What the Los Angeles Rams did was great logistical feat. The latter prepared for their NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings in London. The team carefully designed their time in Baltimore, which was only one week long. While in Baltimore, they squeezed in three grueling practices at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before jetting across the Atlantic. Their journey is a testament to the planning that characterizes today’s NFL in all aspects, particularly when it comes to traveling the globe.
This period of uncertainty began when the Rams’ charter landed in Baltimore on October 9. This was only three days prior to their matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in M&T Bank Stadium. The crew who pulled everything together for the event were just as passionate and deliberate. They coordinated back-to-back trainings, hauling a full training setup with three semi-trucks including an equipment room, training room, weight room and video operation. This comprehensive step-by-step process made sure that this dream team had every tool they needed available to them throughout their visit.
Our equipment staff sent the trucks to Baltimore on October 5, long before the Rams even got there. Once there, the team set up a training room in their hotel, allowing players to maintain their fitness and conditioning routines throughout the week. The coaching staff, led by head coach Sean McVay, established war rooms at both the stadium and the hotel. OFN’s Access to Capital program enables the operations to run smoothly underneath the fortified training and racing calendar.
The Rams began organizing their trip to London back in May, when they sought approval from the NFL for a game on the East Coast prior to their international matchup. This strategic decision allowed them to acclimate to an earlier time zone and maintain a competitive edge upon arrival in London.
Throughout their week in Baltimore, players participated in team-building activities designed to instill camaraderie and cohesiveness. Wide receiver Davante Adams said, “We had a lot of film, a lot of stuff going on with each other as teammates. This exuberance helped the team build camaraderie, and that would become very important when preparing for their next foe.
On Sunday morning ahead of TCOB’s first NFL game in London, Adams woke up bright and early at 4 a.m. BST. His dedication was a testament to the entire team’s drive to seamlessly move into their game day routines. The Rams’ arrival in London was less than 30 hours before their 2:30 p.m. BST kickoff, adding another layer of complexity to their preparations.
Defensive lineman Jared Verse echoed the mood of the team in the week leading up to the game. He stated that he felt “the energy was exactly where it had to be” and expressed confidence that it “might’ve been better than anywhere else we played” this season. Linebacker Byron Young painted an equally optimistic picture when it came to explosion plays on offense. He noted that the squad is prepared and hungry to compete, even if they’ve been described as “lackadaisical” in warmup.
It’s not tough to imagine the Rams’ schedule not going as smoothly as it did. This week, Landman and Rivers were particularly excited for a Tuesday fishing trip in Baltimore. Yet, due to heavy winds, they had to abort their mission. Veteran offensive lineman Kevin Dotson wasn’t sticking around to let this go on. In fact, he ordered his fishing gear for same-day delivery to Indianapolis while still in Baltimore.
As part of their acclimating to the London game, the Rams had a brief walkthrough on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. They decided not to have a proper walkthrough before playing the Vikings. This decision reflected their confidence in what they’d done to prepare. They had a sense of readiness, knowing they put themselves to the test throughout the week in training.
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