NFL INTERNATIONAL SERIES 2021 - NY JETS @ ATLANTA FALCONS [Sunday 10th October]

The new NFL season is a month in but this weekend we will have the first of the two NFL International London Games, they are both being held at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium (Below) over the coming two Sunday afternoon's. Let's get straight into the opening game and it's the New York Jets against the Atlanta Falcons which will be played this Sunday 10th October and kick off will be at 2:30pm there will be highlights of this game shown on BBC late in the evening. 

The new stadium still on the old site of White Hart Lane has a capacity of 62,850, 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 10th October
NY Jets vs Atlanta Falcons @ Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The last meeting back in August 2019 saw a win for the NY Jets 22-10. Should be another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 2:30pm (Uk Time). 

Current season record 

  New York Jets
    - P4 W1 L3 F47 A94
  Atlanta Falcons
    - P4 W1 L3 F78 A128

Head Coach - Arthur Smith

Week 5 of the regular season and while both teams are "away" in London technically this is a home fixture for Atlanta Falcons of the NFC South Division. The Falcons with head coach Arthur Smith calling the plays from the sidelines will have experienced Quarterback Matt Ryan leading things for the offence on the field of play. Atlanta played against the Washington Football Team last weekend (losing 34-30) and arrive with a losing record so far for the season after week four (W1-L3) in the NFC South. Atlanta Falcons key players to watch (other than the QB Matt Ryan) include in the defensive unit A.J. Terrell is the clear top corner for Atlanta, he is a player they should build around for years to come. He has recovered from a concussion suffered in week two on an athletic play made by him. Grady Jarrett joins in at defensive tackle. The offence include two good running backs in Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson.

The New York Jets (AFC East) led by head coach Robert Saleh who is in his first season with the Jets, and that also applies to their starting Quarterback Zach Wilson who was the second draft pick and finding life difficult with the Jets as he learns. They have a losing record having struggled last season too, maybe a trip to London can spark some revival. Last weekend they were home against Tennessee Titans winning in overtime [27-24] and have a 1-3 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 Falcons. I hope we will see an open game, and hopefully it'll be full of exciting high scoring plays. Key players to watch (other than the QB) first of all in the defensive unit Quinnen Williams, who plays as a defensive tackle with the experienced Marcus Maye at safety. The offensive side ought to see Mekhi Becton, offensive lineman and Corey Davis, wide receiver. 

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

Previous visits to London?
Atlanta Falcons (NFC South) have been involved in one previous game at Wembley, a narrow defeat by the Detroit Lions (22-21) in 2014. This is also only the second international series game that the New York Jets (AFC East) will have played, nearly 84,000 saw them here in London six years ago at Wembley when they beat Miami Dolphins (27-14) back in October 2015.

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 an Atlanta Falcons win and over 42+ points in the match, also backing the over 21+ points score at half time too. 

1st Quarter;
The New York Jets kick off in London as Matt Ammendola sends the ball into the Atlanta end zone so the Matt Ryan and his Falcons offence begin on their 25 yard line. Ryan gets the Falcons moving and a big sign from them as they go for it on fourth-and-one and it's just a give to Cordarelle Paterson who barges to the first down and a bit extra in a powerful run from Atlanta. The drive fails at the 11yd line though and they have to settle for an opening field goal, kicker Younghoe Koo is successful from 31yds 3-0 falcons. Zach Wilson has no joy on his opening drive and the Jets are forced to punt early doors, back with the Falcons again. Matt Ryan executes a 10 play drive for 87 yards which culminates in a short right pass to Kyle Pitts from 2 yards for the touchdown, Atlanta go 10-0 ahead in the opening quarter. The Jets just cannot secure a first down and again punt it away as the first quarter ends. 

