NFL: International Series Trends

This weekend sees the International Series take centre stage once more in the NFL as Wembley hosts a regular season game for the 9th straight season.

Last year was another milestone for the NFL in London as they hosted three games for the first time and the first early morning kick off in the States.

It was so successful that all three matches in 2015 will kick off at 9.30am Eastern time and always looking to improve year on year, the NFL have managed to get their first Divisional matchup with an All AFC East clash between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, whilst later in the year, they will host games on back to back weeks for the first time which will be a real test for the attendance which has topped 83,000 on nine of eleven occasions.

So with eight seasons in the books and eleven games in total, have any stats and trends started to emerge?

Results

2007: New York Giants 13 @ Miami Dolphins 10

2008: New Orleans Saints 37 vs San Diego 32

2009: New England Patriots 35 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

2010: San Francisco 49ers 24 vs Denver Broncos 16

2011: Chicago Bears 24 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18

2012: New England Patriots 45 @ St. Louis Rams 7

2013: Minnesota Vikings 34 vs Pittsburgh Steelers 27

2013: San Francisco 49ers 42 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 10

2014: Miami Dolphins 38 @ Oakland Raiders 14

2014: Detroit Lions 22 @ Atlanta Falcons 21

2014: Dallas Cowboys 31 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 17

2015: New York Jets 27 @ Miami Dolphins 14

2015: Jacksonville Jaguars 34 vs Buffalo Bills 31

2015 Schedule

Nov 1st: Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Royals

'Home' team vs ‘Road' team

Although the International Series is played on a neutral field, one team is still designated as the home team.

The Jacksonville Jaguars snapped a five game losing streak for the 'home' teams at Wembley last week. The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS are the designated home team this weekend as they take on the DETROIT LIONS although despite the Jaguars win last week, home teams are just 4-9 at Wembley.

Who's already played at Wembley?

Detroit are making another appearance in London after their win over Atlanta last year whilst Kansas City make their debut.

There have been seven occasions were a team who is making their Wembley debut are doing so against a team who have already been over the ocean. Those teams making their debuts are 5-2.

First Half vs Second Half

One of the alternative markets in NFL betting is which half will have the most points. It can often be a coin flip between the two but a trend is starting to emerge in the International Series.

Over the thirteen games so far, nine have seen more points in the first half (69.23%)

Wembley is the place for losers

Incredibly, we are yet to see a match between two teams who both have winning records. The closest we came was back in 2011 when the 4-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the 3-3 Chicago Bears. Incidentally, 2011 was the only time a team with a winning record has lost at Wembley.

Teams playing the International Series with a winning record are 6-1. This weekend, the Chiefs enter the game at 2-5 whilst the Lions are 1-6.

Plenty of rest needed

With all the travel involved in the London game, the week after sees both teams on a bye week but the extra time to prepare for their next game hasn't necessarily played dividends with the Wembley winners going 7-5 the following week and the London losers going 7-4-1.

You won't win the Superbowl

Teams were probably clamouring to come over the Atlantic when the New York Giants went onto win the 2007 Superbowl after playing in the inaugural match. However, no team since the 2007 Giants has played at Wembley and gone onto win it all.

However, six of the eleven winners have gone onto reach the playoffs whilst only one of the losers have gone onto make the playoffs.

The six teams to win at Wembley and reach the playoffs all came into the International Series with a winning record.

Earlier this month, the New York Jets came into their game with Miami with a winning record and won. Will they follow the trend and reach the playoffs?

Check out the American Football forum for more discussion on the week ahead

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