Widely considered one of the biggest sporting events of the year, this weekend is a big one for NFL fans. That’s right Superbowl LVIII is upon us. In what feels like forever since the first action of the campaign back in September, the big finale is finally here in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on the San Franciso 49ers at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas on Sunday. In what is expected to be a sell-out crowd with a capacity of 65,000 and millions more watching from home, viewers will be treated to some spectacular American Football, pyrotechnics and an epic halftime show featuring popstar Usher. You won’t want to miss this.
The Kansas City Chiefs go into the final as pre-season favourites and reigning champions. Having beaten the Philadelphia Eagles last year in the finale, they will be keen to make it two on the bounce, the first team since the New England Patriots in 2005, while making it four total Superbowl wins. 11 wins and only 6 defeats throughout the campaign suggest that they mean business and watching Usher perform will not be their main concern.
Nor will it be the 49ers main concern either as they boast a superior record coming into the match having won 12 and only lost 5. With commanding wins over the Cowboys and the Packers, the 49ers will not be a walkover for the Chiefs. They will look to tie the record of the most Superbowl victories (6) if they are to be victorious in the final joining the Steelers and the Patriots on that incredible feat.
So who should you look out for in the final? Well Patrick Mahomes once again has been a valuable asset to his side with passing yards of 4183, the sixth highest this year. Elsewhere in attack Isiah Pacheco has rushing yards of 935 and Travis Kelce has receiving yards of 984. Meanwhile in defence Justin Reid boasts 95 tackles and 3 sacks.
In terms of individual performance the Chiefs are less impressive when compared to the 49ers with Brock Purdy outshining Mahomes with passing yards of 4280 while Christian McAffrey tops the rushing yards table for the season with 1459. In defending they prevail as well, with Fred Warner’s 132 tackles while Charvarius Ward is ranked joint 4th in interceptions made with 5.
The Chiefs were favourites at the start of the season, but are they still favourites now? Well with the clear differences in individual performance, could they struggle against a very well-drilled San Francisco side? It’s safe to say it could be anyone’s game but with the 49ers’ impressive form, you have to say that they might be the team to pinch it and equal the record Superbowl wins.
So who do you think will win Superbowl LVIII? Where will you be watching the game of the year in 2024? It will be a great contest between two excellent sides, and we can’t wait to watch how it pans out. Want to see your favourite NFL stars in action in the UK? Check out Engage Hospitality’s range of American Football events including NFL London 2024 at Wembley Stadium. Teams in action include the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings. Don’t miss out!
This weekend marks the halfway stage of the NFL main season and there are already some early contenders who are looking to challenge for the famous Super Bowl title.
In the American Football Conference (AFC) the Jaguars, the Ravens, the Chiefs and the Dolphins all lead the way in their respective divisions while in the National Football Conference (NFC) the Eagles, the 49ers, the Lions and Saints top their divisions. With some unsurprising names at the top of each division, who will go all the way and be crowned with one of the most prestigious sporting titles in the world.
As expected, both the Panthers and the Cardinals have struggled to get their season up and running. With only three wins between them and rock bottom of their respective divisions, it has been a pretty bleak showing for both teams. With that said, their victories have come over teams playing well compared with their corresponding leagues.
The Cardinals managed to see off the Cowboys 28-16 with the Dallas side sitting 2nd in NFC East as well as victory over the Falcons who sit third in NFC South. Meanwhile, the Panthers narrowly beat the Texans 15-13 as the Houston based side sat 2nd in AFC South. With both teams pulling off shock results, can we see them have an improved second half the season and climb up their respective divisions?
At the other end of the divisions, there have been some expected candidates leading the early charge. Philadelphia Eagles find themselves with only one defeat in nine as they top the NFC East. That lone defeat came from the Jets as they present a fairly subpar season so far by the New York side’s standards. One of the favourites going into the season, the Eagles have not disappointed as they look to go one better than runner’s up last time out.
Similarly, the Kansas City Chiefs have also emerged as early leaders, unsurprisingly being the favourites to clinch the title for the second season in a row. With Patrick Mahomes on form this season once again, he will be keen to secure the MVP title for the second season in a row. However, it won’t be easy for the Chiefs as they will be up against it with the other sides all gunning to knock them off their perch.
