American Football descended on London earlier this month, as three action-packed contests took place as part of the traditional NFL London series.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a regular at the event and they took to the field twice, playing the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills, before the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans faced off in the final match.
Following the games, we’ve looked back at the key talking points from another incredible event.
Atlanta Falcons 7-23 Jacksonville Jaguars
It was a welcome return to London for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have made the capital a second home in recent years. The Florida-based side have appeared at every NFL event on these shores since 2013 and they treated their British fans to a masterclass earlier this month.
Over 85,000 people were in attendance at Wembley to see Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence steal the show in the first half. The quarterback found Calvin Ridley with a pinpoint throw to set them on their way as they raced into a 17-0 half-time lead thanks to two touchdowns.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder struggled to get going but he bounced back to provide Drake London with a touchdown and get the Falcons back in the game. But it wasn’t enough and the Jaguars held firm to get the NFL London series started in style and end a run of three consecutive defeats at Wembley.
It was the Falcons’ third time in London and while they flew back home disappointed, they regained their form with a narrow win over Houston Texans a week later. Arthur Smith’s side currently sit second in NFC South with a 3-3 record, just below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who they face this weekend.
In a rematch of their 2015 clash in London, both quarterbacks shone as Lawrence came up against counterpart Josh Allen. The Bills were on a three-match winning streak but fell short in a cagey game that the Jags led 11-7 at half-time.
And Travis Etienne was the difference in the final quarter, running home two touchdowns to seal a 25-20 victory. The Jaguars are now clear at the top of the AFC South with four wins from six games and they face the New Orleans Saints this weekend.
They’re one of just four franchises to have never appeared at the Super Bowl and while there’s a long way to go, their early form will have them dreaming of ending that record in February.
Meanwhile, the Bills were the pre-season favourites to win the AFC East and they got back on track as they saw off the New York Giants earlier this week.
They currently sit in second, behind the imperious Miami Dolphins, who have won five of their opening six games. The pair face off in gameweek 18 in what could prove to be a decisive game.
The Ravens led 18-3 at the break before the Titans fought back in the third quarter thanks to a touchdown from Derrick Henry. But Tucker’s kicking masterclass sealed the game to secure his side top spot in the AFC North.
The Maryland side boast a 4-2 record so far this season but they face a tough test against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, who have won five of their six games so far.
The Titans, meanwhile, came into the London game in poor form and they find themselves bottom of AFC South, the same division as the Jaguars.
With four defeats so far, they desperately need to turn things around if they want to taste success come the end of the season. They’ve got a much-needed week off this weekend before returning to action against the Falcons.
The NFL season is in full swing and we’re all set for the biggest few weeks in the American football calendar – if you live in London, that is! The NFL London Games are back, with three matches across consecutive weekends to look forward to at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
All teams across the divisions have played at least two matches and following the conclusion of NFL London, we’ll have a much clearer idea of who might be in contention to contest the Super Bowl in February.
The season so far
After winning the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs have started strongly, winning two of their opening three matches. They’ve won seven consecutive AFC West titles and they’re among the favourites to go all the way again this time.
One of their wins came against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who play twice at NFL London. They’ve suffered two defeats so far despite being the pre-season favourites to top the AFC South.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the campaign as outsiders to win the NFC South division as they adjust to life without the retired Tom Brady. They don’t seem to be missing the legendary quarterback too much, winning both of their games so far, although narrowly, with Baker Mayfield impressing since replacing Brady.
It’s not been plain sailing for the Cincinnati Bengals so far. They were well backed to do well this season but they’ve lost both of their matches. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphin and San Francisco 49ers are having fun, with both sides enjoying a 100% start to the season.
The Dolphins broke their franchise record on Monday as they achieved just the fourth ever 70-point game, destroying the Denver Broncos 70-20 thanks to a stunning performance from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
NFL London Games
The NFL returns to London this weekend with the first of three mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to during October. With American football rarely played on this side of the Atlantic, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sport in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.
Ahead of the action, we’ve taken a closer look at the teams that will be strutting their stuff in the capital in the coming weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Atlanta Falcons – Sunday 1st October, Wembley Stadium
The Jacksonville Jaguars are regulars in London, having appeared at every NFL London series since 2013. Their appearances have seen them develop a following on this side of the pond and their UK-based fans will be hoping they can turn their fortunes around.
Doug Pederson’s side were the favourites to top the AFC South ahead of the season but they’ve had a slow start, winning just one of their opening three games. They face the Atlanta Falcons who have won twice so far, despite being in a tough division alongside the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons have played in London twice before, losing to the Detroit Lions in 2014 before beating the New York Jets on their return two years ago.
The Jaguars, who are one of just four franchises to have never played in the Super Bowl, come up against the Buffalo Bills in their second NFL London contest. It’s a rematch of their 2015 meeting in London, which the Jaguars edged 34-31.
The Bills are the favourites to top a competitive AFC East this season ahead of the Jets, the imperious Dolphins and the New England Patriots. They got off to a rocky start but have bounced back in their last two games to thrash the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders.
