NFL schedule leaks: International series revealed

The NFL has been growing into an intenational brand thanks to games played in different parts of the world. Today we get to see what the 2018 iteration of those games will look like.

It has now been 10 years since the NFL decided to play games outside of the United States. It started in 2007 with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. The two teams met in the famous Wembley Stadium in England as the first game played on international soil.

The international program has since expanded. 2017 featured five such games. Four games were played in England; two in Wembley and two in Twickenham Stadium. Mexico City hosted the fifth game. That was the second year the NFL played a game south of the border.

With the 2018 schedule leaking, we now know who will play in the international games.

With only three games in London, the NFL will give the English fans one less game. The three London games feature three playoffs teams from a year ago including the Super Bowl champion Eagles. In fact, the Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars match-up in what could be two of the league’s best in London.

Jacksonville has become a de facto fan favorite across the pond. They’ve played in London each of the past five seasons. There were even rumbles that the team may move permanently to England. 

Mexico and it’s internationally famous stadium, Estadio Azteca, will see two of last year’s playoff teams facing off. The Los Angeles Rams square off with the Kansas City Chiefs, both poised for another successful season. It will be the first time since the NFL played a game in Mexico two years ago that the Raiders will not be a team in the game.

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With the success of these games it is no surprise to see the NFL continue to play games internationally. They will likely keep the program growing and pushing for new venues to host games in China and Germany.