Whilst we’re used to Fumbling in American End Zones, today’s column is slightly different. With the game between the Saints and Chargers at Wembley having taken place at the weekend, I’m going to give y’all my thoughts and emotions on the event, as well as my stories from the locker room.

The London Experience

Waking up on Sunday morning to hear the rain falling steadily outside was not a pleasant experience. ‘Why now, of all times, do you have to allow it to rain?’ I said to myself, which in retrospect is a bit odd. The weather had been beautiful all week, and following last year’s game between the Dolphins and Giants which might as well have been played in Skegness, I was looking forward to watching two high powered offences playing uninhibited football.

Thankfully, my fears were unfounded as somehow the weather held out for the day. I arrived at Wembley at around half two, and headed straight for the Tailgate party which was taking place in the vicinity of the stadium. As I sauntered in with my press pass feeling all-high powered, I began to crave a lovely beer, and had high hopes that the queues would be reasonable. I was seriously wrong.

At one point, I went into main the tent to try and get a lovely refreshing bruski, only to decide that there was a queue the size of a snake that had been enlarged 50 million times due to radiation. Perhaps my press pass could have got me served quickly, but I was far too scared of the various men hanging around the queues with enormous hair cuts and big arms. I decided to move on.

After having a brief rendezvous with an American friend of mine who was at the game and giving an interview together to San Diego local TV, it was time for work. I went into the stadium with my colleague (and NFL supreme picker) Martin Gough and dumped my stuff in the press area. With my pass enabling me to go down on the field, I took the opportunity to have a look at the state of the lawn first hand (as well as imagine what it must feel like to run out on to the field for a big game: amazing).

Satisfied that we were indeed in for the Glastonbury version of Wembley for the second year running (which thankfully did not materialise), I took my seat in the stands. I had several questions running through my head: What would the atmosphere be like? Would the Saints get the majority of the support? Will the game live up to expectation and be a high scoring affair? What do cheerleaders do once they’ve retired?

From the outset, it was clear that the NFL had succeeded into turning the game into a ‘home’ one for the Saints. The Chargers were booed when they ran out, heckled throughout the game and played the part of the away team extraordinarily well. The crowd, who were boisterous and loud throughout the course of the game, pleasantly surprised me. It really did feel like everyone in the stadium was pulling for the Saints which helped the atmosphere immensely and got everyone involved who might have otherwise been neutral. The anthems were once again emotional and extraordinarily long, but I was pleased to see both of them being respected.

With the anthems over and the weirdly botched player entrance having taken place, it was game time.

The game itself!

I really don't think the NFL could have hoped for much more than what the Saints and Chargers provided. 860 yards, plenty of quality TDs, some great Tomlinson runs, two defences that struggled to defend the pass and a crowd which really built on last year's game to provide a great atmosphere. The game also went down to the final second which is quite an achievement considering that the Saints led 37-20 during the 4th quarter.

How good was Drew Brees? Whether or not he had a point to prove is open to debate but boy did he play well. He is quite easily the league's top QB at the moment.

The only slight let down was the number of penalties conceded by the Chargers which slowed down the pace of the game, but overall it was a wonderful advert for the sport.

In The Locker Room

It was a bizarre and wonderful experience to be allowed into the locker rooms at the end of the game. It’s a testament to the players that they are so approachable and willing to talk despite the fact that most of them are standing around in their pants (good work), and here are some of the comments I picked up post-game. Firstly, I went into the San Diego locker room, in which the atmosphere was comparable to finding out that the birthday party you’re about to go to will be held in a morgue; not good.

Darren Sproles, RB, Chargers: I found Dazza looking extremely miserable and downhearted which is fair enough considering his team had just lost. He wasn’t in the mood for talking, but did say that ‘the game was similar to one in the US. About the same. I don’t know what went wrong today, but we can still make the playoffs. I know we can.

Legedu Naanee, WR, Chargers: A lovely guy who, despite clearly being pretty depressed, was happy to chat to me. ‘It was a good experience, we liked the crowd atmosphere. We didn’t know what to expect, how the fans would cheer. But it was similar to the US, and I definitely think there should be more games here.’

