Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has admitted that his Super Bowl champions will be at a disadvantage when they meet London regulars the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley this weekend.
However, the 50-year-old believes the experience of playing in last season’s Super Bowl will make up for his side’s lack of experience in dealing with the transatlantic challenge.
Sunday’s game will be Philadelphia’s first in the NFL International Series. By contrast, the Jaguars will be playing in their sixth London game, and have won at Wembley in each of the past three seasons.
As an east coast team, the logistical challenges facing the Eagles are not as severe as those faced by fellow Wembley first-timers the Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago, but when asked whether the Jaguars’ experience gave them a head start, Pederson said: “I think it can be [an advantage]. They're familiar with the city, they're familiar with the travel aspect of it, they've got it down.
“I think it can be a little bit of an advantage but both teams are in the definitely in the same position today, feeling the same things.”
The Eagles benefitted from a formidable home record en route to winning the Super Bowl last season, winning seven of their eight regular season games at Lincoln Financial Field, with the only defeat coming on the final day of the season, once qualification had been assured.
They also enjoyed home-field advantage in both rounds of the playoffs, but Pederson says the experience of travelling to Minnesota for the Super Bowl will stand them in good stead for the trip to London.
“The biggest thing is that we're just all together,” he said. “We're not scattered out like if we're in Philly or we're back home.
“I think last year in the post-season, our last game of the year being away, and how to prepare for that, and travel, and being in a hotel, living out of a hotel, also prepares you for an opportunity like this.
“We're all together and it's just us so it brings us together just a little bit.”
Courtyard by Marriott, Official Hotel of the NFL, is giving you the chance to go to Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on February 3rd 2019. Log onto facebook.com/courtyard for your chance to win
