NFL 2008 RSS
The NFL this Sunday at 1:00 PM ET returns to hallowed 83,000-seat Wembley Stadium in London, England to play
its second regular-season overseas game in as many years when the San Diego Chargers visit the "host" New
Orleans Saints.
The San Diego Chargers - New Orleans Saints meeting is the first of at least three more annual regular-season
NFL games that will be played in the United Kingdom from this year through 2010.
It follows a sold-out game at Wembley last October 28 between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants that was
enthusiastically received by fans, media and the participating teams. Some people – like San Diego Chargers
running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON -- believe that the win (13-10) by the Giants in that game gave them a
midseason boost that helped propel them through their Super Bowl XLII victory.
San Diego Chargers Running Back La Dainian Tomlinson in London
Chargers RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (pictured at Wembley Stadium) on his belief that the London game last year was
good luck for the eventual Super Bowl XLII champion Giants: "I don’t think it was a coincidence at all that the
Giants won Super Bowl after coming to London. I honestly think that getting away and bonding as the Giants did
in London last year was why they were successful. They were kind of going through the same struggles that we
are now. They came here and it kind of changed their season. We’re hoping for the same kind of luck.
Hopefully, London brings us that."
International Series Logo - 2008 Chargers vs. Saints
Making it feel like a real Saints home game, the NFL will host a Mardi Gras-themed tailgate party outside
Wembley with room enough for 20,000 fans.
Sunday is one of at least three more annual regular-season games that will be played in the U.K. through
2010. And one of the differences between this week and last year when the New York Giants defeated the Miami
Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley on October 28 is that, this year, the teams have spent the whole week, from last
Monday, in London -- training, practicing and sightseeing.
"It’s a pretty exciting time over here," says Saints wide receiver MARQUES COLSTON. "I’m just trying to get a lot of the culture along with working hard here every day."
During the week, the Chargers and Saints have developed some unique views on various aspects of Sunday’s game:
Saints LB JONATHAN VILMA on representing the NFL in another country: "It feels great. When we learned in the offseason that we were going to London, we were honored and flattered that they picked us and San Diego to be the NFL hosts in the game. That’s great for us. We know that last year, the team that won ended up winning the Super Bowl. We hope we can repeat that success."
Chargers head coach NORV TURNER on what he expects from the crowd Sunday: "I’ve been over here a couple of times in the preseason and I know how exciting the games are. This being a regular-season game, and the way the crowd gets into it and how they respond, it will be exciting for everyone involved. In my experiences here, the crowds have been loud and full of energy. It makes for an accelerated atmosphere."
Saints QB DREW BREES (shown after a Saints practice in London) on the impact the game can have on the city of New Orleans: "I think in the big picture that this is a great opportunity for our city. I think that post-Katrina, people had maybe forgotten about New Orleans or many thought that there was so much damage that maybe it wasn’t worth going there. But New Orleans has come back better than ever. Just like London is one of those spots that people feel they need to visit when they come to Europe, New Orleans is one of those spots that if you’re European or from the U.K. and are coming to the states looking for a place to go, come to New Orleans, because it’s unlike anything else in our country and we want to show that."
Saints QB DREW BREES (shown after a Saints practice in London)
Saints international practice squad player JERMAINE ALLEN, a running back and native of England, on the popularity of football in his home country: "They now have football tournaments and leagues around England. You’ve got junior league teams coming to play football. The universities play football. Outside the universities, you’ve got senior team leagues that play. It’s a fast-growing sport."
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-4) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-4) (London, England)
Welcome, lads!
Aside from the international impact, this one comes packed with scenarios, not the least of which is that it could well finish in a point-and-yardage explosion.
It will be the first time Saints QB DREW BREES faces his former team (he signed with the Saints as a UFA in 2006). His understudy for his final two years in San Diego? His peer Sunday, Chargers QB PHILIP RIVERS. They rank first (Brees; 2,224) and fourth (Rivers; 1,697) in NFL passing yardage this season. "We had a good relationship," says Rivers. "Drew taught me about following a set routine, win or lose, the whole season. That is key because it is a long year."
London fans will see the prototypical types of football running backs, led by the elusive Tomlinson and pounder DEUCE MC ALLISTER of the Saints, who should see increased action with the loss of RB REGGIE BUSH (knee).
Breesing Around the World: This will be Brees’ third overseas trip this year. This spring, he made a USO tour to Okinawa (and saw where his grandfather landed 60 years ago during World War II), and partook in an NFL-USO trip in July with NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL and Giants DE OSI UMENYIORA to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-4) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-4) – WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON, ENGLAND
The San Diego Chargers lead the series 7 - 2 and have won 4 of the past 5 match-ups against the New Orleans Saints.
The Chargers and Saints last played each other on November 7, 2004 in San Diego with the Chargers beating up on the Saints
by a score of 43 to 17. In that game, then San Diego Chargers QB Drew Brees threw for 257 yards & 4 TDs,
including 3 to TE Antonio Gates. The Chargers outgained the New Orleans Saints by 182 total net yards.
