14 regular season games have been played since the NFL decided to play its first game in London in 2007, and with another three scheduled for this year, the sport is rapidly expanding in the UK. Here we take you on an A-Z tour of what you can expect to see, or have seen in the past during the International Series.
A is for Alumni…
The International Series always attracts former star players of the competing teams, including some of the very best in NFL history. Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice have all met fans in London in previous years.
B is for Biggest Win…
The biggest winning margin for an International Series game in London is 38 points, after the New England Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 45-7 in 2012.
C is for Comeback…
There have been some thrilling comebacks in the International Series, including two in the last two years. In 2014, the Detroit Lions trailed the Atlanta Falcons 21-0 at half time, before turning the game on its head and winning 22-21. Last year saw the Jacksonville Jaguars holding a 24 point lead at half time, only to end up trailing the Buffalo Bills 31-27 with 5 minutes remaining. But the Jags produced a thrilling comeback through Blake Bortles to win 34-31.
D is for Dunlap…
Carlos Dunlap of the Cincinnati Bengals is one of the unsung superstars of the NFL and he’ll be on display when his side take on the Washington Redskins on 30th October.
E is for Events…
The NFL prides itself on fan participation and there’s plenty to enjoy in London. Fans are encouraged to make a weekend of it, with a Fan Rally in Trafalgar Square, the NFL on Regent Street or the Gameday Fan Plazas, there’s plenty of entertainment off the field!
F is for Future Hall of Famers…
Several future Hall of Famers have seen action in London including; Drew Brees (2008), Tom Brady (2009 and 2012) Adrian Peterson (2013), Ben Roethlisberger (2013) and Calvin Johnson (2015). Will fans be able to see any more this season?
G is for Gurley…
British NFL fans will get to see St. Louis Rams’ running back Todd Gurley in action. He’s an early contender for Rookie of the Year and has already rushed for an NFL record 566 yards in his first four starts for the Rams.
H is for History-making Touchdown…
Legendary quarterback Eli Manning scored the first touchdown at Wembley, running in from 10 yards against Miami in 2007.
I is for Interceptions…
Everyone loves an interception and two of the NFL’s finest ball-hawks will be in action in the UK in 2016. Indianapolis Colts safety Mike Adams is the league leader in interceptions with five, whilst Bengals safety Reggie Nelson has four.
J is for Jordan…
Washington Redskins Tight End Jordan Reed is heading to London in 2016. He’s had an incredible third season in the NFL, catching 47 passes for 443 yards and has scored 6 touchdowns.
K is for Kick Returns…
There has never been a kick off or punt return touchdown in the 14 International Series games in London.
L is for Luck…
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck spent part of his childhood growing up in London and will be returning “home” in 2016.
M is for Miami…
Alongside the Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins have played the most games in London, with three appearances at Wembley. They have a 1-2 record in the UK, losing to the Giants in 2007 and the Jets in 2015, but they defeated the Oakland Raiders in 2014.
N is for Nutcracker Dude…
All players celebrate scoring a touchdown, but Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski’s in 2012 was unique as he attempted to impersonate the Queen’s guards who stand outside Buckingham Palace. When asked about it after the game, The Gronk said he was paying tribute to “that little nutcracker dude that’s guarding the house.”
O is for Ohio State Marching Band…
The Ohio State Marching Band produced a memorable performance in the build-up to the game between the Jaguars and the Bills last year, as well as their takeover of Regent Street for the fan access the day before. They’re back again this year to wow the crowd once again.
P is for Prolific Pairing…
There hasn’t been a more productive wide receiver pairing in the NFL this year than Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Allen Brothers have combined for 94 catches for 1,587 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Q is for Quarterbacks…
Quarterbacks are the face of their franchise and some of the very best have played in London. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger have all stepped onto the gridiron and 2016 offers up more talent. Both Andrew Luck and Andy Dalton will take to the field this year.
R is for Red Rifle…
Bengals red-headed quarterback Andy Dalton is one of the best in his position in the NFL and has negotiated his team’s way into post-season for a number of years. He’s also one of the few passers with a nickname in the NFL, the Red Rifle.
S is for Season Tickets…
More than half of all fans who attended the three International Series games at Wembley in 2015 were season ticket holders.
T is for Teams…
There can’t be a game of American Football without teams! Three NFL franchises will make their London debuts this season, the Bengals, the Redskins and the Colts, taking the total number of teams to have played in the UK to 23.
U is for Undetermined…
The newly relocated Los Angeles Rams weren’t assured of their opponents until the end of the 2015 regular season. The schedule is arranged so that teams play an opponent from another division who finish in the same slot as them. The Rams finished second in the NFC West last year, meaning that they would play the second placed team in the NFC East, who turned out to be the New York Giants.
V is for Versatile…
The LA Rams have one of the most versatile players in the league on their roster. Tavon Austin is officially listed as a wide receiver, but he’s racked up a total of 551 yards so far this season, scoring 6 touchdowns on runs, catches and returns.
W is for Weather…
In an outdoors stadium, weather will always play a factor in the game. Torrential rain played a part in the first game at Wembley in 2007, but the sell-out crowd remained in good spirits. However, the weather ensured that the first International Series game was also the lowest scoring one, with just 23 points scored between the two sides.
X is for Xtra time…
X was a difficult letter, so we had to get creative. All tied NFL games go into extra time (or overtime), with the side who scores first winning the game. No International Series game has gone to overtime so far.
Y is for Young Randy Moss…
Randy Moss was a legendary wide receiver for the Patriots, so for Bengals receiver A.J. Green to be labelled as a young Randy Moss is a big compliment. Now in his fifth year in the NFL, Green is a threat from anywhere on the field.
Z is for Z-list Celebrities…
All fans come out for the NFL when it comes to London and there have been a number of British celebrities who’ve attended the games. Vernon Kay, Joey Barton, Martin Johnson and Mike Tindall all spring to mind.