Dolphins will look like fish out of water at NFL 's Wembley showpiece

NFL / Editor / 25 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

US journalist Andrew Joseph can see the Giants ruining Miami's day out in London - on the field at least

Sorry to say this folks, but the NFL's first regular season game held overseas probably won't be an instant classic.

The two teams playing -- the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins -- are headed in opposite directions and the game could be over by halftime.

Miami, once one of the elite teams in the NFL, are winless so far, 0-7 for the season. So don't expect them to pick up their first victory of the season Sunday at sold-out Wembley Stadium.

The team's one bright spot, running back Ronnie Brown, will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of a knee injury suffered in last week's loss to the New England Patriots.
Coming into Sunday's game he led the NFL in yards from scrimmage and had reached the 100-yard rushing mark four consecutive games. In his place will be Jesse Chatman, Patrick Cobbs and Lorenzo Booker, not exactly marquee names over here let alone over there. Most fans in the U.S. would have trouble picking any of those guys out of a crowd.

On defense, the Dolphins are just plain old. Linebacker Zach Thomas, a Pro Bowl player in his prime, is 34, while teammate Jason Taylor, last season's Defensive Player of the Year, is 33 and on the downside of his career.

Last week against the unbeaten New England Patriots, probably the league's top team, the Dolphins allowed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to throw five touchdown passes in the first half and trailed 42-7. They eventually lost 49-28 but the game was over by the end of the first quarter.

The Giants, on the other hand, are riding a five-game winning streak and are one of the hottest teams in the NFL.

They are winning with contributions from everywhere. The team's offence and defence ranks third in the NFC but, again, a diehard NFL fan would have trouble recognizing many of these Giant players.

Michael Strahan is the biggest name player on the defense but he's past his prime and is actually fourth on the team in sacks.

On offence, Manning is the quarterback. But it's Eli not Peyton. He's a decent quarterback but nothing like his older brother. His favorite receiver is Plaxico Burress who has eight touchdown receptions, tops in the NFC.

The Giants should have little problem with the Dolphins Sunday but regardless of the score it should be an interesting day in London.

And if the NFL likes what it sees, perhaps another game with more eveningly matched teams will be scheduled there next year.

Recently, NFL commisioner Roger Goodell, suggested the league would look into someday playing the Super Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL, in London.

Don't do it Roger. It's one thing to play an occasional regular season game overseas. But the Super Bowl? Are you kidding? What would England think if David Beckham starting playing soccer in the United States?

Then again, perhaps a precedent has been set...