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Best NFL International Games of All Time: 2023 Edition

Each year fans are treated to NFL international games as the National Football League takes football beyond American borders.

Best NFL International Games

From London’s Wembley Stadium to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, we recount the 10 best NFL international games that has showcased the global appeal of America’s favorite sport, captivated fans worldwide.

10. New York Giants 13 – Miami Dolphins 10 (2007)

The NFL launched the International Series in 2007 in front of 81,176 fans, with the New York Giants playing the Miami Dolphins in London. Playing in typical English rain, the Giants took a 10-0 lead at half time led by Eli Manning.

New York went on to win the sloppy game 13-10. The Dolphins finished the season 1-15. The Giants on the other hand went on to win Super Bowl XLII, becoming the fifth wild card team to win the championship.

9. Oakland Raiders 24 – Chicago Bears 21 (2019)

The first NFL game at the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium saw the first meeting between the Raiders and their former superstar outside linebacker Khalil Mack. With 60,463 fans in attendance, they witnessed one of the best NFL international games.

Oakland scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter, Chicago responding with 21 of their own in the third. With less than two minutes to play Raiders running back Josh Jacobs scored a game winning two-yard touchdown.

It was the last time the Raiders would play in the International NFL Series as Oakland, as they relocate and become the Las Vegas Raiders the year after.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars 23 – Miami Dolphins 20 (2021)

The 2021 NFL International Series would see the Jacksonville Jaguars up against the Miami Dolphins in London. Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit Jaylen Waddle with a two-yard touchdown pass to put the Dolphins up 20-17 early in the final quarter.

Jaguars kicker Matthew Wright responded with two field goals from beyond 50 yards, including a 53-yarder as time expired for the win.

It was a loss that would see the Dolphins miss out on the playoffs, and the Jaguars going on to finish the season 3-14.

7. San Diego Chargers 32 – New Orleans Saints 37 (2008)

One of the best NFL international games of all time was the 2008 shootout between San Diego’s Philip Rivers and New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees.

Both teams had more than 400 yards of offense with 83,226 fans witnessing high scoring, offensive American football at it’s best.

Rivers and Brees delivered an aerial assault for the ages. Both quarterbacks threw three touchdowns, and the pair combined for 680 yards. It was the Saints however who won an entertaining game 37-32.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars 30 – Indianapolis Colts 27 (2016)

The 2016 matchup between the Jaguars and Colts at Wembley Stadium marked the 10th anniversary of the NFL International Series. Despite being in control for most of the game, Jacksonville almost threw the game away.

Up 23-6 at the end of the third quarter, Andrew Luck almost pulled off the comeback for the Colts with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis ran out of time and luck, and fell to the Jags 30-27.

5. Atlanta Falcons 34 – Buffalo Bills 31 (2013)

In 2013 the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills went toe-for-toe in front of 38,969 fans in Toronto as part of the Bills Toronto Series. Despite the ordinary crowd, the players delivered one of the best NFL international games ever.

At the end of regulation time the scores were tied at 31-31. A pair of late fumbles cost the Bills dearly, spilling the ball at the end of regulation time and to start overtime.

The Falcons returned the fumble for good field position to begin overtime. Matt Bryant hit the game-winning field goal from 36 yards for Atlanta, and the Bills blew a chance to stay in the postseason hunt.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars 34 – Buffalo Bills 31 (2015)

The Jaguars led 27-13 heading into the fourth quarter of the 2015 NFL International Series game held at Wembley Stadium. The Bills came back and scored 18 unanswered points, taking the lead with about five minutes to play.

Corey Graham then intercepted a Blake Bortles’ pass and returned it for a 44-yard touchdown. Bortles responded by throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Allen Hurns which was enough to win the game and deliver one of the best NFL international games of all time.

3. Washington Redskins 27 – Cincinnati Bengals 27 (2016)

London delivered another classic NFL International Series game with the Redskins and Bengals clash in 2016. In front of a bumper crowd of 84,488, Washington tied the game at 27-27 with just over a minute to play following a 40-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal.

In the final minutes of overtime, Hopkins missed a field goal attempt to win the game, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton also crucially fumbled the ball, and Kirk Cousins’ Hail Mary attempt failed.

The game summed up both the Redskins and Bengals seasons, with both teams finishing third in their division and missing out on the playoffs.

2. Los Angeles Chargers 20 – Tennessee Titans 19 (2018)

The 2018 NFL International Series delivered a game for the ages between the Chargers and Titans. With five minutes to play Marcus Mariota hit Luke Stocker with a one-yard touchdown pass to finish off an 89-yard drive with 31 seconds remaining.

Instead of the extra-point, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel decided to go for the two-point conversion. Mariota’s pass attempt to Taywan Taylor was tipped away by Adrian Phillips and the Chargers won by one.

1. Detroit Lions 22 – Atlanta Falcons 21 (2014)

In the 2014 edition of the NFL International Series, the Detroit Lions were down 21-0 at half time after Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons raced out to an early advantage.

Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Lions got themselves back into the game with touchdown passes to Golden Tate and Theo Riddick, which saw Stafford become the Lions’ all-time leading touchdown passer in the process.

After positioning themselves against a tough Falcons defense, Detroit’s Matt Prater landed a 48-yard field goal as time expired for the win in the best NFL international game of all time.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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