Packers will play first international regular-season game at Tottenham Stadium in London, favored on NFL odds to host Giants or Patriots
The Green Bay Packers will finally play an international regular-season game.
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The only team in the NFL yet to play an international regular-season game was the Green Bay Packers, but a few weeks ago we speculated they would play one in 2022 because all NFC teams have an extra home game because of the added 17th game – all the AFC teams had the extra one at home in 2021. It has been made official that Green Bay will host a game from London's Tottenham Stadium with the opponent TBA, although SportsLine oddsmakers favor the opponent as the New York Giants or New England Patriots.
The NFL is expected to release its full 2022 schedule May 12, but the international games, the Thanksgiving games and the Kickoff Game – this year hosted by the Los Angeles Rams – usually leak out well ahead of time. The NFL's International Series began in 2007 and the Packers weren't willing to give up a home game because they generate so much money (reportedly $15 million) for the league's smallest market.
As a result of a home London game, the Packers will host nine games at Lambeau Field this year instead of the usual 10, eight regular-season games and one preseason game. The Packers have played internationally during the preseason on three occasions: in Toronto in 1997, Tokyo in 1998 and Winnipeg in 2019.
"This is something the league office has been talking to us for a long time about. We were the last team to play a game internationally," Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said. "The fans there are really going to relate well to the Packers organization. It's a great opportunity for NFL fans in Europe to become more familiar with the Packers and be more likely to come to Lambeau for a game in the future."
The Packers per usual host the division rival Bears, Lions and Vikings in addition to the Cowboys, Rams, Giants, Patriots, Jets and Titans. It has been very rare for the NFL to schedule an intradivision game for London. Last season, the two London games were Jets-Falcons and Dolphins-Jaguars. Thus, the Jets are long shots as the league won't want to send the same team over in back-to-back years.
The Rams would be a marquee matchup, but L.A. would obviously be at a huge disadvantage flying to London from the West Coast. Dallas is another marquee opponent, but would the NFL really want that from London and perhaps at 9:30 a.m. ET? The Titans just played in London in 2018. Chicago and Minnesota are huge rivalry games and belong at Lambeau.
The Giants and Patriots both make a ton of sense as they are on the East Coast, so it's an easier flight. New England last played in London in 2012 (Mexico City in 2017) and New York in 2016.
We should have clarity by March 8 whether Aaron Rodgers will be a member of the Packers in 2022.
The Saints also were selected to play in the second game at Tottenham Hotspur next season, while Jacksonville will play a home game at Wembley Stadium in London. The Cardinals were selected to play in Mexico City with the Buccaneers kicking off the NFL's inaugural regular-season game in Munich, Germany.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Which team will the Packers host in London?
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