The NFL made its return to London on October 2, and the occasion meant that Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook felt the pressure ahead of kick off.
The Vikings took on the New Orleans Saints at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, and edged their opponents 28-25 to keep their unbeaten streak on UK soil alive. The Vikings are now 3-1 for the season, and are 3-0 throughout their NFL history in London.
Although it may be a whole new location when teams make the annual trip to London, it still remains an NFL game like every other. But Cook was feeling the 'jitters' before kick off, after arriving just 48 hours before gameday.
With Alvin Kamara ruled out for the Saints, Cook held the status as the star running back on show in front of the London crowd. And even for someone as experienced and capable as Cook, he felt the nerves.
"The people I've got around me in this organisation, I'm just grateful for," Cook said after the Vikings won on Sunday. "To come out here today, I just had to get the jitters off, first couple of runs.
"After that, it was just full go, but happy to get the win," he added. The Vikings touched down in London on Friday, and had just 48 hours to prepare for their game against the Saints.
They had to adapt to a new location, a new culture, and a new time zone, and Cook detailed how it wasn't the easiest to acclimatise. "It was tough, this morning I woke up and it was hard for me to get out of bed," Cook continued.
"I was like 'aw man I've got a game today'. But I got out of bed and this staff, this organisation do a great job of putting everybody around us."
Cook ran for 76 yards and had a total of 20 carries against the Saints, and was key to the Vikings offensive line. The Vikings managed to score in every quarter, something which the Saints couldn't match.
The nerves may be felt by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, as they will be playing in London for the very first time. The Packers take on the New York Giants at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and have been very inconsistent despite also sporting a 3-1 record.
The Giants have also own lost one game, and it's expected to be a hugely competitive match-up. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may be 38, but even he may feel the 'jitters' in front of the London crowd.
