THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
The curtain fell on the National Football League’s London games this past weekend, with the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Tennessee Titans 24-16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This was the last of the three games played in London, before the International Series roadshow goes on to Munich for a highly anticipated game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on November 5.
Before this, the Jacksonville Jaguars won two games, shared between Wembley and Tottenham, as for the first time a team has stayed for consecutive weekends to play games away from the United States. Jacksonville has built up a huge reputation and following in the UK, so it was no surprise that they were the team to break the mold. Winning both games here has also put their season back on track after a slow start for a team that is fancied to reach the playoffs this season.
Last Sunday though was a day for Ravens fans to enjoy, even though it was a designated home game for the Titans. It was a game dominated by both teams' defenses and led to a shared nine field goals – Baltimore had six, to the Titans’ three, which ultimately led to the difference in the game. The ever-reliable Justin Tucker was the Ravens kicker who enjoyed the most success, but it was something that the Ravens will be wary of going forward as they struggled to convert good field position into touchdowns.
Head Coach John Harbaugh was keen to press that point home. “The best way to put it in the end zone and the red zone is to run it in. We haven't been as successful the last two weeks as we were the first three weeks. That's kind of how it works. It's a week-to-week league. We have a quarterback that can do a lot of things in the red zone, make plays in the red zone. We have receivers that can do it. We're capable of it. I am really thankful Justin made all those kicks. Fun for the crowd here to see. We need to score points. That could have been a much more comfortable game for us if we'd done that.”
The quarterback he mentioned is former League MVP Lamar Jackson, who Harbaugh also heaped praise on, saying he “played one of the most courageous games I've ever seen.” That’s a big comment considering the amount of football Harbaugh has seen in his time.
Jackson though was as humble as ever, as he knew that this game was just another in getting to where they wanted, and needed, to be. “That means a lot coming from my head coach, definitely. How far we can go this season? The sky's the limit, as I've been saying all season. But we have to finish in the end zone. We need to find a way to score points. I believe that's what is slowing us down. We drive the field, no problem, It happens every game, but the red zone part, the black zone, we need to find a way to punch it in. We'll go from there.”
Inevitably the talk over the weekend, after another successful slate of games here in London and Munich to come as well as reports suggesting the NFL is scouting places in Spain and Brazil, was about how far the envelope can be pushed. Jackson had his thoughts on this, “It was our job to put on a show for the fans because basketball has been taking over, soccer, football, has been taking over. But to have American football put on a great show for the fans, and people at home, it was tremendous. It was our job to do. I believe we did quite a good job today.” That of course being as much as a collective “we” as just his team getting the job done.
So what indeed is next? There was even the question of the Super Bowl making its way across the pond. A big shout by any stretch of the imagination, but something Commissioner Roger Goodell wasn’t afraid to tackle: "It is not impossible, and it is something that has been discussed before,” he told fans at a Forum event. He was also keen to point out that it would be some way off and that the league still prefers to hold the game in cities that have a team, and where the market is proven. The economic boost for the host city is huge and does pay back those who have invested and helped the NFL over many years. The next three are penciled in for Las Vegas this February, then New Orleans, before going on to Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area.
It is highly unlikely that a Super Bowl would be played in London as a one-off, but with an established team, with maybe another in Europe to support expansion, it could be on the table years from now. The logistics of playing games here are now so smooth that teams often opt out of having their bye games the week after. That is a testament to how the teams plan. It is now part of the routine when discussions are made as to who will come over and the schedule released. To play a Super Bowl would involve a new set of rules being put in place as it is not just a gameday. it’s a week-long celebration and a global audience. Kick-off time would also be crucial to maximize the commercial aspects.
While the Ravens and Titans settle back into their routines on home soil, many fans are already looking ahead to next year’s London games. It is without doubt a highlight on the UK sporting calendar, and with other sports like baseball and basketball also growing in popularity here, US sports fans have never had it so good.
