Why This Upcoming NFL London Game is the Most Boring Game on the NFL Schedule
Every time the NFL goes overseas and tries to expand their game, the best thing to do is take two great football teams and give the newly-watching spectators a show they won’t ever forget. However, the opposite could be said about this upcoming game happening in London on Sunday morning. This matchup consists of two 1-5 teams. We expected one of these teams to be this bad heading into this new NFL season, yet the other had expectations of perhaps winning their division and overcoming some of the challenges they had in seasons past. The New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars might put on the dullest game of the year. London fans who paid good money to attend this game may be disappointed with how this matchup plays out. Who knows, they could go touchdown for touchdown and it could be a complete shootout, but in my mind, it’s going to come down to the team that steps up and makes the big plays in the final moments.
New England is coming off a disastrous Week Six 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans. After starting Jacoby Brissett for the first five games, the Pats gave the starting opportunity to rookie quarterback Drake Maye. Many were excited to see Maye’s debut, but it was a questionable decision to start him against a great football team like the Houston Texans as he was pummeled by Houston’s defense left and right. Jacksonville is spending its second straight week in London. Last week, the Jags were decimated by the Chicago Bears in a 35-16 loss. Jacksonville had no run game against Chicago putting up a measly 68 rushing yards during the loss and had eight penalties which cost 43 total yards. Some Jags fans are looking to see head coach Doug Peterson let go after their rough start. We have seen these two 1-5 teams defeat decent teams with the Patriots beating out the Cincinnati Bengals in Week One and the Jaguars closing out the Indianapolis Colts in Week Five and while Jacksonville may have more experience at the quarterback position with Trevor Lawrence, the Patriots defense is always suited up ready to turn the tides of the game around.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a low-scoring affair during this Sunday morning matchup. If Maye can’t get anything going at quarterback, the Patriots will depend on the run game which could be a hit or miss, especially depending on the health of Rhamondre Stevenson. Jacksonville has no run game, and will heavily rely on Lawrence to make efficient passes. We may not even see a touchdown be scored in this one as it could all be a kicking duel. London beware, as you may witness one of, if not the most boring game of the 2024 NFL season.
