NFL London: Browns coach says owners still have faith despite another loss
Cleveland let half-time lead slip against the Minnesota Vikings at Twickenham
Cleveland Browns are still without an AFC North victory after going down 33-16 against the Minnesota Vikings at Twickenham Stadium in London.
A crowd of 74,237 watched on as the Browns took a 13-12 lead into the half-time break, but the Vikings hit back to secure the win at the home of English rugby union.
Despite losing the opening eight matches for the second successive season, Browns coach Hue Jackson believes he still has the support of the club owners.
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The Browns have lost 34 of their last 36 games and Jackson has only one victory to his name - a 20-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers in December last year.
Jackson told the Associated Press: “I totally have the support of [Jimmy and Dee] Haslam. I don’t feel any change in that. I know everybody is concerned about the losing, my job. I mean, there’s all kinds of questions out there. I get all that.
“We’ve got to find a way to win. That’s what we try to do as coaches and that’s what we’re going to do and that’s what it’s all about – winning and losing.
“We’ve got to get some things better, do some things better and go from there. We’ve got the second half of the season left, eight more games, and we’ve got to work at them.”
2017 NFL London results
- 24 September: Jacksonville Jaguars 44, Baltimore Ravens 7
- 1 October: Miami Dolphins 0, New Orleans Saints 20
- 22 October: Los Angeles Rams 33, Arizona Cardinals 0
- 29 October: Cleveland Browns 16 Minnesota Vikings 33
Night to forget for Arizona Cardinals at Twickenham
23 October
Los Angeles Rams 33, Arizona Cardinals 0
The Arizona Cardinals thought they had it all planned out. They arrived in London five days before their encounter against the LA Rams, but despite preparing against jet lag and time difference it mattered little in the match at Twickenham.
In comparison, the Rams didn’t leave the US until Thursday. They were the fresher team as they shut out the Cardinals at the home of rugby last night.
Touchdowns from Todd Gurley, Jared Goff and Cooper Kupp, and four Greg Zuerlein field goals, gave the Rams a convincing victory on a night to forget for the Cardinals. It was the first time since 2012 that the Cardinals had failed to score in an NFL match.
“Nothing went well,” Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald told AZCentral.com. “The intensity wasn’t there. The urgency you need to beat good teams just wasn’t there.
“We practised in all the elements, rain and wind, and were able to do good things.
“The practice facilities, the food, everything was more than what you could ask for in hospitality and accommodations.
“Everything was positive except for the actual game.”
Arizona’s misery was complete when quarterback Carson Palmer broke his arm in the second quarter. He is set to miss eight weeks and will need surgery.
2017 NFL London results
- 24 September: Jacksonville Jaguars 44, Baltimore Ravens 7
- 1 October: Miami Dolphins 0, New Orleans Saints 20
- 22 October: Los Angeles Rams 33, Arizona Cardinals 0
2017 NFL London fixtures and how to watch on TV
Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns
- When: Sunday, 29 October
- Start time: 1.30pm
- Where: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Tickets: See ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on the BBC and via the NFL Game Pass
Rams CB plays down Adrian Peterson threat
18 October
Adrian Peterson may have made an instant impact for the Arizona Cardinals but he’s not the player he once was, says Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.
Five days after trading from the New Orleans Saints to the Cardinals, running back Peterson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 134 yards in the 38-33 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Peterson’s debut performance was described as “electric” by Deadspin writer Dan McQuade.
Peterson himself was delighted with his debut and praised his teammates. He told Arizona Sports: “That’s the type of impact I want to make with my teammates and fans. Couldn’t have done it without those guys. They played great.”
Despite his impressive debut, Peterson’s threat has been played down by Robey-Coleman, whose Rams side face the Cardinals on Sunday at Twickenham in the third NFL London game of 2017.
“Adrian Peterson is not Adrian Peterson in 2008, 2009,” Robey-Coleman told the Los Angeles Times. “He’s not the same Adrian Peterson, and I think everybody knows that.”
We take a look at the NFL London results, match schedule and fan events to attend.
