Tag: London

Doug Pederson: ‘We’ll probably each year play 2 games’ in London

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson doesn’t think 2023 will be the last time his team makes a two-weekend trip to London.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ extended trip to London was a success for the team. They arrived in the United Kingdom with a 1-2 record following a pair of losses, but return to the United States at 3-2 after back-to-back wins overseas.

No NFL team had played multiple games out of the country in the same season before, let alone in consecutive weeks. But Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t think it’ll be the last time it happens for his squad.

“I think it’s relatively safe to say that we’ll probably each year play two games over here,” Pederson said Sunday after a 25-20 win against the Buffalo Bills. “I don’t know that. I don’t have a crystal ball. I hope the rest of the league plays two games over here at some point.

“But again, it was good for us, and it was good to get out of Jacksonville at that time. We needed to, I think, bond a little bit as a football team, and we’ve done that.”

The Jaguars have played an annual home game in London since 2013 (with the exception of 2020 when international games were cancelled due to COVID). Their contract to play a game every year at Wembley Stadium ends in 2024, but Jaguars owner Shad Khan isn’t ready for the partnership to end.

“Hopefully we’ll get this thing renewed,” Khan said last week, via Jaguars.com. “It’s been great for the city of Jacksonville. It’s great for the players. It’s been great for us.”

If the Jaguars continue to cede home games to the United Kingdom, it only makes sense for the team to do more two-weekend ventures to London by adding road game to the annual trips.

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How to watch Jaguars vs. Bills: TV channel, time, stream

It’s an early kickoff for the Jaguars and Bills this morning. Here’s how to tune in from home:

For the first time in their history, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be the road team for a game in London. On Sunday, it’ll be the Buffalo Bills serving as the “home” team for a Week 5 matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While the Bills made the trip across the Atlantic on Thursday night, the Jaguars have been in the United Kingdom for more than a week after playing the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium in Week 4.

While the Jaguars hope that a week of acclimation to the time change will prove to be an advantage, they’ll have their hands full either way. Buffalo enters Sunday as a favorite after blowing out three straight teams by at least 28 points.

Here’s how to tune in from home Sunday when the Jaguars attempt to pull off the upset:

Jaguars Vs. Bills, Week 5

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023
  • Kickoff Time: 9:30 a.m ET
  • Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
  • TV Channel: National coverage: NFL Network; Local coverage in Jacksonville: WFOX-TV (channel 30)
  • Live Stream: NFL+
  • Commentators: Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Jamie Erdahl

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Bills’ Josh Allen on Jaguars’ Josh Allen: ‘He scares me’

#Bills’ Josh Allen on #Jaguars’ Josh Allen: ‘He scares me’

The clash in London on Sunday in NFL Week 5 will be between the Bills and Jaguars, but another interesting matchup will take place in addition to the UK-based NFL contest.

For the second time in his career, Josh Allen will face… Josh Allen.

Jags linebacker Josh Allen, that is.

The last time the two players faced each other was in Jacksonville in 2021. The Jaguars’ Allen logged eight tackles and a sack in an upset 9-6 win over Buffalo. The Bills’ Allen threw two interceptions and was sacked four times.

Josh Allen’s sacking of Josh Allen was the first time in NFL history that a player sacked a quarterback of the same.

“He scares me. He got me last time we played,” the Bills’ Allen said to the media. “He’s coming off a really good week, too. He’s a baller. He’s still considered kind of a young guy in this league, but he’s playing really good football right now. Their defensive group right now is playing at a high level. They work together very well. So we’re going to have our hands full.”

The Jags’ Allen is tied for an NFL-leading six-sacks (tied with Khalil Mack and T.J. Watt), three of which were in the Jaguars’ 23-7 NFL Week 4 win against the Atlanta Falcons in London, making him the first player in the history of the NFL history to record 3 sacks in a contest outside the US.

Even so, the Jags’ Allen knows it’s not going to be a walk in St. James’s Park against the Bills.

Buffalo Bill Allen just went 21-for-25 for 320 yards and five total touchdowns in a convincing 48-20 win against Miami that now sees him first in the league in completion percentage, tied for second in passing touchdowns (nine), and sixth in passing yards,

The two Josh Allen’s have shared not only a name but also the same draft position a year apart, the Bills Allen at No. 7 overall in 2018 and the Jaguars Allen at the same spot a year later.

Sharing those details in common with both players in the AFC has kept the story alive when their respective teams face each other.

“Yeah I mean again it’s I think it’s pretty crazy he’s one of the dominant pass rushers in this league, you know I think everybody that plays against them has to have a plan in place for him we’re going to be no different,” The Bills’ Allen added. “We’ve played some really good D lines already early in this year and it’s not stopping this week with this group, and again I think the DB’s do such a great job of working together their linebackers are flying around the ball, they got two Wyoming guys Muma and Wingard those are my guys, so those guys are good ball players.”

