Around 84,000 people will swarm into Wembley on Sundaylunchtime to watch the Atlanta Falcons face the Detroit Lions, another sellout for the second of three NFL matches to be staged in London this season. And, for a change, it might be more of contest than a rout.
Last month at Wembley the Miami Dolphins beat the Oakland Raiders 38-14, while three of the last four NFL games at Wembley have been won by 24 points or greater.
Unsurprisingly the oddmakers fancy the Lions, who have a 5-2 record, to beat an Atlanta side that have slipped to 2-5after losing their last four. But Detroit’s defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, believes the game will be closer than bald statistics imply. “You don’t look at the record, you have to look at that group of guys,” Austin insisted. “They can change a game in a heartbeat. I have a lot of respect for those guys.”
The Lions defense is rated No1 in the NFL, but Austin knows that if his players do not get at Atlanta’s injury-ravaged offensive line, their quarterback, Matt Ryan, and wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White will do damage.
“Julio’s big, he’s fast, he can catch, and I mean he can do just about anything,” said Austin. “That probably is what makes him special. But Roddy White is not a slouch beside him. You got a guy who’s a 1,000-yard receiver who’s been doing it for a long time.”
The Lions should win. But given they are fretting over injuries in their offense, including star receiver Calvin Johnson, and running back Reggie Bush, the Falcons – who have lost six of 24 games since being a win away from Super Bowl XLVII in early 2013 – could keep it close.
Meanwhile, the Falcons’ president, Rich McKay, has added his name to those backing a London franchise. “Five years ago I wouldn’t have said it was viable because I would have felt that logistically there were just too many hurdles to it,” he said. “But I’m starting to turn to the side where I do see it as viable.”