They face the Dolphins in a tricky tie this weekend before meeting the Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The final match of the 2023 NFL London Games sees the Tennessee Titans go toe-to-to with the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans are in AFC South alongside the Jaguars and after losing two games so far, they’ll be hoping their luck will change in London.
The Ravens have started strongly with two wins so far and they have quarterback Lamar Jackson to thank. The 26-year-old missed much of last season with a knee injury and despite fears he may leave, he put pen to paper on a bumper new contract earlier this year.
Jackson helped the Ravens to wins in their opening two games but they’re looking to bounce back after coming up short against the Indianapolis Colts at the weekend.
As the joys of Christmas make way for January blues, there is no better time to fill your diary with fun events for the future.
London can genuinely lay claim to being the event capital of the world, with its host of world-renowned venues showcasing the very best music concerts and sporting spectacles the world has to offer.
2023 promises to be a stellar year for live shows, as well as annual events such as Wimbledon and The Chelsea Flower Show, London will frequently attract the biggest stars in entertainment for one-off events all year round.
Below is a list of 10 London events to look out for in 2023.
The Championships, Wimbledon
The most prestigious tennis tournament in the world and it’s right on our doorstep! Every year SW19 welcomes 500,000 fans from all around the globe for two weeks in July for non-stop tennis action.
Last year’s winners were Novak Djokovic in the Men’s Singles and Elena Rybakina in the Women’s Singles, and they will be desperate to defend their titles at the 2023 tournament.
However, regardless of who comes out on top, The Championships, Wimbledon offers a fan experience like no other, from its serving of traditional strawberries and cream to the array of celebrity attendees that can be spotted around the grounds.
Will Andy Murray return for one last hurrah, can Emma Radacanu rediscover her 2021 US Open form and will Rafa or Novak reign supreme on Centre Court? All will be revealed at The Championships, Wimbledon 2023.
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Nick Kyrgios (AUS) serving Novak Djokovic (SRB) in the final of the Gentlemen’s Singles on Centre Court at The Championships 2022. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. Day 14 Sunday 10/07/2022. Credit: AELTC/Joe Toth at The Championships 2022. Held at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon. \{year4}{month0}{day0}\. Credit: AELTC/Joe Toth
Harry Styles – Wembley
Global pop superstar Harry Styles will be strutting the Wembley stage, flares and all, come June 2023 for his Love on Tour.
The multiple Brit Award winner enjoyed a stellar 2022 with the release of his third album Harry’s House, which debuted atop the US and UK charts and won the MTV Music Award for Album of the Year.
The former One Direction singer also performed 15 sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2022. To mark the achievement, a permanent banner was raised in his honour inside the venue, he is only the third artist to be honoured in such a way.
His homecoming at Wembley Stadium in 2023 will be a must-see event for any self-respecting Styles fan.
It’s the oldest competition in world football, and, every year, despite the naysayers, we always get caught up in the magic of the cup. 2023 will be no different, with the promise of giant killings, rundown stadiums and special goals all the way to the final at Wembley.
Last year’s final between Chelsea and Liverpool went all the way to a penalty shootout as The Reds came out on top. It’s a trophy every team in the league wants to win, and the 2023 final in June will be no different.
From Steven Gerrard’s long-range strike for Liverpool in 2006 to Ricky Villa’s solo goal for Tottenham in 1981, the FA Cup Final always produces famous goals and memorable moments for fans of the beautiful game.
The world’s greatest flower show includes show gardens designed by leading names, epic floral displays and an unrivalled shopping experience.
Between May 23-27 in 2023, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea will provide horticultural inspiration for its guests, which, last year, paid tribute to The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with laser-cut steel silhouettes of her late Majesty, surrounded by 70 planted terracotta pots planted with Lily of the Valley, the Queen’s favourite flower.
The 2023 show will be the first since The Queen’s passing so it’s safe to say a floral tribute to her late Majesty will be on display, amidst the many other breathtaking gardens.
The Ashes
It’s back, four years since the last Ashes Series in England which ended in a 2-2 draw, with Australia retaining the old trophy having won the 2017-18 series.
After England’s last Ashes humiliation in Australia, a 4-0 defeat, Ben Stoke’s men will be looking for revenge under new coach Brendon McCullum who led England to an unbeaten 2022 after he took charge in March.
With Lord’s and The Oval playing host to two of the five Test matches, London is the place to be to witness England’s road to redemption.
The prolific film composer is performing two shows in June at the O2 in Greenwich with music from films including, The Lion King, Inception, Gladiator, the Dark Knight trilogy andthe Pirates of the Caribbean.
The German-born musician has two Oscars to his name and is widely regarded as the greatest film composer of all time.
He rose to fame following the success of his first Hollywood feature score in Rain Man in 1988.
150 films later and Zimmer is still the most in-demand film composer in Hollywood. More recently, however, he has turned to other projects outside of the film industry, including the BBC television series Blue Planet II, for which he composed the score in 2017.
All of this and much more besides can be heard at the O2, performed by world-class musicians.
MLB World Tour London Series
Baseball is very much riding along the coattails of the NFL in this country, following a surge in popularity in the UK in recent years.
