NFL 2019 INTERNATIONAL LONDON GAME 1 -- CHICAGO BEARS vs OAKLAND RAIDERS

The new NFL season is a month in but this weekend we will have the first of the four NFL International London Games, the first two of which will be at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium (Below) and then there are two further games at Wembley to enjoy. Let's get straight into the opening game and it's the Chicago Bears against the Oakland Raiders which will be played this Sunday 5th October and kick off will be at 6pm which will coincide with the early afternoon games in the USA. The games will be on SKY and the NFL sites, only the two Wembley Games will be on free to air BBC channels and on their websites. 

The new stadium still on the old site of White Hart Lane has a capacity of 62,062, making it one of the largest stadiums in the English Premier League and the largest club stadium in London. It has been designed with the NFL in mind and will be host for at least 10 years with the likelihood of a UK Franchise in the future. 

Sunday 6th October
Chicago Bears vs Oakland Raiders @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 6.00pm (Uk Time). 

Current season record 

  Oakland Raiders
    - P4 W2 L2 F79 A102
  Chicago Bears
    - P4 W3 L1 F66 A45

Head Coach - Jon Gruden

Week 5 of the regular season and while both teams are "away" in London technically this is a home fixture for Oakland Raiders of the AFC West Division. The Raiders with head coach Jon Gruden calling the plays from the sidelines will have Quarterback Derek Carr leading things for the offence on the field of play. Oakland played at the Indianapolis Colts last weekend (won 31-24) and arrive with an even record after week four (W2-L2) and when you concede 25 points per game on average you will need to tighten up the defence else their play off hopes are going to vanish fast even this early in the season. Oakland Raiders key players to watch (other than the QB Derek Carr) included Tyrell Williams (Wide Receiver) and for the defence Johnathan Hankins (Defensive Tackle).

Head Coach - Matt Nagy

The Chicago Bears (NFC North) led by head coach Matt Nagy and Quarterback Mitch Trubisky need to show they are more than a decent defence and before they pack their kit for a trip to London will face a difficult game against the Minnesota Vikings (result 16-6 win) although games in London do tend to be a lot more open than traditional home/away fixtures, I expect an open game, and hopefully it'll be full of exciting high scoring plays. Key players to watch (other than the QB) Bilal Nichols (Defensive Lineman) and for the offence is Adam Shaheen (Tight End) if they can both stay fit this season should have a big say in how the Bears fare. *Update* during their win at Minnesota quarterback Mitch Trubisky went off injured in the first quarter with a shoulder injury so doubtful for this match, was replaced by Chase Daniel who is likely to start as a result. 

Both teams will then have a bye week [week 6] to recover from their travels following these matches.

Previous visits to London?
Oakland have been involved in FOUR International games, twice travelling to Mexico and twice here in London where they have lost on both occasions a 38-14 defeat against Miami Dolphins (2014) and a 27-3 loss to Seattle Seahawks (2018) so maybe it'll be third time lucky in London for the Raiders. This is the 2nd international series game that the Chicago Bears (NFC North) having played here in London eight years ago at Wembley when they beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers (24-18) in Oct 2011.

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 (there might be a few Tottenham Hotspur fans around too I suspect). 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. 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. 

I'm going for a Chicago Bears win and over 40+ points in the match, also backing the over 20+ points score at half time too. 

1st Quarter;
We've just had the coin toss, with Tottenham striker Harry Kane who is a big NFL fan keeping a close eye on proceedings so now the ceremonies are over the crowd is ready and its Chicago to kick so we'll soon see this awesome Bears defence in action. Pat O'Donnell kicks off to get us underway in the first of four games here in London. Very little to speak off yet as the 1st quarter comes to the end Oakland Raiders take the lead with a 12yd Touchdown run from running back Josh Jacobs (Daniel Carlson kicks the extra point) and it's 0-7.
2nd Quarter;
Chase Danial, standing in for the injured Mitch Trubisky, is not having a great day early on and is intercepted in their first drive of the 2nd Q, allowing the Raiders another opportunity to score, which they do a few plays later with a 3yd rush from running back DeAndré Washington and it's 0-14 once Carlson converts the extra again. Chicago can't get going at all and another Daniel Carlson kick, this time a 41yd field goal, extends the lead to 0-17 as the half time draws near.

H/T Score;   Chicago Bears  0 -- 17  Oakland Raiders.
Chicago have only completed 44 yards this half compared to Oakland's 208 and Chase Danial has a lot to do in the second half to get the Bears back into this.

3rd Quarter;
Oakland make a big mistake and turnover the ball losing it on their own 14 yard line (fumble by Derek Carr, recovered by Khalil Mack). Chicago take it in from just a yard out as David Montgomery runs in. Eddy Pineiro adds the kick and the Bears are right back in this 7-17. Chicago are back on another drive soon after starting on their own 11yd line, 11 plays later they have moved 80yds down the field and looking at a 1st and Goal which is soon converted into a touchdown by Chase Danial who passes to Allen Robinson from 4yds and the score is 14-17 it's game on now with just under four minutes left in the third quarter. Suddenly the turnaround is well and truly completed, Allen Robinson didn't have a touchdown catch all season. He's just claimed two inside three minutes. Chase Daniel lofts it up to the pylon, where Robinson plucks it out of the sky and for the first time this evening the Chicago Bears take the lead!
4th Quarter;
So far the final quarter has been all about Oakland missing chances, a drive all the way into the Chicago red zone ends with a fumble and a recovery for the Bears then the Raiders think they have an interception only to find the play called back for a foul on the Quarterback, seems harsh but with eight mins to go there's plenty in this still. 

Raiders go for broke on fourth down and Erik Harris fumbles. But the officials rule he was down by contact so it's Oakland's ball and the Raiders keep rolling, with Derek Carr making a 23-yard throw to tight end Foster Moreau followed by a 16-yard grab again by Moreau taking Oakland to Chicago's two-yard line at the two-minute warning. Josh Jacobs finishes the job with his second touchdown of the night, leaping over the top to complete a 97-yard drive in 13 plays. Oakland retake the lead with under two mins left. Was that a game-winning drive orchestrated by Derek Carr?

F/T Score;    Chicago Bears  21 -- 24  Oakland Raiders.

The next game in London will be on Sunday 13th October again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and is between Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers.