/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62677934/1052736790.jpg.0.jpg)
For all intents and purposes, this year’s international game was a success for the Los Angeles Chargers organization. Not only did they receive a good amount of fan support, but the team won a hard fought game against the Titans that served as the middle slice of a 6-win sandwich (okay, one of two middle slices).
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13621738/CurseOfBalognaB.jpg)
And while, yes, the October 21st game was overshadowed by discussions of LA viability for the franchise, it was a success all-around. The Chargers enjoyed one of the warmest home environments they received all year, even if it took a grueling plane ride to enjoy it.
Today, the NFL released its fairly unsurprising list of international home teams for next year.
There will be 5 @NFL games played internationally in 2019 - 4 in London & 1 in Mexico City. Details to follow next spring, but the home teams are @Jaguars @Chargers @RamsNFL @Raiders @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/bi0kDDy9yX
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) December 12, 2018
No word yet on which teams play where or when, and the only team that was guaranteed to be part of this series was the Jacksonville Jaguars. Why?
On July 8, 2015, the NFL and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. announced they had reached a 10-year deal to host at least two London Games a year at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium from its opening season in 2018. Additionally, on October 7, 2015, the league announced that a resolution had been passed to schedule international games at additional locations to London until 2025.
Subsequently, on October 22, 2015 it was confirmed that at least two games per season would remain at Wembley through at least 2020 and that the Jacksonville Jaguars will continue to play a home game there annually throughout the agreement.
The Chargers are under no such contract to play internationally, but they are one of the better candidates for it as it expands the available seating, the team receives good support abroad, and, frankly, it is the least harmful franchise to ‘steal’ a non-home home field advantage from.
Opponents will not be confirmed until after this NFL season is completed, but rumors might just start to slip before the official confirmation next year.
-Jason “Still promoting charge cards to rack up those air miles” Michaels