Another BS road trip

[Eagle60]

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Report: Eagles will “likely” play Rams in Australia during 2026 NFL season


The Birds are headed down under.

By Brandon Lee Gowton@BrandonGowton Feb 1, 2025, 6:32pm EST


The Philadelphia Eagles will “likely” be playing the Los Angeles Rams in Australia during the 2026 NFL season, according to a report from Shannon Deery of Australian newspaper the Herald Sun.

From the article:

Melbourne is set to host an in-season NFL game, in a major sporting coup for the state.

The match will be played at the MCG in October 2026 and is one of several in season matches secured for Victoria.

It is understood the Los Angeles Rams – who won the Superbowl in 2022 – are set to feature in the match with their likely opponent the Philadelphia Eagles – who play off next Monday in the Superbowl with Australian Jordan Mailata in their team.

[...]

The Rams and the Eagles both have the international marketing rights to Australia and the NFL established an Academy last year on the Gold Coast as part of a major push into the Pacific region.

The “MCG” stands for the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which claims to have a capacity around 100,000.

The Rams are a home opponent for the Eagles in 2026, so, you do have to worry about the Birds losing another home game at Lincoln Financial Field just like they did when they played a Brazil game against the Green Bay Packers back in Week 1 of the current season. (Update: Correction to Eagles being the home team.)

It’ll be interesting to see how this Australia game takes place given the time difference and the long travel involved. The assumption here is that the Eagles will have their bye week directly after this game.

Are you interested in making the trip?
Poll

Are you interested in attending the Eagles’ game in Australia?

• 48%
  
  Yes
  
  (1129 votes)
• 52%
  
  No
  
  (1247 votes)

2376 votes total

[dawkins20]

Mailata will be pumped for that!

[NoDakIggle]

That would be a hell of a trip compared to London, Munich, Mexico, or Brazil. I know it is the future but I just don’t like seeing the team traveling like that. And reality is it doesn’t matter what I or anyone else likes but let Australia have rugby the Brits have cricket the Brazilians have soccer and the Americans have football.

[Pliny]

I absolutely hate this ! The NFL is so F'ing greedy.

[musicman]

That would be a hell of a trip compared to London, Munich, Mexico, or Brazil. I know it is the future but I just don’t like seeing the team traveling like that. And reality is it doesn’t matter what I or anyone else likes but let Australia have rugby the Brits have cricket the Brazilians have soccer and the Americans have football.

they need to schedule a bye after a trip like that

[FairOaks]

Australia has Aussie Rules Football too . If you just say "football" there that's probably what people would think you mean. NFL (and college) has to get our punters from somewhere.

Melbourne is a fair distance from Sydney, and they have a natural two-big-city type of rivalry. I think Mailata is from Sydney. Still, much closer than the US . It's a heck of a flight, especially from the east coast. A lot less to do in Melbourne than Sydney.

I'm sure the NFL wants to capitalize on Mailata while he's still in his prime and on a known team. Still kinda sucks to have a really long trip to Brazil then two years later have one twice as long for the same team.

[Eagle60]

Australia has Aussie Rules Football too . If you just say "football" there that's probably what people would think you mean. NFL (and college) has to get our punters from somewhere.

Melbourne is a fair distance from Sydney, and they have a natural two-big-city type of rivalry. I think Mailata is from Sydney. Still, much closer than the US . It's a heck of a flight, especially from the east coast. A lot less to do in Melbourne than Sydney.

I'm sure the NFL wants to capitalize on Mailata while he's still in his prime and on a known team. Still kinda sucks to have a really long trip to Brazil then two years later have one twice as long for the same team.

And lose a home game too!

[flyered]

Terrible terrible idea. Not only is the flight 20 hours +/-, but the time difference is huge (14-16 hours depending on precise timing). I have found adjusting on the way back much more difficult than on the way to Oz. A bye week after the trip is a must, but even at that, expect a hangover.

Having done Brazil, I would think Lurie could have declined, but he likes his $$$ as much as the next guy.

[Eagle60]

Terrible terrible idea. Not only is the flight 20 hours +/-, but the time difference is huge (14-16 hours depending on precise timing). I have found adjusting on the way back much more difficult than on the way to Oz. A bye week after the trip is a must, but even at that, expect a hangover.

Having done Brazil, I would think Lurie could have declined, but he likes his $$$ as much as the next guy.

{ hope that means he's going to spend a lot of money again Next season.

[musicman]

Jeffrey reportedly shot down the trip to Australia. Said we just gave up a home game and it would be too soon to lose another

[Pliny]

Jeffrey reportedly shot down the trip to Australia. Said we just gave up a home game and it would be too soon to lose another

Yeah. Saw that today. Way to go Jeffrey !!

[FairOaks]

He said he was open to playing there... as the "away" team.

[NoDakIggle]

He said he was open to playing there... as the "away" team.

Yep. And the NFL announced the Rams will be the home team so it looks like the birds could still be on the trip.

[Eagle60]

If the nfl Wants to send games to Australia let them send West Coast teams.

[NoDakIggle]

Not sure how the NFL divided up the world but somehow Australia is in The Eagles territory