NFL 2018 INTERNATIONAL SERIES GAME 1 -- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS vs OAKLAND RAIDERS

Sunday 14th October

Seattle Seahawks vs Oakland Raiders @ Wembley Stadium



The 1st of this seasons international games will take place at Wembley on Sunday and begins the three scheduled game series in London. Owing to issues with Tottenham Hotspur new football stadium all of the three London games will now be played at Wembley Stadium instead. Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 6.00pm (Uk Time) and is expected to be broadcast live on BBC2 which is a wonderful show of support for the sport from the Broadcaster on top of their two weekly update shows. To put on a live show in the evening and commit the schedule to potentially 3-4 hours worth of sport is something they have only done once before and that was on the now defunct BBC3 freeview channel. The other live games are on BBC2 at 2pm on subsequent Sundays and will probably move to the Red Button option for UK Viewers depending on how the game is progressing.  

Current season record 

  Seattle Seahawks
    - P5 W2 L3 F116 A114
  Oakland Raiders
    - P5 W1 L4 F107 A149

Head Coach - Jon Gruden

Most of the early season news from the Seattle Seahawks has been about the off field stories of Mychal Kendricks who faces a sentence for insider trading having already pleaded guilty to the charge. Possible that this sentence will not be until January but until then he is on a week to week contract for this season. On the field however quarterback Russell Wilson will be busy and their defence has one of the best interception rates in the NFL however their opening season record is very close and it's likely to be tight again. Oakland Raiders have started the season with one win after losing their first three but lost again last week heavily to the Los Angeles Chargers meaning both teams come here on the back of defeats. They both have a similar looking offence and it could be a tight game with the bookies slightly favouring the Seahawks. Key player to watch Marshawn Lynch plain and simple, the 32-year-old running back has been one of the most dynamic and consistent players in the NFL and has an incredible record in the opening half of games. Seahawks to win and over 48 points in the match, also backing the over 24 points score at half time too. 

Both teams will have a BYE week to recover from their travels in Week 7 after this match. 

This is the first international series game that the Seattle Seahawks have played here at Wembley their opponents however have been in London before in 2014 losing 38-14 to the Miami Dolphins. It will be a full house and the crowd will be roaring both teams home. Expect the stadium to be full of shirts of ALL NFL teams (they'll be a few Chelsea and Manchester United football shirts too no doubt) We will aim to keep a brief summary of each quarter as the game progresses, should be a great start to this series of UK fixtures which will surely grow until we have our own regular season NFL franchise. 

Head Coach - Pete Carroll

For those of you not coming to Wembley this Sunday afternoon pleased to confirm you can watch the match live on the BBC, it's on their BBC2 channel from 5:30pm and sure that Mark Chapman will host with plenty of guests. Also ensure you catch all the build up and highlights of matches played earlier on their regular Saturday night NFL Show with Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora joining in the fun this season have a great day all.


1st Quarter;
Oakland win the coin toss and elect to kick off the first half, Matt McCrane kicks off and we are underway in London the ball is returned to the 18 yard line and Russell Wilson begins their first drive. Electing to run the first few plays of the drive and Chris Carson gets the first down and Mike Davis takes it up towards the half way line. The first downs continue with the first play thrown by Wilson for 20+ yards and the Seahawks are threatening the end zone already. This 82 yard drive results in the first score and a 5yd touchdown pass to Jaron Brown with ex Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski adding the extra point for a 7-0 lead. 

The Raiders take over on the 25 yard line and Derek Carr tries to get them moving but after three failed runs they have to punt on their first drive, the punt is poor and only reaches the 46 yard line and the Seahawks can take advantage of that although penalised on the first play losing 10 yards making it 1st and 20 and another offensive penalty immediately makes it 1st and 30 so that good field position has just been lost and they have to punt away themselves Michael Dickson kicks to the 12 yard line. Just over three mins of the first quarter to go, Marshawn Lynch has his first carry and gets the first down though negated by a Raiders holding penalty and it's 1st and 20 again, costly penalties here early on and Carr gets away with a sack too and the ball is turned over by the Seahawks after another Carr sack and fumble around the 25 yard line. Opening quarter ends with the Seahawks on the Raiders 20 yard line and leading 7-0. 

2nd Quarter;
Only took the Seahawks three plays before Wilson found David Moore for their second touchdown a 19 yard pass the extra point is good and it's 14-0 early in the second quarter. Raiders begin to struggle but a big play converted on 3rd down and 19 was a 21 yard run by Jalen Richard gets them moving, into the Seahawks half for the first time and Derek Carr scrambles himself to the 20 yard line and sets up a chance for the Raiders to score until he's sacked yet again in this half and the field goal unit is called upon, Matt McCrane tries from 48 yards but fails missing to the left. Seattle fail on their next drive and give Derek Carr another chance in this half as long as he doesn't get sacked anymore, needs bit more help from his offensive line. Two mins to go they trail by two scores and need to get into field goal range at least to take something from this half, alas they have a 4th and 1 chance but Derek Carr fails and that gives the ball back to Seattle with less than forty seconds to go before the half ends but two time outs gives them a chance of at least getting into field goal range. Sebastian Janikowski attempts from 44 yards and is successful as the half ends 17-0. 

H/T Score;   Seattle Seahawks 17 -- 0 Oakland Raiders

3rd Quarter;
The second half will see Seattle kick off Sebastian Janikowski sending the ball to the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders will start on their 25 yard line. Derek Carr gets sacked twice and the second of these is a fumble where the Seahawks recover the ball at the 11 yard line, another 10 yard offensive penalty moves them back to the 21 yard line but still in good field position though they have to settle for another Janikowski field goal to go 20-0 up. Too many penalties and sacks this game just hasn't really got going and is low in quality but the Seahawks making the most of their chances and look home and dry already.

4th Quarter;
Russell Wilson begins the final quarter with a 10 yard pass to Tyler Lockett for yet another touchdown (extra point is good) to extend the lead and now the game seems safe it's a case of whether they can ensure a shut out. Derek Carr makes a few first downs and also carries himself to the 20 yard line can they finally get into the endzone and then typically gets sacked again and appears injured before that they had managed a 44 yard field goal to finally get on the scoreboard.

A quiet end to a game that was never really going and far too many penalties for us. Hopefully the other two games in London will be more entertaining though. 

F/T Score;    Seattle Seahawks 27 -- 3 Oakland Raiders.