The NFL Thread

[Deano]

How would those in the UK that have a team - Bills, Falcons, Bears 'skins are the ones that spring to mind feel about a London franchise? Would you switch allegiances as theoretically you could see them a minimum of 8 times a season or would you stay where you are? I'd wager the latter, therefore would you still go to Wembley a couple of times a year to watch a permanent home team that wasn't your own?

I think the problem is the NFL is already growing in popularity in the UK and a lot of fans have teams they follow already.

I went yesterday, it was a great game and experience and I really enjoyed it, but whilst I will definitely be going again, there's no way I could travel down and do that 8 times in the space of 4-5 months and that will be the case for most people who live outside London I'm guessing,

I think the international series are fine, if necessary they could add a couple more games but I don't see the need for a franchise to be based here.

 

[The Bear]

Yeah 3 a year is enough I think. Though my mate said he'd happily go down every other week. Not me personally.

 

[Toon Wolf]

I think London could support an NFL franchise, I would definitely go to see them play just not every home game as it is expensive travelling from Newcastle, staying in London is expensive and game tickets are expensive. I would still support the Bills however, I would not change that allegiance of 30 years.

 

[Alan]

The NFL has already announced that there will be five games in London mext year btw.

 

[lemonjelly]

Think that's been contradicted over here al.

 

[The Bear]

The NFL has already announced that there will be five games in London mext year btw.

Nope that was a rumour that was denied, and the standard three games were announced yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/american-football/29780806

 

[Alan]

And here I am supposed to be in the know!

 

[lemonjelly]

An american with misinformation, or who misspoke.
Who'dathunkit? :icon_wink:

 

[Toon Wolf]

Rumours on a Bills forum that the Jags v Bills game next year will be one of the London games. One wit suggested that if that game sells out then we really are deserving of a London franchise! Set me thinking, which teams would you really not want to see in London? Obviously I'd move heaven and earth to see the Bills, but I would get why that might not appeal to many people after 15 years of fail (though Sammy Watkins could change people's perception of the Bills, dude is a bona fide superstar in the making). I can't imagine anything worse than a Jags v Titans game, there would be no way that matchup would sell out, surely!?

 

[Carrotdude]

I'm admittedly new to all this but I can't imagine too many people would be super excited to see the Browns vs Bucs or something like that. Have they spread out the teams who have played in London or has it been the same ones? If it is the Jags next year seems odd as aren't they playing Dallas over here soon?

 

[Toon Wolf]

The Jaguars are already slated to play 4 'home' games in London. This is their 2nd, so they have 2015 & 2016 seasons still with one game in London.

 

[The Bear]

Buccs, Jets, Titans, Browns, Vikings. All gash. Especially if they were playing Jaguars.

 

[Toon Wolf]

Buccs, Jets, Titans, Browns, Vikings. All gash. Especially if they were playing Jaguars.

Jets have Vick so they do have some pulling power there. Though Geno Smith is an abomination of a QB. Browns have Johnny Football so may be interesting to some (not me I might add), and they aren't really terrible. The rest of your list yeah, not a whole lot to get excited about. I'd add the Rams and the Texans as teams that are a bit 'meh', though Houston have JJ Watt who is an absolute freak.

 

[Johnny75]

Buccs, Jets, Titans, Browns, Vikings. All gash. Especially if they were playing Jaguars.

Browns and Titans aren't that bad. The Jets, Vikes and Buccs are appalling. Strangely enough I'd like to see how Bortles gets on next year as I think he's decent.

 

[Alan]

A lot of things can change in just a couple of years. See: 49ers, SF.

 

[Carrotdude]

Tbf I think if Adrian Petersen stopped beating up his kids then the Vikings would still be a decent attraction

 

[The Bear]

The Texans have Arian Foster who I really like, and as mentioned JJ Watt.

I wouldn't mind seeing all those teams against decent opposition.

 

[Toon Wolf]

The Texans have Arian Foster who I really like, and as mentioned JJ Watt.

I wouldn't mind seeing all those teams against decent opposition.

Maybe, but I think decent teams against not so decent teams makes for a less interesting game, what you want are 2 evenly matched teams to create a game like the one last weekend. You don't want an unbalanced game like the Patriots v Rams game which was horrible.

 

[The Bear]

It was a good ending last week, but each half was still really one sided.

 

[James]

Monday Night Football has got a good game on Monday. Ravens @ Steelers, after the 1st game I can't look past another Ravens win purely because I'm biased.