After the NFL International Series was postponed in 2020, games abroad are ready to return in 2021. Which matchups will make up the 2021 Internation Series, what is is the origin of the NFL going global, and how does the future look?
2021 NFL International Series Games
The 2021 NFL International Series will see two games take place in the UK, across two weeks.
United Kingdom
Week 5: New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons | Sunday | 9:30 AM ET | NFL Network
Week 6: Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday | 9:30 AM ET | CBS
How has the NFL International Series grown?
While the NFL began testing the potential of playing games outside of the United States in 1950, it took until 1986 for international games to become a regular occurrence. The birth of the “American Bowl” saw a total of 40 games played in eight countries between 1986 and 2005. However, these were preseason games, meaning they could often lack the excitement and intensity of a regular-season game.
The first regular-season game to be played outside America was in 2005. That matchup saw the Arizona Cardinals emerge victorious 31-14 over the San Francisco 49ers. However, this game is not counted as part of the International Series. That began in 2007 when the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The expansion of the global game
From that small start of one regular-season game, the NFL International Series has progressed a long way heading into 2021. Prior to the 2020 cancellation of the series, the NFL had regularly played multiple games in London in a single season. In 2019, a total of four games took place at two different stadiums.
In addition to those games in London, there have been another three regular-season games played in Mexico. The Buffalo Bills have also played regular-season games at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada. Buffalo played a total of five games in Canada between 2008 and 2013. Currently, the only team not to play an international game are the Green Bay Packers.
What is the future of the NFL International Series beyond 2021
During the 2021 NFL offseason, the owners finalized a new scheduling formula for the International Series. Beginning in 2022, there will be at least four international games per season.
Across the next eight years, the NFL will select four teams set to host nine regular season games to host a game internationally. In 2022, it will be four NFC teams and then four AFC teams in 2023. It will rotate back and forth between the conferences, and every NFL team will host at least one contest every eight years.
The UK and Mexico will continue to be part of the schedule. However, the NFL could also look to add Germany, as well as returning to Canada. Teams will still be able to protect certain games on their schedule from being selected, and no team will be required to play more than one game internationally in a single season. A team, however, can volunteer themselves to play multiple games.
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