Somewhat of a surprise contender this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves sitting pretty at the top of AFC South having only lost 3 games.
The Jaguars have been a team to be feared this season, only coming up short to the Texans and the Chiefs before Sunday. Having never won a Super Bowl, they will be very keen to make history this season and build on their strong start to the Regular Season. With that said, they suffered a heavy defeat to the 49ers as they were beaten 34-3 in a thrashing in front of a home crowd on Sunday. They’ll be looking to bounce back quickly if they are to have any chance of fighting for the title.
The Jags also managed two victories in London this season, both at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in another memorable edition of NFL London.
The Jacksonville side will be travelling to London once again in 2024 to play at Wembley Stadium and you can watch it live from the best seats in the house with Engage Hospitality.
American Football descended on London earlier this month, as three action-packed contests took place as part of the traditional NFL London series.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a regular at the event and they took to the field twice, playing the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills, before the Baltimore Ravens and the Tennessee Titans faced off in the final match.
Following the games, we’ve looked back at the key talking points from another incredible event.
Atlanta Falcons 7-23 Jacksonville Jaguars
It was a welcome return to London for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have made the capital a second home in recent years. The Florida-based side have appeared at every NFL event on these shores since 2013 and they treated their British fans to a masterclass earlier this month.
Over 85,000 people were in attendance at Wembley to see Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence steal the show in the first half. The quarterback found Calvin Ridley with a pinpoint throw to set them on their way as they raced into a 17-0 half-time lead thanks to two touchdowns.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder struggled to get going but he bounced back to provide Drake London with a touchdown and get the Falcons back in the game. But it wasn’t enough and the Jaguars held firm to get the NFL London series started in style and end a run of three consecutive defeats at Wembley.
It was the Falcons’ third time in London and while they flew back home disappointed, they regained their form with a narrow win over Houston Texans a week later. Arthur Smith’s side currently sit second in NFC South with a 3-3 record, just below the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who they face this weekend.
In a rematch of their 2015 clash in London, both quarterbacks shone as Lawrence came up against counterpart Josh Allen. The Bills were on a three-match winning streak but fell short in a cagey game that the Jags led 11-7 at half-time.
And Travis Etienne was the difference in the final quarter, running home two touchdowns to seal a 25-20 victory. The Jaguars are now clear at the top of the AFC South with four wins from six games and they face the New Orleans Saints this weekend.
They’re one of just four franchises to have never appeared at the Super Bowl and while there’s a long way to go, their early form will have them dreaming of ending that record in February.
Meanwhile, the Bills were the pre-season favourites to win the AFC East and they got back on track as they saw off the New York Giants earlier this week.
They currently sit in second, behind the imperious Miami Dolphins, who have won five of their opening six games. The pair face off in gameweek 18 in what could prove to be a decisive game.
The Ravens led 18-3 at the break before the Titans fought back in the third quarter thanks to a touchdown from Derrick Henry. But Tucker’s kicking masterclass sealed the game to secure his side top spot in the AFC North.
The Maryland side boast a 4-2 record so far this season but they face a tough test against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, who have won five of their six games so far.
The Titans, meanwhile, came into the London game in poor form and they find themselves bottom of AFC South, the same division as the Jaguars.
With four defeats so far, they desperately need to turn things around if they want to taste success come the end of the season. They’ve got a much-needed week off this weekend before returning to action against the Falcons.
The NFL season is in full swing and we’re all set for the biggest few weeks in the American football calendar – if you live in London, that is! The NFL London Games are back, with three matches across consecutive weekends to look forward to at Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
All teams across the divisions have played at least two matches and following the conclusion of NFL London, we’ll have a much clearer idea of who might be in contention to contest the Super Bowl in February.
The season so far
After winning the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs have started strongly, winning two of their opening three matches. They’ve won seven consecutive AFC West titles and they’re among the favourites to go all the way again this time.
One of their wins came against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who play twice at NFL London. They’ve suffered two defeats so far despite being the pre-season favourites to top the AFC South.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the campaign as outsiders to win the NFC South division as they adjust to life without the retired Tom Brady. They don’t seem to be missing the legendary quarterback too much, winning both of their games so far, although narrowly, with Baker Mayfield impressing since replacing Brady.
