NFL Releases 2023 International Series Schedule
The five teams scheduled to host NFL regular season games overseas now have dates and opponents. The full NFL schedule release is set for Thursday night. But early Wednesday, the league whetted the appetite of fans with the release of the International Series schedule.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – Wembley Stadium, London, UK
On Sunday, October 1, the Jacksonville Jaguars host a London home game when they face the Atlanta Falcons. This is the 10th time in 11 years that the Jaguars have played in London. Jacksonville and the rest of the NFL skipped the series in 2020 because of COVID-19.
Jacksonville is 4-5 in games in London, and this is only the second time they will make the trip across the Atlantic as a playoff winner the season before.
The Falcons last played in the International Series in 2021, when they beat the Jets, 27-20. The Falcons lost to the Lions, 22-21, at Wembley Stadium in 2014.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
The Jaguars will stay in London following their Week 4 game with the Falcons and make their first appearances as the road team for an International Series game. The Bills are the home team in their October 8 matchup, making their first visit to England since they lost to Jacksonville in 2015.
These are two playoff teams from last season, with two of the best young quarterbacks in football. BetUS.com has Buffalo at +450 to win the AFC, the second-shortest odds on the board. Jacksonville is paying +1200 to win the conference.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
Quarterback Lamar Jackson has his new contract with the Ravens, and the Titans have a new quarterback in rookie Will Levis. Ryan Tannehill is still the incumbent under center, but perhaps by their Week 6 game in London on October 15, Levis will be playing.
The Ravens have Super Bowl aspirations after securing the future of Jackson, and are giving him new wide receiver targets in Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers. BetUS.com has Baltimore at +1200 to win the AFC.
Tennessee is hitting a rebuild, with trade rumors swirling around Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry. At BetOnline.ag, Will Levis is paying +2500 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Frankfurt Stadium, Frankfurt, Germany
Tyreek Hill has been looking forward to returning to Kansas City as a member of the Miami Dolphins. But he will have to wait until at least the postseason, with the Dolphins regular season game against the Chiefs now scheduled to take place in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 5.
Last year, the NFL made its first regular season trip to Germany, when the Buccaneers beat the Seahawks in Munich.
With Hill, Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce, this first of two games in Frankfurt may be the most star-studded of the International Series games this year.
The Chiefs are 2-0 all-time outside of the United States, winning in London in 2015 and Mexico City in 2019. The Dolphins have played five games in London, winning just once.
Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots – Frankfurt Stadium, Frankfurt, Germany
The final of the five International Series games, on November 12 is the only matchup that doesn’t feature a playoff team from the year before. It features the Indianapolis Colts, playing their first game outside of the United States since 2016, against the New England Patriots, returning to the International Series for the first time since 2017.
The Patriots beat the Raiders in Mexico City in 2017, and also won games in London in 2009 and 2012.
There is excitement in Indianapolis with Florida rookie Anthony Richardson as the new quarterback, and former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen as the new head coach. In New England, there is hope that the return of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien will unlock quarterback Mac Jones and last year’s 26th-ranked offense. When O’Brien was last with New England in 2011, the offense ranked second in the NFL.