NFL London Game

Broncos @ 49'ers

So the time is now UK fans!!  We have waited a full 12 months to see live NFL action on this side of the pond, and we are only a few hours away.  This is the 4th regular season game to be played at Wembley, and from what NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell said on Friday, it certainly won't be the last.  Speaking to over 38,000 fans in Trafalgar Square London yesterday, Mr Goodell announced that the NFL plans to bring 'multiple' games to Europe, and that a full time franchise in London would be 'realistic'.  Can you imagine how good that would be people?  A team that we could watch week in, and week out, and call our own.  That really is something to look forward to.

Anyway back to today's game, between the 2 - 5 Broncos, and the 1 - 6 49'ers.  This game was seen before the season began as a battle between 2 teams that would be competing for division titles and playoff berth's.  The Broncos missed a 'wildcard' spot by 1 game last year after starting the season 6 - 0.  The 49'ers finished just 2 games back from Arizona in the NFC West last year, but after the departure of many key players from the Cardinals, including starting QB Kurt Warner and WR Anquan Boldin, the 49'ers were seen as the favorites for the title this time around.  This optimism has not been realised for either team as they have a combined record of just 3 - 11.  Some people have seen the fact that they are 2 struggling teams as a bad thing for the game.  In my eyes they couldn't be more wrong.  This is a game between 2 struggling, desperate teams that are looking to keep their season alive before the bye week.  I believe that this is going to be a scrap from beginning to end, and is going to be very entertaining to watch.

The 'home team' 49'ers will have a new QB under centre for this game.  Regular QB Alex Smith has a shoulder injury and is unable to play.  Last week 2nd string QB David Carr came in and looked awful, so the QB of choice is Troy Smith.  This will be only the 3rd start of the 26 year old NFL career, and his first ever for the 49'ers.  His 2 previous starts were in Baltimore in 2007.  This is a huge task for Smith to lift this team, especially as he may be without TE Vernon Davis.  Davis is a major part of this offence with a team leading 422 receiving yards and 4 TD's.  If he does miss the game, expect to see alot of RB Frank Gore, both running and receiving the ball.

The Broncos come into this game on the back of a thoroughly embarrassing 59 - 14 home loss to division rivals, the Oakland Raiders.  The Broncos defence was humiliated in the run game, giving up 328 yards and 5 TD's.  This phase will have to improve this week against the very talented Frank Gore.  The Broncos on offence are extremely good through the air.  They are in fact ranked 3rd in the NFL, with QB Kyle Orton throwing for a total of 2,140 yards and 11 TD's.  This will undoubtedly be the way in which Denver will try and win this game against an average 49'ers pass defence.

So this game will not have the explosiveness of the 2008 game in London between the Saints and the Chargers, but it will be a battle, and the outcome of the battle could have huge consequences for the losing teams coaching staff.  Enjoy the game UK, as it looks like the NFL is on these shores to stay!