It’s not been plain sailing for the Cincinnati Bengals so far. They were well backed to do well this season but they’ve lost both of their matches. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphin and San Francisco 49ers are having fun, with both sides enjoying a 100% start to the season.
The Dolphins broke their franchise record on Monday as they achieved just the fourth ever 70-point game, destroying the Denver Broncos 70-20 thanks to a stunning performance from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
NFL London Games
The NFL returns to London this weekend with the first of three mouth-watering fixtures to look forward to during October. With American football rarely played on this side of the Atlantic, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sport in style with Engage’s exclusive hospitality packages.
Ahead of the action, we’ve taken a closer look at the teams that will be strutting their stuff in the capital in the coming weeks.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Atlanta Falcons – Sunday 1st October, Wembley Stadium
The Jacksonville Jaguars are regulars in London, having appeared at every NFL London series since 2013. Their appearances have seen them develop a following on this side of the pond and their UK-based fans will be hoping they can turn their fortunes around.
Doug Pederson’s side were the favourites to top the AFC South ahead of the season but they’ve had a slow start, winning just one of their opening three games. They face the Atlanta Falcons who have won twice so far, despite being in a tough division alongside the New Orleans Saints.
The Falcons have played in London twice before, losing to the Detroit Lions in 2014 before beating the New York Jets on their return two years ago.
The Jaguars, who are one of just four franchises to have never played in the Super Bowl, come up against the Buffalo Bills in their second NFL London contest. It’s a rematch of their 2015 meeting in London, which the Jaguars edged 34-31.
The Bills are the favourites to top a competitive AFC East this season ahead of the Jets, the imperious Dolphins and the New England Patriots. They got off to a rocky start but have bounced back in their last two games to thrash the Las Vegas Raiders and the Washington Commanders.
They face the Dolphins in a tricky tie this weekend before meeting the Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The final match of the 2023 NFL London Games sees the Tennessee Titans go toe-to-to with the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans are in AFC South alongside the Jaguars and after losing two games so far, they’ll be hoping their luck will change in London.
The Ravens have started strongly with two wins so far and they have quarterback Lamar Jackson to thank. The 26-year-old missed much of last season with a knee injury and despite fears he may leave, he put pen to paper on a bumper new contract earlier this year.
Jackson helped the Ravens to wins in their opening two games but they’re looking to bounce back after coming up short against the Indianapolis Colts at the weekend.
The weekend marked the return of the much anticipated NFL season with 16 games to keep American Football fans entertained. The Super Bowl 2023 Champions kicked off a bumper weekend of action as Kansas City Chiefs played host to Detroit Lions.
However, it wasn’t all plain-sailing for the Chiefs as they saw themselves open their campaign with defeat to the Lions in a close affair. The Lions won 21-20 as 2023 Champions saw their hopes of defending their title take a small blow. Patrick Mahomes, 2023’s MVP, found even his best efforts weren’t enough to get his side over the line.
The quarterback scored two touchdowns as well as passing for 226 yards but it wasn’t enough for the Chiefs. In fact, it was David Montgomery, in his first season for the Lions after moving from Chicago Bear, who was the difference between the sides squeezing through the defensive line to score the deciding touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs, who are unsurprisingly favourites to win the 2024 Super Bowl, will be keen to get back to winning ways as they travel to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars in order to give themselves the best chance of defending their title.
Elsewhere, Philadelphia Eagles saw off the Patriots in a close-fought encounter while Brock Purdy steered San Franciso 49ers to a comfortable victory over the Steelers. The Niners The Buffalo Bills got their season off to a disappointing start as they were beaten by New York Jets. The Jets won the game 22-16 after finishing bottom of the table in the East division last season.
It’s hard to say at this stage who will win the Superbowl but there will be plenty of competition from other sides including the Cowboys with an emphatic 40-0 victory over the Giants with two touchdowns courtesy of Tony Pollard. There are plenty of teams who are hoping to be in with a chance of making it to Nevada.
Not only will Patrick Mahomes be keen to steer his side towards glory once again, he will also be hoping to retain his status as MVP (most valuable player) after being crowned last year. However, it won’t be easy with many hoping to knock him off the top spot including Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagavailoa.
