NFL Week 4 Preview: An International Affair

9/26/2014

The 2014 International Series is set to get underway in Week 4, with the Oakland Raiders hosting the Miami Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium. It will be the first of three games to be played in the United Kingdom this season.

other two games, which will also be played at Wembley, feature the Atlanta Falcons against the Detroit Lions in Week 8 (October 28th) and the Jacksonville Jaguars hosting the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10 (November 9th).

The International Series has seen some very close contests. In the first eight games, five have been decided by one score.

The eight regular-season games played at Wembley Stadium

October 27, 2013
San Francisco 49ers 42
Jacksonville Jaguars 10

September 29, 2013
Minnesota Vikings 34
Pittsburgh Steelers 27

October 28, 2012
New England Patriots 45
St. Louis Rams 7

October 23, 2011
Chicago Bears 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 18

October 31, 2010
San Francisco 49ers 24
Denver Broncos 16

October 25, 2009
New England Patriots 35
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7

October 26, 2008
New Orleans Saints 37
San Diego Chargers 32

October 28, 2007
New York Giants 13
Miami Dolphins 10

Landmark wins

With a victory on Sunday night against New Orleans (NBC, 8:30 PM ET), the DALLAS COWBOYS will earn their 500th total victory. Including playoffs, the Cowboys currently own a 499-374-6 all-time record.

With a victory Sunday against Chicago, the Green Bay Packers will become the second team in NFL history with 700 regular-season wins. Green Bay would join the Bears (732-535-42) as the only teams to accomplish the feat.

The teams with the most regular-season wins in NFL history

Chicago Bears: 732-535-42
Green Bay Packers: 699-539-37
New York Giants: 662-549-33
Pittsburgh Steelers: 571-520-20
Washington Redskins: 566-548-27

It's still early

In the first three weeks of 2014, 29 of the 32 clubs (90.6 percent) earned one or more wins, including 26 (81.3 percent) which own a 2-1 or 1-2 record. Both are the second-highest such totals in a season through three games since realignment in 2002.

The 29 teams with at least one victory through Week 3 is the second-most through three games since realignment in 2002 (30, 2012). If two of the three remaining winless teams – JACKSONVILLE (at San Diego), OAKLAND (vs. Miami in London, England) and TAMPA BAY (at Pittsburgh) – win this week, 2014 will have the most teams with one or more victories through four games since realignment.

Rising Rodgers

Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS needs 106 passing yards on Sunday against Chicago to reach 25,000 for his career. In his 98th game, Rodgers would become the fourth fastest quarterback to reach the 25,000-yard mark. Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (92), PEYTON MANNING (97) and KURT WARNER (97) have reached the 25,000-yard mark in the fewest number of games in NFL history.

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