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Trevor Lawrence: ‘I prefer grass in the states,’ turf in London

Trevor Lawrence usually doesn’t like turf, but it’s better than the slick grass of the fields in London.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence typically prefers grass fields to artificial turf. But when his team meets the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he isn’t worried at all about the London stadium’s turf surface. In fact, he’s a little glad it’s not grass.

“I usually prefer playing on grass, but the grass over here is a little bit different,” Lawrence told reporters Wednesday. “Especially for the soccer field, it’s a little bit slicker. I don’t know if that’s intentionally just for the ball, I’m sure, rolls better on it. Our grass is different in the states.

“I prefer grass in the states. I think here, turf is a little better for footing and cutting and all that stuff. Probably turf I prefer, so the guys don’t slip as much. Either way, I don’t think it poses a big issue.”

At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Premier League matches are played on a natural grass surface. But when the venue hosts NFL games, the playing field splits and rolls into a garage. The American football games are then played on the turf field underneath.

The NFL Player’s Association has made a push for teams to ditch artificial turf fields which tend to cause more injuries. In the Jaguars’ last two trips to MetLife Stadium to play the New York Jets, they lost running back James Robinson and pass rusher Dawuane Smoot to torn Achilles tendons.

The Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium has used a natural grass surface since it opened in 1995.

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Trevor Lawrence: Acclimation to London will be advantage vs. Bills

The Jaguars will spend the entire week in London ahead of a Week 5 game against the Bills. How much of an advantage will that be?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are treading into uncharted territory this week when they prepare to play their second consecutive game in London. No team has played two games internationally in the same season, let alone in back-to-back weeks.

With the Buffalo Bills making their cross-Atlantic trip later this week, Jaguars players are eying their week of acclimation as a potential advantage in the Week 5 matchup.

“We’re going to obviously be well-rested, adapted to the time change, because that is a real thing,” Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said Sunday. “You’re on a big time change, it’s a long travel day. I’m not sure exactly what their travel plans are, if they’re coming out for the week, kind of like we usually do, which is Thursday, get here Friday morning.

“We’re going to use it to our advantage, and anything we can, but we’ve got to have a great week, got to prepare the exact same way, but it’ll be nice to have a full week to get acclimated.”

The Bills lost in overtime in Week 1, but have been rolling through opponents ever since. They’ve won three straight games by at least 28 points and rank No. 2 in the NFL in points scored and No. 2 in points allowed.

Unsurprisingly, Buffalo is a favorite against the 2-2 Jaguars this week. But will the Bills that take the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium be the same one that is dominating as of late?

“The first three days here I think are hard,” Jaguars receiver Calvin Ridley said. “Your body is just all over the place. I feel like we’re here now, we’re ready for this next week.”

The Bills plan to leave for London on Thursday like the Jaguars did last week ahead of their matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Shad Khan wants more back-to-back London games if 2023 works well

Shad Khan hopes the Jaguars have more back-to-back London trips in the future, so long as 2023 works out well.

The Jacksonville Jaguars won at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, beating the Atlanta Falcons in a “home” game, 23-7. Now comes the uncharted territory.

Instead of flying back to the United States like the Falcons, the Jaguars will be the first team ever to stay overseas for another international game. Up next is a Week 5 “road” game against the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jaguars will need to change hotels, but the hope for the team is that the pair of games makes for an easier trip as opposed to a weekend roundtrip across the Atlantic. And if it works out well, team owner Shad Khan likes the idea of making it an annual two-game trip.

“What’s great is that some of our fans couldn’t make it this week, they can come from Duval next week,” Khan told Brent Martineau of Action Sports Jax on Sunday. “Also, the fans we have in London, U.K., and Europe, it’s another way for us to connect with them and really develop the Jaguars, Jacksonville brand here in the U.K.

“I think we want to see how it goes, what are some of the learnings from it, and I think if it works, we’d like for it to continue in the future.”

The Jaguars have played a home game in London every season since 2013, with the exception of 2020 when all international games were cancelled due to COVID. The team has six games at EverBank Stadium left on the 2023 schedule.

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How to watch ‘Toy Story’ Falcons vs. Jaguars: Time, stream, channel

Here’s how to tune in for the virtual game between the Jaguars and Falcons live from Andy’s room:

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons will meet each other at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, but a virtual version of both teams will face off in the bedroom of Andy from “Toy Story.”

It’ll be the first NFL broadcast of its kind with animated versions of the Jaguars and Falcons competing in real time.

The kid-focused stream will have characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and plenty of others making appearances. It’ll also include “how to” videos and trivia to teach the sport of football to viewers.

