American football fans may be left feeling a little underwhelmed by the games on offer in the NFL fixtures scheduled for London next year.
The first two games at Wembley in early October pit the Miami Dolphins against the New Orleans Saints and the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The next session, at Twickenham, will see the Cleveland Browns host the Minnesota Vikings and the Los Angeles Rams face the Arizona Cardinals.
Three of the sides - the Ravens, Browns and Cardinals - will be making their London debuts.
It is the first time that four games have been held in the UK and "the expansion means London will host the equivalent of half of a regular season as it builds towards becoming the potential full-time home of an NFL franchise", says Sky Sports.
However, fans will hope any UK-based team performs better than some of the sides visiting next year. London regulars Jacksonville and debutants Cleveland are the two worst sides in the AFC and between them, they have only won two games all season.
The Rams, who are owned by Arsenal chairman Stan Kroenke, have won four matches out of 13 this campaign, but this week sacked their head coach Jeff Fisher. Like the Browns and Jaguars, they have no hope of making the play-offs.
Only Miami, Baltimore and Minnesota have winning records so far this season.
Even the New York Times appears slightly sheepish about the choice of teams. "The matchups are, well, not great," it says.
"Fans in Britain have shown little discernment over the NFL fare served up to them over the years, generally selling out every game in no time... This lineup will test even the most enthusiastic Briton’s patience."
London NFL fixtures 2017
Baltimore Ravens vs Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium (week 3 or 4)
New Orleans Saints vs Miami Dolphins - Wembley Stadium (week 3 or 4)
Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns - Twickenham Stadium (week 7 or 8)
Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams - Twickenham Stadium (week 7 or 8)
-
Trump orders NFL team to change name, or elseSpeed Read The president wants the Washington Commanders to change its name back to the 'Redskins'
-
Why is the NFL considering banning the 'tush push' play?Today's Big Question The play is widely used by the Philadelphia Eagles, to other teams' chagrin
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIXspeed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
After Tua injury, can NFL make progress on concussions?Today's Big Question Dolphins QB faces calls to retire
-
Cop benched after NFL star handcuffed in traffic stopSpeed Read A Miami-Dade police officer detained Dolphins star Tyreek Hill before the game
-
The economics of taxpayer-subsidized stadiumsIn Depth Shiny new stadiums can end up costing taxpayers billions
-
How the NFL's new kickoff rules could change footballUnder the Radar The play will resemble the kickoff structure seen in the much-smaller XFL
-
The NFL's concussion settlement has seemingly failed its playersUnder the Radar The league promised to pay players who had suffered brain trauma. Allegedly, it has not happened.
