Jaguars beat Falcons for first Wembley win since 2017
During the NFL London games of 2023, Darious Williams managed to score a touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars after intercepting the ball. The games will take place on various dates and venues, with the first being the Atlanta Falcons versus the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium on October 1st. On October 8th, the Jacksonville Jaguars will play against the Buffalo Bills at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, followed by the Baltimore Ravens versus the Tennessee Titans on October 15th at the same stadium. All kick-offs will take place at 14:30 BST. Those who cannot attend can follow the action through live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.
The Jacksonville Jaguars began this year's NFL international series with an effortless victory against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley stadium.
85,716 people witnessed the Jaguars dominate the game and take a commanding 17-0 lead with two touchdowns in the first half.
The Falcons responded with a touchdown by Drake London at the beginning of the third period. Shortly afterwards, the Jags heightened their advantage by scoring a field goal.
Desmond Ridder, the quarterback for Atlanta, had a rough start in the beginning of the game. However, he was able to turn things around and kept the game going. He led the Falcons all the way to Jacksonville's six-yard line with only six minutes remaining.
In spite of catching a Ridder pass high at the back of the end zone, London was unable to score a touchdown. This was because he didn't place both of his feet within the bounds of the playing area when he landed.
The Jaguars, who have participated in every London series since 2013, later made their third field goal of the day to conclude the 10th game they have competed in the English capital.
Despite having a thrilling victory against the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham in 2021, the Jags hadn't triumphed at Wembley since crushing the Baltimore Ravens 44-7 in 2017.
The proprietor of the football teams, Fulham FC and the Florida team, Shahid Khan, made efforts to purchase England's national stadium in 2018. However, the Florida franchise has decided to continue playing their games in London, as they have already made a commitment to return to the city next year.
Jags' UK Fans Treated By Lawrence & Allen
For the first time in five years, supporters in the UK had the chance to witness a Jaguars squad that had made it to the playoffs the prior season, and their performance indicated that they were a team capable of doing so again. They were in control during the initial half of the game.
The previous playoffs season witnessed the exceptional skills of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was considered a once-in-a-lifetime talent and was chosen as the top pick in the 2021 draft.
On Sunday, a 23-year-old player impressed the Wembley stadium audience. He ran 22 yards during the third drive of the game to bring his team into Atlanta's half of the field. On that same drive, he skillfully evaded pressure before throwing a beautiful 30-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley, a former Atlanta receiver, for the first score of the game.
Brandon McManus scored a field goal to extend the lead and Darious Williams picked off Ridder's pass and returned it for a touchdown covering 61 yards.
Ridder had his pass intercepted yet again, and Jags linebacker Josh Allen relentlessly attacked him, taking down the Falcons quarterback three times.
Despite Ridder's attempt to recover, Jacksonville made a comeback after facing two consecutive losses. As a result, both teams now hold a record of 2-2.
Next week, the Jags will strive to win again against the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham. 'London's team' will be the first NFL franchise to play two regular season games outside the US during the same season.
