NFL 2014 Schedule Will Include Lions-Falcons Game With 9:30 AM ET Kickoff

Nov 28, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks to pass during the second quarter of a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Are you ready for live NFL football with your breakfast? Ready or not, it’s coming in 2014. The NFL has released its international schedule for next season and revealed that, for the first time ever, an NFL football game will kickoff at 9:30 AM ET.

This grand new experiment in early-morning pro football will happen in Week 8, October 26th when the Lions and Falcons kick off at Wembley Stadium in London at 1:30 PM local time. A mid-afternoon game in London equals an early-morning game State-side.

Lions and Falcons fans in the eastern time zone – where most Lions and Falcons fans live, presumably – will have to be up by 9:30 to catch their teams. Fans on the West Coast will have to set their alarm clocks for 6:30.

It will be interesting to see how the notion of Breakfast Football goes over with fans in the States. How will the TV ratings look for those games over here? Cause we know that’s what the NFL mostly cares about.

I’m guessing the ratings will still be healthy. And this will only encourage the NFL to schedule more games in this new early-morning window. And you know what this is all leading up to: a full-time franchise in London.

This has been the secret agenda behind the yearly London games. The NFL has been rolling this out steadily year-by-year, adding more games to the schedule with each passing season. Next year there will be three London games. And now this early-morning game just to see how fans respond.

How does it feel to be Roger Goodell’s guinea pig?

And which NFL franchise will end up being moved to London? It’s pretty clear which teams are on the short list. Just look at the six teams scheduled to play overseas next year. Detroit, Miami, Oakland, Jacksonville, Atlanta and Dallas. Outside of Dallas, all the teams on that list could be characterized as somewhat troubled franchises.

The London Lions? The London Dolphins? The London Jaguars?

Hey, why not. If fans over there are willing to pay the money for tickets and the TV ratings stay strong. Sure. Go for it Goodell. I’m happy to add football to my normal breakfast menu. Eggs, toast, bacon and Lions-Falcons. Sounds good.

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