The NFL’s second London Game gives a foretaste of the spectacle that will take place in Munich in November
With a huge 35:16 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Chicago Bears celebrate the NFL’s International Games at the second London Game. After São Paulo in Brazil, there are currently three games in the British capital before the American football entourage moves on to the Isar. NFL chief Roger Goodell announced over the weekend that the expansion is just beginning.
When the New York Giants play in the Arena in Fröttmaning in Munich on November 10th, they have the longest European experience. They were the first team to open the now long story of the NFL London Games on July 28, 2007 against the Miami Dolphins.
Caleb Williams vs. Trevor Lawrence: Duel of the highly gifted
While the football players from New York are competing internationally in Munich for only the fourth time, the Jaguars from Jacksonville have taken a different path. Owner Shahid Khan has consistently aligned the third football team from Florida (alongside the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) with the European market. They play London Games every year, recently two. An advantage because the team will be much more rested at least at the second meeting next weekend at Wembley Stadium.
Two of today’s most exciting first overall picks met in London this Sunday. Trevor Lawrence, the quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was the first overall pick in 2021 after sensationally losing just two games in his university career. On the other side is quarterback Caleb Williams, for whom the Chicago Bears exercised their first-round pick this year.
NFL in London: How good are the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Williams is considered an oddball, a genius who can make something out of any situation. But even this mega talent needed a few games to get used to the harsh reality of the NFL.
On the other hand, Lawrence has not yet been able to confirm his form with a win this year. Bad coaches and injuries, with great plays in between. Hardly any player polarizes the NFL like he does.
NFL in London: American Football mit Jetlag
In London the first attack belongs to the Jaguars. At the end of the chain of plays there is at least a field goal. But little happened until Chicago’s quarterback passed to Cole Kmet in the fourth minute of the second quarter, who scrambled 31 yards to the end zone. Lots of missed tackles, lots of jumping, meandering running paths, tumbling back and forth. It’s a typical London game in which some players still seem to have jet lag.
Five minutes before halftime, the Bears are deep in the Jaguars’ half. Half a yard is missing, all of Chicago’s big boys are on the field, everything looks like a running game. But Caleb Williams fits the vacant DJ Moore. The ball flies in delayed slow motion, defender Andre Cisco intercepts the ball – it is the Jaguars’ first interception this season. Will it continue like this?
NFL in London: The Chicago Bears win effortlessly – but also lackluster
In the second half the picture changes: This game at the upper edge of lower mediocrity is now one-sided. The Jags have more possession of the ball, but still seem uncoordinated. Again and again, like Gabe Davis’s first Jaguars touchdown, Lawrence’s ability shines through. As a result, one player is on the field too much, there are incorrect assignments, lack of concentration, and lots of dropped balls.
Caleb Williams is different, who was a little lackluster in the second half, but took his chances completely systematically. The Bears win like this, even without being great, well and by a big margin.
NFL International Games: The games are fan festivals
But the NFL’s foreign games are one thing above all: fan festivals. Jerseys from all clubs populate the stands and celebrate the sport regardless of club rivalries, singing “Sweet Caroline” blissfully hand in hand.
Øyvind came from a small island in Norway with his wife Nussara. The 41-year-old has been showing off his Bears defensive legend Khalil Mack’s jersey in London for years. It’s actually just an additional joy that he was able to see not only his sport live this year, but also his team – he would have come anyway. That the Bears have won, that he is surrounded by tens of thousands of cheering Chicago fans, that his team has won hands down – Øyvind remains calm and winks with his eyes under his blonde eyebrows: “I wish you the same good mood in Munich!”
