NFL
NFL week 8 preview: The action returns to London
The NFL returns to London this weekend for the third and final time this year. The Jacksonville Jaguars are the ‘home’ side at Wembley, welcoming the Denver Broncos. On the other side of the pond, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Baltimore Ravens.
We preview the best of the action below.
Jacksonville Jaguars v Denver Broncos: Seasons on the ropes
Following last weekend’s narrow loss to the New York Giants, the Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in a make-or-break moment for the side. The Jaguars are currently 2-5 so far this season and are ranked third in their AFC South table, the opposite of where they need to be.
Regardless of their current situation they will kick off as the 20/29 favourites. Critics may be surprised at their price considering their performance thus far this year, showing little dominance in either offence or defence. Despite this counting as a home game for the side, they will certainly not feel that way at Wembley without their fans, and this could also have a negative impact on the side.
Another team who find themselves 2-5 after seven played and in a perilous situation are the Denver Broncos, who have also failed to find a foothold in the league thus far. They start the game the 5/4 underdogs and also desperately need victory here.
The Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett knows how desperate the situation is better than anyone and has been under fire in the press for making disastrous calls for the Broncos plays. Some even went as far as suggesting he will be removed from his position should the London game not swing his way.
One thing the team does have going for them is a monstrous defensive line, arguably one of the best in the league, now even surpassing the 49ers in some of their defensive stats. For example, they lead the NFL in opponent yards per play, and even more impressively the Broncos are conceding less than 25% of the times that their opponents visit their red zone.
This matchup should be as tense as they come, and both sides will make it incredibly difficult for the opposition to score, so this may shape up as a low scoring battle of defence with the odds at 10/11 for there to be under 39 points in total.
Check out the latest betting odds at William Hill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Baltimore Ravens: Top of the table clash
The Baltimore Ravens travel to Raymond James Stadium later this week to try and edge out a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Ravens will head into this game off the back of a narrow 23-20 victory over the Browns last weekend.
The Ravens will kick off this game the 4/5 favourites and will be hoping Lamar Jackson, their quarterback, will be on top form as he was last game, gaining his side over 120 yards. The side are 4-3 this season which places them at the top of their group, AFC North.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head off their table too, sitting on a record of 3-4 but maintaining their lead in the NFC South division. They head into this game with a bitter taste in their mouth following last weekend’s disastrous 21-3 loss to the Panthers and are the 21/20 underdogs with the spread at +1.5.
Buccaneer’s head coach Todd Bowles expressed his disappointment at last week’s game and is looking to get his team back on the right path and hopefully through to the playoffs later this season. Despite being desperately in need of a fit team after winning just one of their last five games, rookie left guard Luke Goedeke suffered a foot injury against the Browns and is battling to be fit for Friday’s game.
A more open game is expected in Florida than in London though, with the total points being 10/11 for under or over 45. No matter how this fixture works out it will clearly have a rippling impact across divisions and should be highly entertaining.