Kassim Osgood, WR, Chargers: ‘It was fun coming over here experience a new place and a new stadium, I think the fans really enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure that the fans here are really knowledgeable about football. But we started playing too late today, we have to execute plays better early in the game.’

Having chatted to some San Diego players, I wandered down to the Saints dressing room. By this point, I was used to seeing men walking around in towels or pants, and started to feel as though I should also be in my favourite pair of undies too given that it's my standard attire on a Sunday night. However, I had a job to do, and I can announce that my new favourite player is officially Roman Harper.

Roman Harper, SS, Saints: What a guy. Not only was he incredibly friendly, but we also had a great chat about fast food. Having told him about the air of death in the Chargers’ locker room, Harper said he was ‘pleased to be in this room. We came out on top man, it really felt like a home game. I want to thank the fans here, I thought it would be both ways and them just cheering for football, but they didn’t say anything for San Diego. It really pumped us up, it really felt good. The food is great here too.’ (He did actually say the latter, which makes me love him even more.)

At this point we spoke for two minutes about which country has better golden arches, with Harper suggesting that the burgers here are better. It was a great debate, and I fully intend to interview him once again in December when I come back from New York. Top man.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints: Standing with his top off and ridiculous muscles out, I got the chance to ask a couple of questions to the man who led the Saints’ receiving effort. ‘I knew the crowd was going to be great. It definitely felt like a home game for us. I definitely wouldn’t trade this experience. We had fun and it was unbelievable.’

Jeremy Shockey, TE, Saints: An intimidating colossus, but very nice to speak to! I managed to corner him before the rest of the media managed to, and here is what he had to say about his second time in London: ‘It was just as exciting as the first time. The main thing was to come out with the win and we did it. The atmosphere was different this year, it was louder and the fans here were great. I can’t lie though, I did miss the streaker.’ I asked him whether he’d trade to come back to London again next year. He laughed and said ‘I don’t know man. I can’t tell the future, who knows.’ So it’s possible then...

Deuce McCallister, RB, Saints: Far too scary to approach.

The section which is in this week but will probably never appear again...Week 8 NFL thoughts!

UPDATE: How on earth I forgot to mention the missed extra point kick I'll never know. My colleague Martin was so shocked he was actually open-mouthed, it was a great moment.

1. Will people take the Giants seriously now? 6-1 and they just beat the Steelers. Eat that! Man that feels good to write.

2. Seriously, what do cheerleaders do once they've retired? I just can't imagine what jobs they can get post-cheering.

3. Roger Goodell says that the NFL is considering playing 2 games per year in the UK. Will there be enough interest?

4. Oooooo Cowboys, only just keeping with the pace in the NFC East. New York are coming for you!

5. The Cardinals and Kurt Warner continue to impress despite playing against a hugely impressive Panthers team.

Giant douche award

My words on my notepad: 'Douche= Vincent Jackson, start of second half'. Why? Because at the start of the third quarter with the Chargers trailing 17-23, Rivers threw a deep pass to VJ which, had he of caught it, would have given San Diego the lead. He was as free as a hen living on a nice farm, but he still couldn't catch the ball. Game defining? Possibly. Worthy of a douche award? Definitely.

The Raiders 8-8 Prediction Watch

Just as well it’s a shortened column this week or I’d be berating the Raiders for getting humiliated by the Ravens and slipping to 2-5 in the process. Cheers boys!

Woe is my Fantasy Football team…:

Not good, but I still have a chance of going 5-3. ‘Cupid Stunts’ have several big players playing tonight though, and I’m only leading by 20 points…

Monday Night Football Predictions

Colts Vs Titans

A tough one to call, but I'm going to go for the Colts despite the fact that it flies in the face of everything we've seen from either team so far this season. They'll (probably not) come away with a 21-18 win.

A shortened Fumble this week but we’ll be back to the same old rubbish next week. It was a fantastic night in London, bring on next year! Did you enjoy the game? …