While the NFL has been incredibly popular in the United States for many years, the league has recently prioritized globalization in an effort to expand the sport’s popularity abroad.
Enter the International Series.
During the 2024 season, there are five international games on the schedule. The next overseas contest is this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. ET between the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings in London. Here’s everything you need to know about this game.
New York Jets vs. Minnesota Vikings Week 5 Preview
When the NFL released its schedule, Pro Football Network ranked the international games, and Jets-Vikings was the second-most highly anticipated contest of the series. Now, with the 4-0 Vikings emerging as one of the biggest surprises of the first month of the season, this game should be even better than previously imagined.
So far this season, the NFL has had great luck with its international contests. After all, the Week 1 match-up between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers absolutely lived up to the hype, as it was a high-scoring affair that came down to the wire, with the Eagles winning 34-29. Let’s break down the Jets-Vikings matchup by the numbers:
New York Jets
Team: The Jets have won four straight games following a loss, tied for their longest streak since at least 2000.
QB: Aaron Rodgers has seen his pass attempt count (21-30-35-42) and his rushing attempt count (1-2-3-5) increase each week this season.
Offense: The Jets have the third-highest third-down conversion rate (46.3%), including the best on third-and-long, which is 7+ yards to go (40%). Last year, the Jets ranked last in third-and-long conversions (12.8%).
Defense: The Jets have allowed the fewest yards per attempt (5.4) on passes between the numbers. On the flip side, Sam Darnold ranks second in yards per attempt (12.3) and first in EPA per dropback (0.58) on passes between the numbers.
Fantasy: This season, Braelon Allen has produced 44.1% over fantasy expectations, while Breece Hall sits at 9.1% below expectation through four weeks.
Betting: Seven straight Sunday morning London games have gone under the total. The last two games (Colts/Patriots and Dolphins/Chiefs) in this window saw a total of 51 points scored – the cumulative projected total for those games was 94 points.
Minnesota Vikings
Team: The Vikings are seeking to start 5-0 for the first time since 2016. Bizarrely, two of the last three times that Minnesota has started 5-0 or better, they’ve missed the playoffs (2016 and 2003).
QB: Sam Darnold is the sixth QB since the 1970 merger to pass for at least 11 TD in his first four games with a franchise. The others are Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Matthew Stafford, and Mark Rypien.
Offense: Scripted success. In quarters with extra prep time (first and third), the Vikings have scored a league-high 66 points. In quarters two and four, they rank in the middle of the pack with 50 points scored.
Defense: The Vikings have allowed a league-low three first-quarter points this season (they are +35 points in the first 15 minutes of games and +22 the rest of the way).
Fantasy: The game script remains elite for this running game. The Vikings have been trailing for just 2.2% of their offensive snaps (no other team is under 16%).
Betting: Unders are 5-1 when the Vikings play an AFC opponent since Brian Flores took over this defense. In the four seasons before that hire, overs were 13-4-1 (76.5%) when Minnesota played out of conference.
When Did the NFL Start Playing Internationally?
Between 1950 and 1983, there were 13 games involving NFL or AFL teams that were played outside of the United States; seven of those games were against CFL teams in Canada. Three other games were also played in Canada — one in Toronto, two in Montreal — but were against teams in their respective league rather than against outside opponents.
The final three games were played in Tokyo in 1976, Mexico City in 1978, and London which was played in 1983.
Throwback to NFL fans in Germany belting out “Country Roads".
(Via: BucsGermany) pic.twitter.com/oDm9vBOokJ
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 5, 2023
The current NFL International Series as we know it was created in 2007, where for the first six seasons, Wembley Stadium hosted one game a year. In 2013, this grew to two games and then eventually three in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
From there, the NFL has continued to push the boundaries, add more games, and continue to broaden its horizon as it looks to make the NFL a global game enjoyed by all.
