The NFL Returns to London
The NFL returns this week to London, England with a showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pro Football Odds – San Francisco 49ers (-13.5) Jacksonville Jaguars (13.5) Total = 40.5
Game Overview
The game will be played in Wembley Stadium, a venue that is used to a decidedly different form of football, but one that promises to provide a lively atmosphere come Sunday. England is home to many fervent “American Football” fans, and with talk of a franchise in London, they are sure to turn out in full numbers and with full voices to demonstrate their devotion.
It may be the perfect place for the Jaguars to try to win themselves some fans, as they are losing them back home. Jacksonville enters week eight of the NFL season without a win.
Chad Henne is starting at quarterback, after taking the number one spot from Blaine Gabbert the past two games. He’s been an improvement, but has yet to produce the right result. In order for Henne to perform, he is going to need stellar protection from a very capable San Francisco pass rush. He’ll also need his receivers to find their hands, something they weren’t able to do against the Chargers this past week.
For the Jaguars to have a successful offence, they are going to need Henne to link with Justin Blackmon. The wide receiver has been averaging some impressive yardage this season. Henne will be looking for him down field, and once Blackmon has the ball, he is a real threat to add even more yards with his excellent running. Even if the Jaguars manage to get their offence going, they face some difficulties on defense.
Running back Frank Gore is a difficult man to stop, and the 49ers will get him the ball a lot. The problem for the Jaguars is that in closing him down, they may open themselves up to Colin Kaepernick own running game. San Francisco is playing excellent football at the moment. They’ve won their last four games, and everything about this matchup suggests they will extend that streak. However, this is anything but a usual game in their season. Feel free to visit the best NFL betting sites online that accept residents of The United States of America.
Both teams will be contending with playing out of their element, and although the 49ers will likely enjoy a larger fan base it won’t be easy for either set of players. It may come down to who can cope with the circumstances better. The Jaguars will likely play a passing game, and if Henne can produce against a potent pass defense, he may come away with a win and a new fan base. If the 49ers can rattle him and put him off his throws, then they will come away with the win.
