NFL INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2021 - MIAMI DOLPHINS @JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS [Sunday 17th October]

The new NFL season has reached week six, and this weekend we will have the second of the two NFL International London Games, they are both being held at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium (pictured below) over the these past two Sunday afternoon's. Let's get into the second game and it's the Miami Dolphins against the Jacksonville Jaguars which will be played this Sunday 17th October and kick off will be at 2:30pm Uk time this match will be shown LIVE on the BBC 2 channel this afternoon. 

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, a removable pitch, unrestricted sightlines for the fans, great atmosphere and will be host for at least 10 years with the likelihood of a UK Franchise in the future.

Sunday 17th October
Miami Dolphins vs Jacksonville Jaguars @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 2:30pm (Uk Time). 

Current season record 

  Miami Dolphins
    - P5 W1 L4 F79 A154
  Jacksonville Jaguars
    - P5 W0 L5 F93 A152

Week 6 of the regular season and while both teams are "away" in London technically this is a home fixture for Miami Dolphins of the AFC East Division. The Dolphins with head coach Brian Flores calling the plays from the side lines. Miami had been missing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, during Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa suffered an apparent rib injury early in the game, and was carted off the field on a motorized stretcher. He was later ruled out the rest of the game as the Dolphins lost 35–0. Tagovailoa was later ruled out for the Dolphins Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders and then placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2021. If he's still unlikely to feature then Jacoby Brissett should step in, he signed with the Dolphins as a free agent prior to the 2021 season. 

Miami played against Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend, and were soundly beaten 45-17 by the current Champions they will arrive with a losing record so far for the season after week five (W1-L4) in the AFC East. The Dolphins’ defence boasts one of the top cornerback duos in all of football with Byron Jones and Xavien Howard, but both have been struggling with injuries recently, so look out for Noah Igbinoghene taking the step up and needs to show what he can do. Their offence is yet to fire but the pair of Mike Gesicki (Tight End) and DeVante Parker (Wide Receiver) would seem to be the focus.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South) led by head coach Urban Meyer who is in his first season with the Jaguars, and is looking likely to lose that position as recent social media scandals means his short tenure is already at stake, the losing record won't help that either. Also in his first season is their starting Quarterback Trevor Lawrence the 22yo was the first draft pick in 2021 and finding life difficult with the Jaguars as he learns. They have a losing record having struggled most of last season too, maybe a trip to London can spark some revival. Last weekend they were home against Tennessee Titans losing again 37-19 and now have a 0-5 losing record for the season so far. This will be a difficult game for them as they pack their kit for a trip to London against the Dolphins. I hope we will see an open game, and hopefully it'll be full of exciting high scoring plays. Key players to watch wide receivers Tyron Johnson and Marvin Jones Jr, while the defence has experience with the likes of Adam Gotsis and Malcolm Brown, can they get their first win of the season while in London?

Both teams will then have a bye week [week 7] to recover from their travels following these international matches which is a common theme to these London games.

Previous visits to London?

Jacksonville’s seven-season run of playing in the UK was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic last year, but they return to face a Miami outfit improving quickly under the tutelage of Brian Flores. Jaguars have a W3 L4 record here in London but have a 10 years deal to appear each season and I hope they continue long after that. The Dolphins record is not that much better W1 L4 they are making a fifth appearance in London and take on a Jaguars side strengthened by new head coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Trevor Lawrence, they will be looking to score only their second win in London.

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. 

Neither side are in particular great form coming into this so I'm going for a surprise Jacksonville first win of the season and over 46+ points in the match, also backing the over 23+ points score at half time too. QB Trevor Lawrence to score a touchdown himself is 10/3 and worth a go too.

1st Quarter;
Jacksonville Jaguars kick us off this afternoon with kicker Logan Cooke standing in for the injured Josh Lambo, the kick reaches the end zone so it's a touchback and the Dolphins will start on their own 25 yard line. Tua Tagovailoa does start today even if he is still carrying a rib injury but is busy with the pass offense moving the Dolphins up the field and into the red zone with the opening drive, including a run himself to the six yard line. Jaylen Waddle runs it in for the opening touchdown score here in London. 13 play drive, for 85 yards. Over to the Jaguars for their first drive and time to see what first draft pick Trevor Lawrence can do, good first play by Jamal Agnew picking up 24 yards for a first down. Then another throw to Dan Arnold for 19 yards to take the Jaguars inside the 30 yard line of the Dolphins. Unable to take full advantage they have to settle for a field goal by Matthew Wright from 40 yards and it's 7-3. Back with the Dolphins for their second drive from their 19 yard line, Mike Gesicki picks up a big gain to the 40yd line. Tua goes off at 3rd down and replaced by Jacoby Brissett who immediately throws a completion to Durham Smythe for 25 yards, less than a minute to play in the first quarter.

