LITTLE ROCK — There was a light but persistent drizzle, long lines at the subway station and football shirts on the backs of thousands of fans.
All the makings of a typical Sunday afternoon game in London in October. Only this time the red of Arsenal and blue of Chelsea gave way to football jerseys of the NFL variety.
Rebuilt Wembley Stadium hosted the first regular-season NFL game in Europe, and fans of all teams flocked to northwest London to see the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10. Many in the sold-out stadium came from the United States, and the dreary fall sky posed no problem.
"It's good football weather," said Matt Krosche, a 21-year-old student from New York wearing a Giants shirt. "Football isn't meant to be played in the sun."
Thomas Barker, a 21-year-old student wearing a New England Patriots jersey, is hoping for more games in London and more success for the NFL in Britain.
"If they keep doing one-off matches, it will work," said Barker, who became a fan after seeing the Pats on TV four years ago. "They need more exposure."
Neil Taylor, a 34-year-old driver, is a member of Dolfan UK, a Dolphins fan club in England with more than 100 members.
"I turned on the TV in 1985, the playoff game against Cleveland, and I was hooked," Taylor said. "I go to 6-7 games a year."
Peter Fairclough's family got turned on to the NFL the same way.
"We've loved American football for 20 years," said the 60-year-old electrical manager from Rotherham, wearing a Minnesota Vikings hat and sweatshirt. "We have a Super Bowl party every year."
Rob Elstone, another 21-yearold student, came to Wembley wearing a New York Jets shirt.
The rivalry between the Jets and the Giants was not lost on him.
"I want to rub it in their face," Elstone said.
Evacuees gone
Thousands of tailgaters packed into Qualcomm Stadium's parking lot Sunday in San Diego, replacing the cars and camping tents that housed more than 10,000 wildfire evacuees all week with a field of blue-and-yellow Chargers sunshades.
Smoke from blazes still burning to the east stained the sky, but the rich meat-scented haze rising from hundreds of charcoal-briquet barbecueserased any lingering wildfire smell.
"Someone was probably living in this stall all week in a tent," said Jarred Pellegrini, 20, as he unloaded an Igloo cooler from the back of his dad's sport utility vehicle.
People who were still under evacuation orders or whose homes were destroyed were sent Friday to the Del Mar Fairgrounds 20 miles away.
Inside the stadium, state and local fire department logos were painted on the grass by both benches. "Can't burn our spirit," said a sign waved by one fan.
A good day for ...
Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Matt Jones (Fort Smith Northside, Arkansas Razorbacks), who finally gets to shave off his bushy beard.
Jones, who had promised he wouldn't shave until he scored, got his first touchdown of the season on an acrobatic catch in the fourth quarter Sunday, providing what turned out to be the game-winner in a 24-23 victory against Tampa Bay.
Jones ran a fade route and outjumped cornerback Phillip Buchanon for the 8-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Gray, making a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone and swinging his second foot inbounds before coming down for the score with 11:37 to play. It was his only catch of the day.
One week earlier, Jones, a former first-round pick, was inactive for the Jags' 22-point loss to Indianapolis. Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio has been critical of Jones' attitude.
A bad day for ...
The Oakland Raiders, who lost to Tennessee 13-9 after committing a season-high 14 penalties, allowing five sacks and having receiver Mike Williams drop a fourth-down pass with 1:21 left that might have given the Raiders a first down.
Eleven of the Raiders' penalties came from their offense, which failed to score a touchdown for the first time under first-year Coach Lane Kiffin and has scored just two touchdowns in the past three games.
The Raiders' defense seems to be doing its part, having allowed 25 points in the past two games.
Defensive tackle Warren Sapp suggested the Raiders need to "go to church" because someone isn't living right for things to turn out like this.
"This game has a way of humbling you," Sapp said.
Sports, Pages 18 on 10/29/2007