The essentials

TV/streaming vary by region — check your provider listings. Tottenham entry uses a restricted bag policy (details below).

Why this one matters

Records & momentum: Minnesota arrive 2–2 after a gritty Week 4 trip to Dublin that ended in a narrow 24–21 loss to Pittsburgh, the NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland. Cleveland are 1–3 after an uneven start and have made a headline change at quarterback for London. International windows are small but loud — points in the bank here can swing early-season narrative and tie-breakers come December.

Quarterbacks: The Browns have handed the keys to rookie Dillon Gabriel, benching veteran Joe Flacco. It’s Gabriel’s first NFL start and the rarest of debuts — overseas, on a neutral field. The Vikings will again lean on veteran Carson Wentz with first-rounder J.J. McCarthy ruled out (ankle). Both teams have leaned into quick answers on offence, so expect a scripted, rhythm-throws feel early as coordinators hunt the easy yards.

Series history: Minnesota lead the all-time series 12–5 and also beat Cleveland in London back in 2017 (Twickenham, 33–16). The most recent meeting went the Browns’ way, a defence-led 14–7 win in 2021. That blend — Vikings’ broader edge, Browns’ recent bite — gives this one real jeopardy.

London conditions & the Tottenham surface

Forecast (Sun): Mostly cloudy, cool and breezy in North London — low-to-mid teens °C (around 15–17°C / ~59–63°F), a low chance of showers, and moderate winds (single digits to low teens mph). That’s good gridiron weather: kickers mind the cross-breeze, playcallers keep a lid on long, floaty throws to the boundary.

Surface: Tottenham is purpose-built for the NFL with a retractable natural grass pitch for Spurs and a dedicated synthetic NFL field underneath, plus NFL-specific locker rooms and broadcast/medical facilities. The NFL field sits ~1.6m below the grass, improving sightlines for American football and keeping sideline staff from blocking front-row views. The conversion is slick — the grass splits into three giant trays and slides under the South Stand, revealing the NFL surface. Translation: consistent footing, fast play, proper hashmarks and numbers — exactly what coaches want.

Tottenham’s NFL configuration has hosted record crowds and multiple London games since 2019. It’s the league’s only purpose-built home outside the US.

Availability — headlines only

• 🧠
  Vikings QB

  J.J. McCarthy is out again (ankle). Carson Wentz starts. Minnesota’s OL depth has been tested the past two weeks; protection plans (chips, slides, quick game) will matter.
• 💥
  Browns QB

  Dillon Gabriel gets his first NFL start. Expect a firm run/pass mix and designed movement to simplify pictures.
• 🛡️
  Defence watch

  Cleveland’s front — headlined by Myles Garrett — versus a patched Vikings line is a central lever. On the other side, Brian Flores loves simulated pressures and post-snap rotations; that’s a tough first read for a debutant.

Final inactives post ~90 minutes before kickoff; check our Live Wall thread for last-minute changes.

What to watch (football bits, not fluff)

• ⚒️
  Protection & pressure

  Recent tape shows Wentz can move the ball in rhythm but gets strained by steady heat — six sacks in Dublin told the tale. If Garrett and friends win early downs, Minnesota’s explosives must come off play-action or scramble-drill shots to Justin Jefferson.
• 🧭
  Flores vs a rookie

  Flores crafts creepers and disguise. Expect mugged A-gaps pre-snap, then late rotations to trap first reads. Gabriel’s answer: ID the pressure, take the freebies (hots, RB screens), then pick your shot calls carefully.
• 📏
  Field position & specials

  Tottenham’s NFL surface plays quick and true. With a breeze, coaches may steal hidden yards via directional punting and return games. And yes — the blocked-kick meta remains real; operation times matter.
• 📈
  Game script

  If Cleveland controls tempo on the ground, the game compresses and a low-to-mid total favours the Browns. If Minnesota forces a track-meet, Wentz-to-Jefferson plus YAC from Hockenson/Nailor can tilt it purple.

History corner (keep for pub chat)

All-time: Vikings lead 12–5 across 17 meetings (includes postseason). Recent trend: Browns have nicked two of the last three, including a 14–7 grind in 2021 at Minneapolis. London link: The same two met across the pond in 2017 — Minnesota won 33–16 at Twickenham. The Vikings also beat the Steelers at Wembley in 2013 and the Saints at Tottenham in 2022, building a tidy UK record.

Fan guide — Tottenham tips

• 👜
  Bag policy

  Tottenham operate a restricted bag policy — personal bags must be A4 or smaller (approx 21×30 cm), or use a clear bag up to 30×30 cm. NFL events also accept clear bags up to 12″×6″×12″. There’s no large bag creche; travel light.
• 🚇
  Travel

  Arrive early. Stadium opens ~two hours pre-kick. Transport for London advise checking live updates; post-game queues at White Hart Lane / Seven Sisters are normal — factor 20–40 minutes.
• 🏟️
  NFL-ready stadium

  Purpose-built NFL surface, dedicated locker rooms and broadcast/medical facilities. The retractable grass pitch slides under the South Stand to reveal the NFL turf — conversion takes under an hour.

Join the Live Wall

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Today’s plan (BST)