Redskins could play consecutive '16 games in London

The NFL announced the three-game UK International Series schedule for 2016, which will include a new stadium and at least three teams that will be making their first appearance in the series.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be the home team against the Indianapolis Colts in a Week 4 game at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 2; the St. Louis Rams will play host to an NFC East team in a Week 7 game on Oct. 23 in the first NFL game played at Twickenham Stadium; and the Cincinnati Bengals will play host to the Washington Redskins in a Week 8 game at Wembley on Oct. 30.

According to the scheduling formula, the Rams' opponent will be Philadelphia in the Eagles' first appearance in the series, the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants, or the Redskins becoming the first team to play consecutive games in London. The Rams will play the team that finishes in the identical place in the NFC East standings as St. Louis' finish in the NFC West.

The Redskins were quick to highlight that both potential games would be played as a road team, preserving the team's eight-game home schedule.

"We are excited to showcase the Washington Redskins on an international stage," Redskins owner Daniel Snyder said. "We are honored to help grow the game overseas."

The Jaguars will be playing in London for the fourth consecutive year after committing to playing a home game at Wembley every year from 2013-16, an agreement that was extended to 2020. This will be their first division game in London, and the Colts' first game in the international series. They have played preseason games in Mexico City, Tokyo and Toronto.

The Bengals will lose a home game in Cincinnati next season, but city mayor John Cranley called it "an opportunity for us to show an international audience what Cincinnati is all about.

"I can't think of a better way for us to leverage one of our best assets, the Bengals, to promote our city to businesses and tourists in the U.K.."

At the end of the 2016 season, 23 or 24 of the NFL's 32 teams will have played in the UK series since the current format began in 2007.

"The passion our UK fans have shown for the NFL is overwhelming," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We are very appreciative of the strong and growing fan support, not only for the games, but for all of the related NFL events we host in the UK throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming new fans to their first NFL game in 2016 and welcoming back thousands of others that are helping our sport grow to new levels of popularity in London and beyond."