2017 NFL London results
- 24 September: Jacksonville Jaguars 44 Baltimore Ravens 7
- 1 October: Miami Dolphins 0, New Orleans Saints 20
2017 NFL London fixtures and how to watch them on TV
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
- When: Sunday, 22 October
- Start time: 6pm
- Where: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Tickets: See ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on Sky Sports and via the NFL Game Pass
Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns
- When: Sunday, 29 October
- Start time: 1.30pm
- Where: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Tickets: See ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on the BBC and via the NFL Game Pass
NFL London 2017 fan events
NFL UK Live NFL UK Live returns on Saturday, 21 October at The Mermaid Theatre in London. From 1pm-4pm, the event will feature appearances from Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams players plus NFL legends Eric Dickerson, Torry Holt, Aeneas Williams and Adrian Wilson. Tickets cost £7, see more at Ticketmaster.co.uk
Twickenham Tailgate Party Twickenham Stadium will also host its own tailgate party. On 22 October ahead of the Cardinals vs. Rams clash, NFL fans will be able to enjoy the football festivities and buy merchandise, food and drink from a range of outlets.
Saints beat Dolphins in dour Wembley clash
2 October
Miami Dolphins 0, New Orleans Saints 20
It wasn’t the most entertaining of NFL encounters but that didn’t matter for New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton.
The Saints secured a 20-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday thanks to touchdowns by Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley.
But the match is likely to be either forgotten, or remembered for the errors and low-scoring first half in what The Guardian called a “stodgy stinker of a match between two teams the wrong side of average”.
Payton knew it wasn’t perfect, but he was pleased his side got the shutout against the Dolphins. He said: “It doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective. It wasn’t perfect. The first half was fairly sloppy and there are a number of things we are going to have to clean up, but we won.
“That said, I thought defensively we did a lot of good things and getting the shutout was significant.”
The match also marked a disappointing homecoming for the Dolphins’ London-born running back Jay Ajayi. He only ran 46 yards for 12 carries.
He told the Daily Mail: “In three games we haven’t scored enough points. We need to have some pride in ourselves and have some respect for ourselves, and put some points on the board.
“Everyone needs to be held accountable on our offence because we’re not doing what we need to do and we need to figure it out.”
Miami’s London-born star Jay Ajayi gets own Twitter emoji
29 September
Miami Dolphins’ London-born running back Jay Ajayi has become the first ever NFL player to get his own Twitter emoji.
Ajayi’s return to the capital for the Dolphins clash against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Wembley is being celebrated by Twitter with the #JayTrain emoji.
Bruna Zanin of Twitter told the London Evening Standard: “We couldn’t be more excited about this emoji going live.
“@NFLUK have always been incredibly innovative in their use of Twitter. Coupled with Jay’s refreshingly genuine use of Twitter to engage his fanbase, it seemed like a natural fit to launch this special emoji for everyone to enjoy ahead of #NOvsMIA.”
Sarah Swanson, NFL UK’s head of marketing, added: “We’re really excited to welcome Jay Ajayi home to London this Sunday for the Miami Dolphins game at Wembley.
“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate his on-field success than with the launch of the first-ever NFL player Twitter emoji. We’re really proud to see Jay leading the charge for London both on and off the field.”
The NFL on Regent Street event will also be held tomorrow and before Sunday’s match at Wembley there will be a tailgate party.
We take a look at the NFL London results, match schedule and events to attend.
2017 NFL London results
- September 24: Jacksonville Jaguars 44 Baltimore Ravens 7
2017 NFL London fixtures and how to watch them on TV
New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins
- When: Sunday, 1 October
- Start time: 2.30pm
- Where: Wembley Stadium, London
- Tickets: Individual tickets are sold out but hospitality packages are on sale at ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on the BBC and via the NFL Game Pass
- Game information: NFLUK.com
Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
- When: Sunday, 22 October
- Start time: 6pm
- Where: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Tickets: Individual tickets are sold out but hospitality packages are on sale at ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on Sky Sports and via the NFL Game Pass
Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns
- When: Sunday, 29 October
- Start time: 1.30pm
- Where: Twickenham Stadium, London
- Tickets: Individual tickets are sold out but hospitality packages are on sale at ticketmaster.co.uk/nfl
- TV coverage: Live on the BBC and via the NFL Game Pass
NFL London 2017 events to attend
NFL on Regent Street London’s busy shopping street will be taken over by American football fever on Saturday, 30 September, the day before the New Orleans Saints v Miami Dolphins clash at Wembley. NFL fans can enjoy interactive games, performances and appearances from team players and coaches.
Wembley Tailgate Party Can there be anything more American than a tailgate party before a football game? Starting at 9.30am before Sunday’s game between the Saints and the Dolphins, the Wembley tailgate party is free to non-ticket holders. Look out for appearances from NFL Hall of Famers.
Twickenham Tailgate Party Twickenham Stadium will also host its own tailgate party. On 22 October fans will be able to enjoy the football festivities and buy merchandise, food and drink from a range of outlets.
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