In June, St Louis Cardinals will play the Chicago Cubs at the London Stadium in a two-game series in Stratford.
The MLB London series has become a regular fixture on the London sporting calendar since its launch in 2019, when the New York Yankees faced the Boston Red Sox, in the first official MLB game in Europe.
Now it’s the turn of the Cardinals and the Cubs who have 11 and three World Series Championships respectively. The two will compete at the former Olympic Stadium which will transform into an authentic ballpark – don’t forget to bring your mitt!
From July to September the biggest names in classical music will descend upon The Royal Albert Hall in Kensington for a festival of music.
Across the eight-week summer season, daily orchestral concerts will be held culminating in the famous last night, where typically popular classics and patriotic British pieces will be performed.
Not much has been revealed ahead of the 2023 edition but the event always celebrates the anniversaries of preeminent composers. For instance, in 2022 many pieces were dedicated to the British composer Ralph Vaughn Williams to mark his 150th birthday.
The festival doesn’t only attract classical music buffs, movie themes feature regularly in the Proms programme. In 2011, Keith Lockhart famously conducted music from various James Bond films ending with rapturous applause.
NFL London Games
Typically held in the Autumn, America’s game will return to the capital for its NFL London Games. In the past matches have been held at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Teams are yet to be announced, but last year the Saints, Giants, Packers, Broncos, Jaguars and Vikings all competed in London.
The first ever London series game was played in 2007 at Wembley when the New Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10.
Since then London has annually sold out crowds for NFL games, featuring half-time shows and immersive fan parks to give Brits a proper Gridiron experience.
Such is the popularity of the event, rumours persist that one day London will have its own NFL franchise to support. Until that day comes, UK fans will continue to flock to the likes of Wembley Stadium to support their US team of choice.
The boys from Sheffield are back following the release of their seventh studio album The Car, which peaked at No. 2 in the UK album charts behind Taylor Swift’s Midnights.
The seven-time Brit award winners have reinvented themselves over the years, from their garage rock upstart in 2006 with their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, to the lounge pop tone of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino in 2017.
The Monkeys have headlined Glastonbury twice in 2007 and 2013 respectively, and are heavily rumoured to do so again in 2023.
Frequently lauded as one of the best bands of all time, even Bob Dylan has claimed to have made “special efforts” to see them live.
So there we have it, the top 10 London events to look out for in 2023. In truth, there will be hundreds of worthwhile events to see across the capital but the above will certainly be among the most in demand.
You can’t be a part of music or sporting history from your armchair, for a truly unforgettable 2023 why not book a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that can be experienced and treasured forever, whether it be The Ashes at Lord’s or Harry Styles at Wembley.
Ever since London hosted it’s first regular season game back in October 2007, British fans have always been teased with the possibility of a permanent NFL franchise in the country.
The Jacksonville Jaguars under the ownership of Shahid Khan, who also owns Premier League team Fulham FC, have become the adopted team for NFL fans. The Florida organisation are crossing the pond a record 9th time in 2022 and Khan has been the dominant voice in exploring the requirements to secure a spot in the NFL as the fan base in London increases for the Jags. His bid to buy Wembley in 2018 was ultimately unsuccessful, but his intentions were clear. Khan saw the business potential to bring NFL to London permanently.
NFL Fan WembleyNFL Wembley
Covid-19 somewhat halted the growth of NFL in the UK with 2020 matches cancelled and the thought process behind international development seems to have shifted.
The Packers complete the set for London
2022 sees the final franchise of 32 in total to play in London. The widely supported Green Bay Packers will make their London debut at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the New York Giants in-line with the NFL’s announcement to ensure every team must play in an international match every 8 years.
Aside from the three matches in London, the NFL have strongly hinted at their future direction of growth, with matches in Munich and Mexico making up the 5 games in the 2022 International Series.
NFL are now actively looking to explore matches in varying locations, seriously hindering the logic behind a permanent team back in London.
As it stands, the appetite appears to not be there for an NFL franchise to be in London, but with tickets selling out as quick as ever for the three London matches, there’s no doubting the demand and the fanbase over in the UK.
Sunday 13 November | Seattle Seahawks v Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Allianz Arena, Munich
Monday 21 November | San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals | Estadio Azteca, Mexico
NFL Hospitality at Wembley
Wembley Stadium, a venue steeped in history, is the iconic home of English Football. The site where England clinched the 1966 World Cup, their one and only football major honour.
The construction on the new stadium began in 2002 costing in the region of £1 billion. A truly state of the art development the new Wembley is the largest venue in the UK with a capacity of 90,000. It offers an attendee everything from coffee shops to fine dining establishments.
The home of football doesn’t just host the English version of the game, it hosts American Football as well!
The ICON facility is the perfect way to watch the NFL, with stunning views and easy access to your seats, bar and food.
This is in our famous pitchview restaurant with a glass fronted suite so you don’t miss any of the action.
Enjoy the facility three hours before the match starts, soaking up the pre-match atmosphere in a relaxed, informal environment. Perfect for hosting clients or treating friends and family.
