The NFL returns to London this week for the first of five International Series games. Who is playing today, what time does the London game start, and how can you watch it?
Who plays during the NFL London game today?
Teams
Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints
Location
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
The first London game of the season will feature the Minnesota Vikings taking on the “home” team New Orleans Saints. Several question marks surround which players will play in this one, with long injury reports for both teams.
Looking specifically at the home team, reports suggest star wide receiver Michael Thomas will not play in this one due to a toe injury. In addition to Thomas, QB Jameis Winston looks to be doubtful. That means that we will likely see Andy Dalton under center with a potential mix of QB/TE/RB/WR Taysom Hill as well.
As for the Vikings, running back Dalvin Cook was limited in practice all week, but it looks like he will be good to go for the London game. How effective will he be if he is not 100% against this tough Saints defense? So far in 2022, QB Kirk Cousins has been the definition of inconsistent. He has completed 62.2% of his passes for 758 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. However, his prime-time performance two weeks ago has continued to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the team’s fans. Does a London game technically count as a prime-time matchup? Let’s hope not for Cousins’ sake.
The current betting line favors the away team by less than a field goal (-2.5). The line makes sense considering the Vikings will be taking on a backup QB. Yes, Dalton has a ton of experience as a starter, but the last few times we saw him, he did not leave a noteworthy impression. The over/under currently sits at 43.5, but I expect that number to get smaller with the news that Winston will be doubtful.
[bet-promo id=”160004″ ]The best case for the Saints is going to be relying on their run game with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. The last time Kamara played the Vikings, he scored an unreal SIX touchdowns. Can he replicate that again in London?
For the Vikings, they are going to need to hope Cousins and his top weapon Justin Jefferson can repeat their early-season success. In the first game of the year, Jefferson had 11 targets for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Since then, he has combined for 62 total yards in two weeks.
What time is the NFL London game today?
Date: Oct. 2, 2022
Start time: 9:30 a.m. ET
TV channel and live stream for NFL London game
TV channels: NFL Network
Live stream: NFL+
Want to stream NFL games at home or on the go this season? Check out Vidgo or fuboTV, two streaming platforms that provide you with live sports across multiple devices. Additionally, make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on how to live stream NFL games.