The stream will even have a special halftime show with toy stuntman Duke Caboom attempting a massive motorcycle jump.

Here’s how to tune in to the alternate broadcast:

Falcons Vs. Jaguars, Week 4

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
  • Kickoff Time: 9:30 a.m ET
  • Location: Andy’s room
  • TV Channel: “Toy Story” broadcast is only available via streaming
  • Live Stream: ESPN+, Disney+
  • Traditional broadcast: WFOX (local in Jacksonville), ESPN+
  • Commentators: Drew Carter, Booger McFarland, Pepper Persley

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How to watch Falcons vs. Jaguars: TV channel, time, stream

It’s an early kickoff for the Jaguars and Falcons this morning. Here’s how to tune in from home.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to become the first team in NFL history to play back-to-back games outside the United States. First up is a “home” game against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium in London.

After losses in the last two weeks, the Jaguars are in desperate need of a win and a little bit of rhythm on offense.

Standing in their way is an Atlanta team that is also looking to bounce back from a Week 3 loss. Only a few teams throw the ball less than the Falcons, who predominantly lean on the running back duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to lead the way offensively.

Jacksonville, on the other hand, likes to pass to set up the run, although it has struggled to avoid mistakes in the first month of the 2023 season.

Here’s how to tune in from home Sunday when the Jaguars attempt to get back to .500:

Falcons Vs. Jaguars, Week 4

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023
  • Kickoff Time: 9:30 a.m ET
  • Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
  • TV Channel: Local coverage in Jacksonville: WFOX-TV (channel 30)
  • Live Stream: ESPN+
  • “Toy Story” Alternate Stream: ESPN+, Disney+
  • Commentators: Chris Fowler, Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick (ESPN+)

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Doug Pederson: London trip ‘hitting us at the right time’

A change of scenery could be just what the Jaguars need right now, according to Doug Pederson.

Something has to change for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A week after a frustrating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at home, the Jaguars were embarrassed by the visiting Houston Texans on Sunday.

So a change of scenery for the next couple weeks doesn’t sound too bad to Jaguars coach Doug Pederson. With the team headed to London for games against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills, the coach is feeling optimistic that it’s just what the Jaguars need.

“I’m really hoping that this trip — obviously, it’s hitting us at right time, I think,” Pederson said Sunday in an interview with team reporter Bucky Brooks. “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to reset a little bit. Be together and be away, hopefully be away from distractions around Jacksonville right now.”

The Jaguars have played a home game in London every season since 2013 with the exception of 2020 when the international slate was canceled by the NFL due to COVID. Jacksonville is 4-5 all-time in its United Kingdom trips.

Most recently, the Jaguars lost 21-17 to the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium in October 2022. It proved to be a turning point for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who said the two-interception performance “kind of flipped a switch” for him. He threw 15 touchdowns and two interceptions over his next nine games.

Like Pederson, the Jaguars’ third-year quarterback is hoping this year’s trip to London can get the team back on track.

“I think if we use it the right way, it can be good for us,” Lawrence said Sunday. “I don’t think that we should need that to, you know, get the sense of urgency and to play better and execute. I don’t think that we should need that. But if that’s what we need, then it’s coming at the right time and we’re going to take advantage of it.”

Despite their recent struggles, the Jaguars opened as a three-point favorite against the Falcons. After their “home game” at Wembley Stadium against the Falcons, the Jaguars will be the designated road team during the Week 5 game against the Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Roger Goodell: NFL hopes to learn from Jaguars’ pair of London games

Roger Goodell says the NFL isn’t planning on eventually having a team play three or more games overseas. But he isn’t ruling it out either.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will venture into unfamiliar territory for an NFL team in 2023 when they play back-to-back games in London.

No team has played overseas twice in a year before, let alone two weeks in a row. While some have suggested it’s a step toward a team making a European city their full-time home, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pumped the brakes in a Tuesday press conference.

When asked if the NFL intends to eventually have a team play three or more games internationally, Goodell said the league isn’t thinking that far ahead.

“We like to take things in increments,” Goodell told reporters. “I think one of the things we always focus on — pretty much with everything we do, but I’ll put it specifically to the international games — is to learn from our experience every year. To try something a little different and understand the impact of that.

“This is the first time we’re going to have a team stay a week and play consecutive games. I think we’ll learn from that and that’s the intent of it, ultimately. To see what’s the impact to the Jaguars, in this case. We’ll evaluate that after we’re done. At some point, would we try three? Possibly. But I think the focus is to try to do two and see what the impact is first, and then we’ll go from there.”

The Jaguars have made in-roads in London by playing one home game there every year since 2013 (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID). However, the team is working with Jacksonville to plan a renovation of TIAA Bank Field, which would likely coincide with a lease that keeps the team in the city for the foreseeable future.

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