fourth quarter changed everything. Racking up two touchdowns in six minutes, the Bucs were fighting back, and looking strong. 76,981 breaths were held until, with 27 seconds left on the clock, D.J. Moore intercepted Josh Freeman and the Bucs’ incredible comeback drive was no good.
LA Rams v Denver Broncos – The point after is good. Very good.
Back before their stint in St. Louis, the L.A. Rams were, well, the L.A. Rams. They were sent to the 1987 American Bowl to take on the Denver Broncos, and it felt more like a championship game than a meaningless exhibition.
72,000 fans certainly got their money’s worth, as the passionate sparring match saw the advantage change sides with every snap. It seemed as though the team who last had the ball were certain to win, and not a single analyst could call it. However, with the game all tied up and 26 seconds on the clock, Mike Lansford kicked the successful point after, seeing the Rams top the Broncos 28-27.
Atlanta Falcons v Detroit Lions – A tale of two halves
In October 2014, the Falcons faced off against the Lions in Wembley Stadium. The first half of the game was so one-sided, that many people in the stadium actually felt guilty for watching, as the Falcons beat down the Lions to the tune of 21 points, leaving Detroit shut out of the first half completely.
Then the second half started, and fans managed to get a second game for the price of one ticket. The Falcons defense did what they would later go on to do in Super Bowl LI, crumbling in the third quarter. The Lions came back with 19 furious points, with the final winning 3 point FG coming from the foot of Matt Prater as the clock dramatically hit 0. Rather embarrassingly, I was at that game, and from the angle I was sat, it looked as though he’d missed. I wondered why I was the only person wearing a Falcons T-shirt who cheered…
Landon Collins – Safety does it
Yet again, the Giants made quite a ripple on the other side of the pond, when a 2016 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams sawsSafety Landon Collins make the pick six of the year.
Intercepting a tipped pass from Case Keenum, Collins ran for what was officially a 44 yard TD. However, his dizzying run had him dodging and cutting for an astonishing 84 yards, according to NFL Next Gen Stats! …Seriously, YouTube it – you won’t be disappointed!
