The NFL London experience as Bears blow out Jags

London’s balling – as is Chicago!

The second London game of the 2024 NFL season saw the UK’s de facto side – the Jacksonville Jaguars – return to familiar territory in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Jags often have the backing of the crowd in London, but that was not the case on Sunday. The Chicago Bears fans made sure it felt like a true home game for their team.

When the Bears started the game with two three-and-outs, and the Jags put together a smart-looking opening drive, things looked concerning for Chicago.

Caleb Williams had shown glimpses of his talent through five weeks, but in London he really turned things on.

This year’s number one overall pick threw for 226 yards through the air and added another 56 on the ground.

Those 226 yards included four touchdowns – making him the first QB with four or more in a game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

.@CALEBcsw with the double fake and finds @ColeKmet for the touchdown in London ‼️

📺: #JAXvsCHI on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/9Vky68cIuB

— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2024

D’Andre Swift looked good, Keenan Allen rolled back the years and Cole Kmet scored a couple touchdowns at tight end. Smiles all around for Chicago.

Things were very different on the other sideline.

Pederson under pressure

Untimely penalties. Countless drops. Head-scratching interceptions. There was a lot not to like about the Jaguars’ performance on Sunday.

Even the opening drive, which offered so much promise, ended in three points rather than the touchdown it deserved.

That key drop was by Gabe Davis, but he was not alone. Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Kirk also appeared to have doused their gloves in grease pre-game.

In fact, the Jaguars dropped four different passes which would have resulted in touchdowns – kindly worked out by Ian Hartitz.

Jaguars dropped not one, not two, not three, but four touchdowns in Week 6 pic.twitter.com/QDG2rES8vM

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) October 14, 2024

And the penalties… *sigh*. The Jaguars really shot themselves in the foot on that front. On one Chicago drive, twice on 3rd down the defense were guilty of a hold which gifted the Bears a fresh set of downs.

The Jags have a week in London to figure things out before they take on the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 21st October.

The London experience

Sunday was not my first trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and I hope it is not the last.

It is a stadium any soccer team in England would be lucky to have. There is not a bad seat in the house.

Travel to and from the ground is relatively painless and while the food and drink is on the more expensive side, I cannot recall seeing as many different options at one game.