Last week both teams lost on the road. The Chargers lost to the Buffalo Bills 23 to 14, while the New Orleans
Saints lost to the Carolina Panthers 30 - 7.
This is the second overseas regular-season NFL game.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (3-4)
QB PHILIP RIVERS has 6-3 (.667) record as starter against NFC & has completed 172 of 273 passes (63.0
pct.) for 2,004 yards with 14 TDs vs. 4 INTs & 96.2 passer rating. In past 2 games, Rivers has completed 40 of
56 passes (71.4 pct.) for 514 yards with 5 TDs vs. 1 INT & 122.2 passer rating RB LA DAINIAN
TOMLINSON averages 106.5 rush yards per game in past 2 against NFC (213 total) & aims for 10th 100-yard rush
game against NFC TE ANTONIO GATES tied career-high with 3 TD receptions in last meeting against
Saints. Gates leads NFL TEs with 4 TDs WR VINCENT JACKSON is averaging 18.4 yards per reception in
2008 (26 receptions, 478 yards) & aims for 3rd consecutive game with TD. WR MALCOM FLOYD aims for 3rd game in
row with TD reception Since 2007, CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE leads NFL with 12 INTs. Club is 7-0 when
Cromartie has INT In 2008, RB-KR DARREN SPROLES ranks 2nd in AFC with 616 KR return yards K NATE KAEDING ranks 2nd in AFC with 56 points
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (3-4)
The New Orleans Saints lead the NFL in total net (402.3 avg.) & passing yards (310.9 avg.) per game.
Saints rank 2nd in NFL on 3rd downs (43 of 89 for 48.3 avg.) QB DREW BREES plays 1st game vs.
his former club. Drew Brees played for the San Diego Chargers from 2001 to 2005. Brees 104.8 passer rating for
2004 season ranks 1st in club history with min. 300 attempts In 2 games vs. AFC this season, Brees has completed 65
of 78 (83.3 pct.) for 741 yards with 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 123.3 passer rating. Teams are 27-6 (.818) when Brees
has 100+ rating. Since joining Saints in 2006, Brees has passed for 11,065 yards, most in NFL. Aims for 5th
consecutive home game with 300+ yards & has 1,356 (339.0 per game) in past 4 Saints are 11-3 (.786)
when RB DEUCE MCALLISTER has 2+ rush TDs. Had 2-yard TD run in last game vs. SD TE JEREMY SHOCKEY
registered 6 receptions for 101 yards (16.8 avg.) in only career game vs. SD (9/25/05 with the NYG). WR DEVERY
HENDERSON averages 31 yards per catch this year (15 rec. for 465 yards) DE WILL SMITH has 7 sacks
in past 15.
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RELATED: NFL 2008 Week 8
"It will be exciting for everyone involved," says San Diego Chargers head coach NORV TURNER, speaking about
his game at Wembley Stadium in London against the New Orleans Saints. But Norv could just as well be describing
every game on the NFL 2008 Week 8 schedule.
NFL Football 2008 Week 8: ELI & BIG BEN Two QBs with a rare NFL accomplishment face each other this week
LT Goes For 10 in London, Lucky 7 on Monday Night Football, Eli Manning, Big Ben and Their Rare Accomplishment, Clinton Portis Chasing Fab 5, Steelers and Patriots - Success Against Unfamiliar Opponents,
NFL 2008 Week 7: AFC & NFC Players of the Week
Quarterback MATT CASSEL of the New England Patriots, linebacker TERRELL SUGGS of the Baltimore Ravens and kicker SEBASTIAN JANIKOWSKI of the Oakland Raiders are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played week 7 of the NFL 2008 season (October 19-20)
Running back STEVEN JACKSON of the St. Louis Rams, safety AARON ROUSE of the Green Bay Packers and rookie safety ZACKARY BOWMAN of the Chicago Bears are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played week 7 of the NFL 2008 season (October 19-20), the NFL announced today.
NFL 2008 Week 7:
Last-to-be-Undefeated Titans go for 6-0
"In the NFL," says New Orleans Saints head coach SEAN PAYTON, "it’s either carnival or crisis."
And that status is in constant flux. Just look at last week. The winning points of four games were scored in
the final 10 seconds of regulation -- the most such games in a week since 1970.
Meanwhile, in the midst of such upheaval, the Tennessee Titans have been traveling
along somewhat quietly and sit as the NFL's lone undefeated team at 5-0, their best start ever.
NFL Football 2008 Week 7:
Drew Brees At A Record Pace & Fourth Quarter Comebacks
New Orleans Saints quarterback DREW BREES leads the NFL with 1,993 passing yards and is on pace for an
NFL-record 5,314 yards which would surpass DAN MARINO’s record 5,084 yards in 1984.
There have been many memorable comebacks this NFL 2008 season so far -- and it’s only October. Through the
first six weeks of the season, 28 of 88 games (31.8 percent) have been decided by a fourth-quarter comeback.
Plus more
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