NFL announces packed five-game international schedule for 2023
NFL announces packed five-game international schedule for 2023, with the Jaguars playing TWICE in London, and the Super Bowl champion Chiefs taking on the Patriots in Frankfurt
- The NFL is returning to London and heading to Frankfurt, Germany in 2023
- Pick of the games is Super Bowl champion Chiefs facing Dolphins in Germany
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play back-to-back games in London and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs face the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt as part of the NFL’s 2023 international slate.
It features five playoff teams from last season, as the NFL hits London for the first three weeks of October before moving to Germany for consecutive weekends in November.
The Jaguars have been regulars in London since 2013, with owner Shahid Khan regularly docking his superyacht Kismet in London before watching his Premier League side Fulham and the Jaguars in the capital.
The Jaguars will nominally play host to the Atlanta Falcons on October 1 at Wembley, before travelling to play the Buffalo Bills as the away team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8.
The third game in London sees the Tennessee Titans face the Baltimore Ravens at Tottenham on October 15.
The NFL’s international schedule for the 2023 season has been revealed – with three games set to be held in London in October
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play back-to-back games in England, at Wembley and Tottenham
Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs will face Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt
Attention then turns to Frankfurt, with the Chiefs playing the Dolphins on November 5 and the New England Patriots playing the Indianapolis Colts on November 12.
Khan attempted to buy Wembley in 2018 and called it the Jags ‘home away from home’ before last year’s defeat by the Denver Broncos.
That loss sparked an unlikely turnaround, with the Jags going from 2-6 to 9-8 and a place in the playoffs, where they lost against the Chiefs in the divisional round.
It was rumored that the Jaguars were due to play in London on consecutive weekends in 2020, but the Covid-hit season kiboshed that idea.
President Mark Lamping hinted that the Jags would have an extended stay in England, telling the Florida Times-Union last month: ‘The stars are aligning with the Jaguars’ home schedule and the NFL schedule of London games for the first time.
‘There’s a much greater likelihood this year we could be asked to play as a visitor.’
Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence said: ‘We are excited to again compete in the NFL’s International Games and face off against the Falcons and Bills in London.
The Union Jack is held alongside the Star-Spangled Banner at last year’s NFL London game
Wembley has been a regular host for NFL games. Pictured: The Jaguars playing the San Francisco 49ers under the arch in 2013
NFL’S INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE IN 2023
October 1: Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Wembley Stadium (Week 4)
October 8: Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Week 5)
October 15: Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Week 6)
November 5: Miami Dolphins vs Kansas City Chiefs, Frankfurt Stadium (Week 9)
November 12: Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots, Frankfurt Stadium (Week 10)
‘Hosting the Falcons at Wembley Stadium will be awesome only to be followed by playing on the road against the Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I’m pumped for the experience and know the support from Duval will be strong at both games.’
UK GM Henry Hodgson added: ‘To see the Jacksonville Jaguars extend their stay in the UK and play two regular season games here this year is indicative of the Jags’ commitment to continuing to grow their fanbase here long-term.
‘We have staged games in London since 2007, with interest and momentum in the sport here in the UK rising year on year and look forward to giving fans the best NFL experience yet in 2023.’
The Atlanta Falcons have played in England twice before, a thrilling 22-21 loss against the Detroit Lions in 2014. Atlanta were up 21-0 at half-time but crashed to defeat by a 48-yard field goal as time expired. Seven years later they beat the New York Jets 27-20 at Tottenham.
After drafting running back Bijan Robinson, hopes will be high in Atlanta that the run-first Falcons can do better that last season’s fourth-placed finish in the dismal NFC South.
The Bills have undergone a rapid turnaround under head coach Sean McDermott, going from perennial underachievers to perennial playoff underachievers.
The fixture is the first repeat game after the Bills beat Jacksonville at Wembley in 2015.
There has been a growing movement to expand the NFL game in London since 2007
New York Giants players Graham Gano and Jamie Gillan take a photo on the Tottenham field
Titans fans may get the chance to see Will Levis play in the flesh after Tennessee traded up to draft the quarterback as the 33rd overall pick.
Tennessee have played once at Wembley before, losing against the Chargers in 2018.
‘We are excited to represent the NFL in London this season,’ said Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. ‘I really enjoyed our experience during our last visit. The energy in the stadium and the atmosphere surrounding the game was impressive, and I am looking forward to being part of that again.’
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave a more earthy appraisal of his team’s previous trip overseas – a 44-7 whooping by the Jaguars at Wembley in 2017.
That defeat and experience of playing overseas suitably enraged Harbaugh to bark in the bowels of Wembley Stadium: ‘To be honest with you – and maybe I’ll get into trouble for saying this – don’t plan on going over there any time soon to play again.
‘So, somebody else can have that job,’ he snapped.
Having agreed on Lamar Jackson’s contract extension, the Ravens will look to return to the playoffs in the ultra-competitive AFC North.
After winning their second Super Bowl in four years, the Chiefs are the biggest draw of this year’s international slate.
The Jaguars are heading to Wembley and Tottenham this year, for their 10th year in London
The logos of all the NFL teams are shown on Wembley Way prior to the 2022 game
With quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid, even the Chiefs press conferences are box office. On the field, they are sensational.
Having reached three of the last four Super Bowls, German fans are in for a treat with the Dolphins undergoing a renaissance under head coach Mike McDaniel.
And finally, the Patriots are well versed in facing any opponent under the stewardship of Bill Belichick. They will make their debut on German soil against the Indianapolis Colts, who may or may not have No 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson playing quarterback.
‘The confirmed matchups in Germany will make for two very exciting games for fans this November and we are delighted to be playing both games in Frankfurt, a city rich in NFL history and with a significant NFL fan following,’ added Dr Alexander Steinforth, GM NFL Germany.
‘The League extends our sincere thanks to our partners at the DFL (Bundesliga), the City of Frankfurt and Eintracht Frankfurt in supporting these two games, and we are excited to see Frankfurt Stadium host such iconic teams in our sport in the fall.’
There will not be a game at Mexico City this year due to renovations at the Azteca Stadium.
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