2nd Quarter;
Continuing their second drive, the Dolphins are stopped in the red zone and have to settle for a Jason Sanders 33 yard field goal to extend their lead 10-3. Big penalty on the start of the Jaguars next drive really doesn't help them get away and they soon have to punt for the first time today. Miami get it back on their own 35 yard line make a little progress but have to punt it away themselves, a let off for Jacksonville, who will have it again on their own 13 yard line. No joy again for Lawrence and a poor punt means that Miami have it inside their opponents half. They go for it on 4th and 2 and succeed giving them another chance inside the red zone again, more missed opportunities and another Sanders field goal is all they have show for this drive 13-3. Jaguars lucky not to be well behind and really need a score before half time to keep them in the game. Lawrence starts to move things, securing a first down for a change, and will need to do something to give their defence a rest. Great run by James Robinson 28 yard gain is wiped off by an offensive penalty call. These penalties are killing their efforts so far, but they do make another first down on the next play and move inside the Dolphins half, unable to make any more movement and the penalty takes them out of reasonable field goal range too. Cooke punts it away again to the Miami 3yd line and we've just over two mins of the first half left. Lawrence also has to go for it on a long 4th and 6 but make it for a first down with less than a minute left, needing a score here and a long thrown to Marvin Jones in the end zone and it's complete. 13-10 with the extra point good.
H/T Score;   Miami Dolphins  13 - 10  Jacksonville Jaguars.

3rd Quarter;
Jacksonville will receive the ball in the second half, very much game on. Only takes five plays to move it 65yds and score a touchdown from James Robinson right after he makes a tremendous 24yd run to the 1yd line, and the Jaguars have the lead. Miami start to struggle with big penalties too now and they have to punt away on their opening drive of this half, ball back with the Jaguars, who can try and put further distance between the two if they score. Robinson is enjoying this half and keeps picking up rushing yards to secure more first downs, even QB Lawrence is getting moving too and picks up 12yds for another 1st down, they are quickly at the Miami 32yd line now, don't look like they will stop now. Well the first turnover of the game, Lawrence has the ball battered out of his hands and Miami pounce on the ball ... but the very next play Tua throws an interception to give it straight back, Nevin Lawson able to jump and take in a simple catch to an under powered throw. All going Jaguars way now with barely a minute left in the third quarter.
4th Quarter;
Jacksonville start the final quarter with the ball again on the Miami 16yd line. They risk a play on 4th down and 2, but fail to make it and the gamble fails it's back with Miami, should have kicked the field goal there, bad call. Two big runs from Mike Gesicki quickly gets Miami up to the half way line, but they'll need a touchdown to regain the lead here. Jaylen Waddle goes in for the touchdown from 2yds after more penalty calls by the Jacksonville defence. 20-17 in favour of Miami but plenty of time in the 4Q here and game is tight. Miami fail with back to back challenges and lose two time outs as a result, Jacksonville have the ball on their 20yd line, and three points down. Robinson gets them a first down to move the Jags forward again, he's had a solid game so far. Important play on 3rd and 9 and a catch on the side lines by Marvin Jones picks up 20yds. They have to settle for a 54yd field goal to level up the game, still just under four minutes to go. They stop the Miami offense short of a first down but cannot make it count as Lawrence gets sacked for a loss, 4th and long and looking at a 60+ yard field goal, or a huge final 'hail mary' play? Miami burn their final time out but I think we are heading for overtime now ... or are we as Jacksonville gain 9yds on a quick catch and time out which allows them to then score a last second winner with a 53yd field goal to end their huge losing run here in London.
F/T Score;  Miami Dolphins  20 - 23  Jacksonville Jaguars.

Only the two games this season here in London, hopefully we will see a return to more fixtures this side of the pond, always packed out, usually very entertaining and everything I hear from the players that have come is that they look forward to the visit too.

Jacksonville win at last, a last second winning field goal, they might now be 1-5 but that's a huge win for the rookie QB.