Three NFL games in London and two games in Germany announced
As an appetizer to the main course, the NFL released the schedule for the 2023 games in London and Germany on May 10. Three games will be played in London and two will be played in Germany as part of the NFL International Series. There are going to be some good matchups, as the league isn’t just sending bottom-feeders across the pond to play bright and early on a Sunday.
In total, there are five international games on the docket, with games in London in Weeks 3, 4, and 5, followed by games in Frankfurt in Weeks 9 and 10.
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NFL Games in London 2023
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Week 4: Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-4)
The “vs.” might as well read “at” because the Jaguars are a de facto home team anytime they venture to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. This season marks the 10th straight in which the Jaguars will play in London (except for the 2020 COVID season). However, they’ll play twice in London this year, as they’ll stay in the shadow of Big Ben and play again in Week 4.
As far as this game goes, the Falcons will play in London for the third time, with the most recent coming in 2021. The Falcons are 1-1 in international games with a 27-20 win over the Jets in 2021 and a 22-21 loss to the Lions in 2014.
The Jaguars are 4-5 in their London games, but have lost three of the last four, including last year’s game against the Broncos.
Week 5: Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills (-3.5)
Despite Jacksonville’s familiarity and longstanding tradition in London, they are classified as the road team here. The AFC gets an extra home game with the 17-game schedule, which alternates each season. Bills Mafia may have to stuff the cargo hold with tables to jump through or buy some upon landing in the UK because they’re giving up one of those nine home dates to “host” here.
The Bills lost to the Jaguars 34-31 back in 2015 in their only international regular season game.
Week 6: Baltimore Ravens (-5.5) vs. Tennessee Titans
The Titans are another AFC team forced to give up a home date this season and play in London. This Week 6 matchup against the Ravens will mark the second game in London for the Titans, who lost 20-19 to the Chargers back in 2018.
The Ravens are also winless across the pond with a 2017 defeat at the hands of the Jaguars by a 44-7 count. That remains the second-most lopsided London game in history, so they’ll be hoping for a better showing for their travel efforts this time around. The only game that was worse was the Patriots by a 45-7 count over the Rams in 2012.
NFL Games in Germany 2023
Week 9: Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5)
The NFL’s debut in Frankfurt features one heck of a game between the Dolphins and Chiefs. Tyreek Hill squares off against his former team and two of the league’s most dynamic offenses will participate at Deutsche Bank Park in the first of two Germany games. Nothing against the Jaguars or any of the other teams that go and play internationally, but it isn’t that big of a stretch to say this is the best Europe game in recent memory.
The Chiefs last played in Europe in 2015 with a 45-10 throttling of the Lions in London. They also played in Mexico City in 2019 and won 24-17 over the Chargers.
The Dolphins are a regular participant in international play, as they have a 1-4 record in five previous games. The last one came in 2021 and went down as a 23-20 loss to the Jaguars. Their lone win came over the Raiders back in 2014.
Week 10: Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots (-5)
This is a decidedly less exciting game, but the German crowd may get to see Anthony Richardson if he’s starting for the Colts by the middle part of the season. The Patriots do give up one of their home games to participate in a Frankfurt game, but are still a clear favorite in this neutral setting.
The Patriots are 3-0 in international games, but all three were with Tom Brady, as the most recent was a 2017 win in Mexico City over the Raiders in a 33-8 laugher. The Colts, meanwhile, have only played one game outside the U.S. and that was a 2016 loss to the Jaguars in a 30-27 decision.