After Jalen Hurts finished a heartbreaking second place in MVP voting last season, he will be hoping to claim the individual title for the Eagles for the first time since Norm Van Brocklin in 1960. Meanwhile teammates Tagavailoa and Herbert will hope they can both carry their side to victory while being the pivotal player in the Dolphins lineup.
Four time MVP winner Aaron Rodgers is out for the season as the New York Jets quarterback suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Widely considered as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, now 40 years old, his remaining playing days in the NFL could be in doubt.
Joe Burrow and Josh Allen will also look to challenge as they hope to help their team’s have a successful campaign. Burrow will be looking to become only the third MVP in Cincinnati Bengals’ history, while Josh Allen will battle it out for the Bills in an effort for the Championship as well.
Experience NFL London with Engage
Here at Engage, we offer brilliant hospitality packages at both the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley. Experience the unforgettable NFL London matches in a special hospitality environment with one of our packages.
Despite having only 17 games per team, the NFL still manages to remain a major topic of conversation in the US throughout the year, even when there are no games to talk about.
It’s a phenomenon that has infiltrated coverage of the Premier League, over the summer months, where fans are arguably more captivated by heated TV debates between ex-pros than live football matches.
This kind of hysteria, which has been amplified in recent years by social media and 24-hour sports news, is nothing new in America. For fans of the NFL, terms like ‘recruitment strategy’ and ‘rebuilds’ have been a part of the sport’s vernacular for more than three decades, and the reason for this is simple – the NFL draft.
Unlike Premier League football clubs, NFL teams don’t have youth academies for nurturing young talent. Instead, all 32 teams are entered into a draft, where they will be able to choose from the best college players in the country.
The draft, as well as player movement in the free agency market, is what dominates NFL discourse during the lengthy off-season. In the regular season, coaching staff and players try everything within their power to win a Super Bowl. During the off-season, however, an organisation is focused on one thing and one thing alone, forming a dynasty – a team that can dominate across multiple seasons. In recent years, fans have been arguably more excited by the prospect of the latter than the former.
This is why so much importance is placed on the draft, which is a bonafide event in the NFL calendar where cities bid to host the ceremony. In April 2023, Kansas City, the home of reigning Super Bowl champs the Chiefs, welcomed the biggest college prospects in the US for the draft.
If a team can recruit wisely in a draft, they can potentially lock down key positions for 10 years in a matter of days. A bad draft, on the other hand, could set a team back for several seasons.
Every year 259 players are drafted into the NFL, where typically the weaker teams will get first dibs on the most promising players, notwithstanding trades. However, when and where a player is picked in the drafting order is not necessarily an indication of how well they will perform in the NFL. Legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who won a record seven Super Bowl titles and three NFL MVP awards was famously picked in the sixth round (199th overall pick) in the 2000 draft.
UK-based fans of the NFL will no doubt have had a keen eye on the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2023 draft, with all-three teams set to feature in the NFL London games this autumn.
The conclusion of the draft has sparked conversations between fans and experts about who will be the big winner of the event. The true victor won’t be known until the players chosen have shown what they can do in future seasons, but it’s still an exciting topic to debate. Below we have profiled the three London-bound teams plus one other standout franchise that made headlines during the draft.
NFL Draft Grades 2023
Buffalo Bills: A
The Bills are genuine Super Bowl contenders going into the 2023 season, despite falling short last year in the AFC Divisional Round.
They boast one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen and going into the draft, they desperately wanted to bolster his receiver options. With their first pick the Bills traded up to the 25th to secure tight end Dalton Kincaid, arguably the best TE on the board.
The Bills were also lightweight in the offensive line meaning Kincaid’s blocking abilities will be a welcome added bonus. In the second round, the Bills picked up guard O’Cyrus Torrence, a player many predicted would go in the first round.
Tennessee Titans: B
The Titans had a lot of issues to address going into this year’s draft following a disappointing 7-10 season, chief among them was the offensive line which is why they selected OL Peter Skoronski with the 11th overall pick.
