|
|
 |
| |
Pierre Thomas rushes down field for the
New Orleans Saints |
American Football
Marching Saints fend off San Diego charge
NFL International Series -
Wembley Stadium
New Orleans Saints 37
San Diego Chargers 32
SUNDAY'S International Series NFL game at Wembley saw London Blitz linebacker Jason Brisbane back in his home city.
The San Diego Chargers faced the New Orleans Saints as the NFL made their second of four annual visits to London.
Jason is a member of the Chargers’ practice squad and so unfortunately wasn’t eligible to play in Sunday’s showpiece game.
The game was introduced, musically, by appearances from The Stereophonics and Joss Stone, who sang the National Anthem. Joined by the Saints’ cheerleaders, the ‘Saintsations’, and countless members of the London Blitz squad, the game started to the delight of over 82,000 fans.
While the day had promised heavy rain, the sky had cleared by kick-off and the quagmire of a pitch that dragged last year’s game down wasn’t to be repeated.
The game was dominated by offensive displays from Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, LaDainian Tomlinson and Philip Rivers, who’ve become household names to the British football audience.
While the game stayed close for the early stages, the Saint’s ability to mount successful offensive drives gave them a commanding lead. Late in the game the Chargers threatened to draw level, recovering an onside kick with only minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Saints managed to get the ball back with seconds remaining and a 37-30 lead, only to produce a play that caught everybody off-guard. With only 14 seconds remaining, quarterback Brees, who gave a passing masterclass, ran towards his own endzone and launched the ball out of bounds through the back of it, conceding two points and a ‘safety’, but in the process running valuable time off the clock. From the following kick, the Chargers had one second and one offensive play left to try and score on a ‘Hail Mary’ pass to the Saints endzone. If it was successful they’d win the game. As the defensive backs knocked the pass to the ground, the Saints held on and ran out deserving winners, 37-32.
The crowd left happy and eagerly anticipating next year’s game, with the suggestion from the NFL this week that the number of games in the UK could double in the near future.
With the North London football community growing, and local players flying the Camden Town flag high and proud, the NFL should get a warm welcome in London for many years to come. |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
