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NFL schedules four London games in 2017

By The Sports Xchange
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to media during his annual Super Bowl press conference prior to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco on February 5, 2016. Goodell spoke on Los Angeles's new football team, player safety and guidelines and announced that an NFL game will be played in Mexico. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
1 of 3 | NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks to media during his annual Super Bowl press conference prior to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco on February 5, 2016. Goodell spoke on Los Angeles's new football team, player safety and guidelines and announced that an NFL game will be played in Mexico. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

The tradition of football across the pond will continue in 2017.

For the 11th consecutive season, the NFL scheduled regular season games in London. The league has played 17 games in the British capital dating back to 2007, including three in 2016.

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The 2017 schedule features four games between the Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 24 or Oct. 1), the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins (Sept. 24/Oct. 1), the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns (Oct. 22/Oct. 29), and the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams (Oct. 22/Oct. 29).

The NFL had never scheduled more than three London games in a season before.

It marks the fifth consecutive game abroad for the Jaguars and the fourth overall for the Dolphins. Miami lost to the New York Giants 13-10 in the inaugural London game on Oct. 28, 2007.

The Saints, Vikings and Rams (in L.A.) are playing for the second time in London, while the Ravens, Browns and Cardinals are all playing overseas for the first time.

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After the 2016-17 season, 26 of the league's 32 teams will have played at least one game in London.

The 2017 slate will be split between historic Wembley and Twickenham Stadiums. All but one of the league's London games was played at Wembley, with this year's Giants-Rams tilt taking place at Twickenham.

The Vikings-Browns and Cardinals-Rams contests will both be played at Twickenham. The Jaguars, Dolphins, Browns and Rams will all be palying as the home teams.

According to the NFL, football viewership in the United Kingdom has doubled and Super Bowl viewership has increased by more than 75 percent since the league began playing in London.

The league also claims participation in amateur football grew 15 percent during that timeframe, with figures from Sport England stating over 40,000 people ages 14 and older are regularly playing the sport.

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