Patriots punish Rams at Wembley

New England Patriots' Tom Brady directs his team-mates at Wembley Stadium
29 October 2012

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been one of the more vocal supporters of the NFL's annual trip to London and now we know why.

Three years after their 35-7 demolition of Tampa Bay here, his team enjoyed another Wembley rout as they brushed aside the self-destructing St Louis Rams 45-7 behind an outstanding display from star quarterback Tom Brady.

Before the game, Kraft lent his support to the notion of London one day becoming the permanent home to a league franchise, but until that day comes perhaps he ought to schedule in a few more trips to old England for his Patriots. His opposite number - Rams and Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke - will instead be happy his team backed out of plans to come here again in 2013 and 2014.

Theoretically this was a 'home' game for the Rams, who gave up a contest in St Louis to be here, but it was played in front of a sell-out crowd dominated by Patriots jerseys and they were treated to a vintage display from the on-fire Brady.

The 35-year-old completed his first eight passes and eventually piled up 304 yards and four touchdown passes.

The lop-sided nature of the game did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd, the second-largest in the six-year history of the NFL's International Series at Wembley, and an immediate return to sell-out status after last year's crowd of 77,000 - a number affected by the league's labour lockout that had threatened the game going ahead at all.

That will come as welcome news to NFL UK as they prepare for 2013, when Wembley will host two games in the space of a month - a more serious test of the fan base loyalty this side of the Atlantic.

If they can pass that test, the idea of a London franchise will come closer to reality. Perhaps Kraft will be the first to make an offer.

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