The NFL is taking big steps when it comes to moving outside of the US and transcending limits to new markets and business ventures, thus engaging many international fans.
This year’s season welcomed some teams back to London, where many superstars and followers have been welcomed once again.
A few weeks ago, the NFL released the schedule of its 2023 season’s foreign games. Many surprises were revealed, such as a team that will play consecutive international games for the first time ever, and the calendar includes two games in Germany for the first time.
Beginning in Week 4, the London games will span three consecutive weeks.
So, let’s check out everything you need to know about the NFL London 2023.
London: the NFL host
Way before the NFL expanded to international regular season contests as we know it today, the UK famously hosted eight American Bowl pre-season exhibition games at Wembley between 1968 and 1993.
Mythical Wembley Stadium welcomed the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins in 2007 to turn London into the league’s official home on foreign soil.
This was the first international NFL game of all time. Surprisingly, around 80,000 fans attended this highly-anticipated matchup, with more than 40,000 tickets being sold in the first 90 minutes of sales alone.
Needless to say, the game was a major financial success for the league and its business partner, and the show didn’t disappoint the fans either.
Three years later, in 2010, the league went back to London, this time with the Denver Broncos taking the San Francisco 49ers.
Nowadays, the league returns to London this year, 2023, after 33 regular season games have been played there.
The NFL recently announced that they will extend their agreement with Tottenham Hotspur. The stadium has been given the title of “home of the NFL,” turning, in this way, the UK into officially a home for the NFL. In fact, under the aforementioned agreement, it’s stated that the Spur stadium will host two regular-season games annually through the end of the 2029–30 campaign.
2023 Season Schedule
Having produced two games at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and two more games in Germany in November, the NFL is having such a successful moment in Europe this year.
The games in the English capital provided the league’s production division with a good foundation for its upcoming debut in Frankfurt. As part of Frankfurt’s rotation with Munich, the Dolphins will play the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at Frankfurt Stadium on November 5, and the Colts will play the New England Patriots there on November 12.
Here is the official schedule for the NFL International Games:
| Date | Matchup | Location |
|---|---|---|
| October 1 (Week 4) | Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars | Wembley Stadium |
| October 8 (Week 5) | Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| October 15 (Week 6) | Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| November 5 (Week 9) | Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs | Frankfurt Stadium |
| November 12 (Week 10) | Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots | Frankfurt Stadium |
The takeaways so far
NFL Week 7 started with Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars taking down the New Orleans Saints, cementing themselves as the best team in the AFC South and a dark horse in their conference.
Bill Belichick obtained his 300th career victory after the New England Patriots won over the Buffalo Bills, a usual victim of the veteran coach.
Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson had the best performance of his career by taking down the Detroit Lions with a four-touchdown performance, and the Cleveland Browns played against the Indianapolis Colts and eventually won with a couple of questionable calls.
Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert starred in a QB divisional showdown, with the Kansas City Chiefs beating the Los Angeles Chargers. And let’s not forget how T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers was key in defeating the Los Angeles Rams with that clutch interception.
In what was the most exciting game of the week, at least on paper, the Philadelphia Eagles’ stout defense stopped the Miami Dolphins offense — the most explosive in the league — to reaffirm their status as the best team in the NFC.
Last but not least, the San Francisco 49ers dropped their second game in a row, this time to Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings, raising some questions about Brock Purdy’s ability to lead the team.
Taking the game to new heights won’t be an easy task, but Commissioner Roger Goodell seems determined to pull it off. And with a new contract extension and all the success he’s found — business-wise at least — NFL fans from all over the world can rest assured that, one day, the league might also visit their countries, even if it’s just for a preseason game or whatnot.