2nd Quarter;
The Falcons have the ball at the start of the second quarter, on their own 23yd line. Wasting no time at all they reach the Jets 17yd line with the help of some penalties and a great catch by Kyle Pitts and look set to extend their lead already. Pass is complete to Hayden Hurst for another touchdown, the extra point is good and that's 17-0 now. Still no first down for New York as Wilson buries a pass into the ground on the first play then hauls one long for Corey Davis on second down but it's picked off by Jaylinn Hawkins. That's Wilson's ninth interception of his short NFL career, just five games in, clearly frustrated at the Jets' lack of offense thus far today. Atlanta with the ball again, but not for long as Hayden Hurst fumbles a pass from Ryan and it's back with the Jets, perhaps a bit of fortune at last for them. Yeah at last a first down play for Wilson, passing 14yds to Corey Davis, and more as the Jets finally start to move the chains regularly up to the Falcons 16yard line now, three minutes left in the half can the Jets get something no the board here? Stopped short of the goal line and having to settle for a field goal instead from 31yds by Matt Ammendola. Still two minutes to go and that's enough time to get the Falcons back down into the Jets half, where with 2 seconds left on the half kicker Koo completes a 52 yard field goal to end the half 3-20 in the Falcons favour. 

H/T Score;   NY Jets  3 - 20  Atlanta Falcons.
A one sided opening half of action so far, Falcons well on top and the Jets just cannot get a play away until the last few mins of the half but at least they are on the board now.

Some stats, unsurprisingly all in Atlanta's favour after a dominant first half, with Matt Ryan and Kyle Pitts the stars. Pitts has six catches for 64 yards and a score.

  Matt Ryan: 189 passing yards, two TDs

    Falcons: 62 rushing yards

  Zach Wilson: 42 passing yards, 1 INT

    Jets: 38 rushing yards

3rd Quarter;
The Jets receive this half and make an immediate impact, a 65 yard kick off return by Tevin Coleman helps to set up a 1yd Touchdown for Ty Johnson, though the extra point hits the posts it's got NY back into this. Atlanta a forced into an ugly punt and the Jets get it back again quickly, Wilson tries to find Corey Davis in the end zone but it's incomplete, they return to the rushing game instead, unable to make the yards they have to punt it away too. Atlanta look to have good position on their next drive until it's fumbled by Mike Davis within site of the red zone and recovered by the Jets, but they fail again to make anything of that and punt it away once again as the 3rd quarter comes to an end. Plenty of errors, no surprise these teams have only one success each so far this season.
4th Quarter;
Atlanta Falcons have the ball for the final quarter of this London match, an 11 point lead, can they extend it here. Matt Ryan gets the moving slowly but surely into the Jets half, using up the clock with plenty of small rushing gains, a penalty on Matt Hennessy brings things back though and a punt gives the ball back to the Jets on their own 10yd line. Some big plays finally by Zach Wilson, completions to Keelan Cole (23 yards) and then Denzel Mims (27 yards) moves them quickly forward, he then goes deep looking for Elijah Moore and he picks up a pass interference call on the 2 yard line and finally they look like making this interesting. Michael Carter goes across the line for the touchdown which they also succeed with the 2pt conversion making it 17-20 with seven mins to go. The Falcons have not scored a point this half, could it be a shock come back? Well the kick off is returned to the 25 yard line from where Matt Ryan launches it 39 yards to Kyle Pitts and Atlanta look dangerous again. With time on the clock, the two-minute warning and all timeouts still available there's plenty of this game still to play. Another first down on 3rd and 13 from Ryan there are now on the Jets 24yd line, progressing closer inside the ten, a touchdown surely secures the win. Mike Davis goes in from 3yds for another score with the extra point giving the Falcons a ten point lead now with two minutes left. The Jets did make an effort and got down the red zone again but a big sack on Zach Wilson and no time left means they take the field goal and will attempt an on-side kick, which if it fails that's the end of the contest. Olamide Zaccheaus recovers the kick for the Falcons and that's the end of the game, Falcons win and go 2-3. 

F/T Score;   NY Jets  20 - 27  Atlanta Falcons.

The next game in London will be on Sunday 17th October again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and is between Miami Dolphins and London regulars Jacksonville Jaguars.