 Wembley 2007
Miami Dolphins vs New York Giants
Game Day
28/10/2007
Wembley Report, Game Day
Some highlights from the Diner from inside Wembley
By now, we all know what happened at Wembley yesterday: a sloppy New York outlasted a sodden Miami in an unexciting tilt on a chewed up playing field.
But no-one will tell you they didn’t have a great time at Wembley. There were near misses (red zones passes; field goals), fireworks (in the literal sense), cheerleaders (in the dios mio! sense), a streaking zebra (in the illegal sense), even a close finish, as Miami attempted an onside kick after Ted Ginn’s leaping touchdown catch.
 Though the game moved quickly because so many of both teams’ play calls were runs and high percentage passes within bounds, there was sufficient time to be impressed by the power running of Brandon Jacobs and the shiftiness of Jesse Chatman alike.
That the Giants, in particular, missed on a series of possible big plays with both Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer (twice) just missing out on touchdown receptions was blamed by HC Tom Coughlin on the state of the playing surface in today’s Giants’ press conference (see separate feature on The Diner). With Wembley’s grass cut short for football (soccer) and a wall of rain, the field soon became, as Coughlin called it, a quagmire. It’s something the NFL will want to address should there be another NFL game in London next year.
Coughlin went on to suggest that, were it not for the weather, the Giants could’ve scored some serious points because, when dry, it’s a fast track out there.
 But for those in attendance, the event far outweighed the mediocrity of the actual match. Some fond Diner memories of the first ever regular season NFL game played outside the Americas:
Plaxico Burress just failing to hold on to an Eli Manning deep ball in the end zone on the Giants opening possession. Dolphin DE Matt Roth’s vicious, fumble-causing hit on Manning. Cleo Lemon somehow throwing a fumble blame the rain.  An official or so we thought running onto the pitch to streak. FD’s stream of consciousness: Hey, that official’s jogging onto the field from a strange angle; Wait, is he taking his trousers off?; Hang on, that’s not an official; Wow, how come he can moonwalk on a pitch that everyone else is falling over on?; He’s even doing pressups now; He’s been out there a long time without security stopping him I bet Lemon wished he was getting that kind of time. Lemon’s patented scrambling. And noodle arm. Along with the rest of the Wembley crowd, yelling that’s another Dolphin FIRST DOWN! when prompted by the announcer. Modifying this chant to another Dolphin THREE AND OUT and, later on, LOSS. Waving to the cheerleaders. One of them was looing right at me, I swear. There was a real connection.  Listening to the drunk guy next to us chanting get your tickets out for the lads to those same cheerleaders. Wanting to be in any seat other than the one next to him immediately afterwards.
Lawrence Tynes somehow missing a short range field goal. He just yanked it, said Coughlin this morning while giving him a lukewarm vote of confidence. Ginn’s big touchdown catch. The Diner winning 70 on a bet that he would score the last touchdown. See, we really do know what we’re talking about. The excitement of that final drive and the failed onside kick. What about you? If you’ve got some photos of your day then send them in for our Wembley Gallery.
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