The NFL is officially back in London, but the game between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants will be the first of it's kind in the English capital.
The Minnesota Vikings took on the New Orleans Saints in the opening game of the 2022 London Games on Sunday, with the Vikings edging the contest 28-25 after some late drama. There was a sell-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but fans attending the Green Bay game will experience something for the first time.
Despite 32 NFL matches now being played in London since 2007, no match-up has involved two teams both sporting a winning record. But that streak will now finally end - as both the Giants and the Packers are 3-1 heading into the game.
The Vikings edged the Saints on Sunday to improve their record to 3-1 for the season, while their opponents slumped in the opposite direction, settling for a 1-3 start to the campaign. London has treated the Vikings well, as they are yet to lose in the city, winning all three of their games.
But this will be new territory for the Packers, who are yet to make a single London appearance. And on their UK debut, they'll be playing in the first game where both sides have posted a winning record before heading to London.
This almost wasn't the case though, as they had to see off the New England Patriots in overtime to keep their winning record intact. Despite facing a third-string quarterback for most of the game, the Packers were held 24-24 at Lambeau Field, and a late Mason Crosby field goal won it in overtime.
The pressure was on the Packers after a poor throw from Aaron Rodgers gifted the Patriots with a pick-six, and it was only the fourth time the Green Bay quarterback had ever been on the receiving end of one. It was also only his second at Lambeau Field, and he was disappointed after the victory.
"This way of winning, I don't think is sustainable because it puts too much pressure on our defence," Rodgers told reporters. "Obviously, I've got to play better and will play better.
"I think we're going to have to play a little bit better against starting quarterbacks and if our defence isn't playing as well as they can." But despite the self-criticism, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said that in the end, Rodgers was just 'too good'.
“In the end, Rodgers was just too good," Belichick said. "He made some throws that only Rodgers can make. We had pretty good coverage on some of those and he was just too smart, too good, too accurate. In the end he got us."
Rodgers and the Packers will have to up their game in London, as Giants quarterback Daniel Jones produced a fine performance against the Chicago Bears. He scored both of the Giants' touchdowns in a 20-12, rushing for 68 yards during the game.