In the second round, the Titans picked up QB Will Levis, a player some analysts predicted to go in the top 15. The jury is still out on current Titans QB Ryan Tannehill so this may prove to be a shrewd pick in the future, but other positions, namely WR, OT and centre arguably needed addressing more urgently in the draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars: C
With a 9-8 record last season the Jaguars scraped into the playoffs and will be hoping to reach the postseason again this time around. Going into the draft the Jaguars desperately needed to bolster their offensive line to protect QB Trevor Lawrence following the suspension of starting OT Cam Robinson and the loss of Jawaan Taylor (OT) to the Chiefs in free agency.
With their first pick, the Jaguars acquired Anton Harrison, OT, at the bottom of the first round, which should plug the gap in the Jaguars’ offensive line. Another position that required attention for the Jags was cornerback, and in the 6th round, they picked up Christian Braswell, a player many consider to be undersized for his position but has the potential to be effective with his speed as a special teams player.
Philadelphia Eagles A+
Everyone is talking about the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2023 draft and for good reason. The Eagles were on the brink of glory last season and are expected to take the championship in the coming year.
The Eagles had a top-10 draft pick courtesy of a trade with the New Orleans Saints in 2022. With that pick the Eagles selected DT Jalen Carter, the most talented player in the draft in the eyes of many but overlooked by the teams ahead of the Eagles in the draft. They further bolstered their defence with linebacker Nolan Smith, the 30th overall pick although he was predicted to go inside the top 15 according to several pundits.
Even in the third and fourth rounds, the Eagles were picking up potential starters with safety Sydney Brown and CB Kelee Ringo, both of whom were expected to be drafted much sooner than they eventually were.
The rest of the league will be looking upon the Eagles with envy following a stellar draft, only time will tell if their picks will contribute to a Super Bowl crown or dynasty.
Experience NFL London with Engage
Here at Engage, we offer brilliant hospitality packages at both the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley. Experience the unforgettable NFL London matches in a special hospitality environment with one of our packages.
Ever since London hosted it’s first regular season game back in October 2007, British fans have always been teased with the possibility of a permanent NFL franchise in the country.
The Jacksonville Jaguars under the ownership of Shahid Khan, who also owns Premier League team Fulham FC, have become the adopted team for NFL fans. The Florida organisation are crossing the pond a record 9th time in 2022 and Khan has been the dominant voice in exploring the requirements to secure a spot in the NFL as the fan base in London increases for the Jags. His bid to buy Wembley in 2018 was ultimately unsuccessful, but his intentions were clear. Khan saw the business potential to bring NFL to London permanently.
NFL Fan WembleyNFL Wembley
Covid-19 somewhat halted the growth of NFL in the UK with 2020 matches cancelled and the thought process behind international development seems to have shifted.
The Packers complete the set for London
2022 sees the final franchise of 32 in total to play in London. The widely supported Green Bay Packers will make their London debut at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the New York Giants in-line with the NFL’s announcement to ensure every team must play in an international match every 8 years.
Aside from the three matches in London, the NFL have strongly hinted at their future direction of growth, with matches in Munich and Mexico making up the 5 games in the 2022 International Series.
NFL are now actively looking to explore matches in varying locations, seriously hindering the logic behind a permanent team back in London.
As it stands, the appetite appears to not be there for an NFL franchise to be in London, but with tickets selling out as quick as ever for the three London matches, there’s no doubting the demand and the fanbase over in the UK.
Sunday 13 November | Seattle Seahawks v Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Allianz Arena, Munich
Monday 21 November | San Francisco 49ers v Arizona Cardinals | Estadio Azteca, Mexico
NFL Hospitality at Wembley
Wembley Stadium, a venue steeped in history, is the iconic home of English Football. The site where England clinched the 1966 World Cup, their one and only football major honour.
The construction on the new stadium began in 2002 costing in the region of £1 billion. A truly state of the art development the new Wembley is the largest venue in the UK with a capacity of 90,000. It offers an attendee everything from coffee shops to fine dining establishments.
The home of football doesn’t just host the English version of the game, it hosts American Football as well!
The ICON facility is the perfect way to watch the NFL, with stunning views and easy access to your seats, bar and food.
This is in our famous pitchview restaurant with a glass fronted suite so you don’t miss any of the action.
Enjoy the facility three hours before the match starts, soaking up the pre-match atmosphere in a relaxed, informal environment. Perfect for hosting clients or treating friends and family.
