Jaguars seek another big game from ‘Mr. London’ at Wembley

Ravens can expect a world of different things in London

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Sept 21, (AP): Allen Hurns has an overseas highlight reel better than all of his Jacksonville Jaguars teammates. It has to be among the best in the NFL, too.

The fourth-year receiver has made the play of the day in each of his last two games at iconic Wembley Stadium.

There was the diving, 31-yard touchdown catch that beat Buffalo 34-31 in 2015 and then a 42-yard catch-and-run that turned out to be the difference in a 30-27 victory against Indianapolis last year.

His efforts even earned him the nickname “Mr. London.”

“As far as having that name, it doesn’t do anything for me,” Hurns said Wednesday. “I always have positive vibes every time I step out there on that field. It doesn’t mean anything different to me going over to London.

“I just treat it as another opportunity to showcase what I’m capable of.”

Hurns is getting plenty of chances these days, especially with No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson out for the season with a knee injury.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, it looked like Hurns would have a diminished role and play primarily in the slot. There was even talk about the former Miami standout being on the trading block.

“I never doubted myself,” he said. “No matter what happens throughout with the organization, if it’s the fans or people in house, whatever it is, I never lost that motivation or that confidence in myself.

“At the end of the end of the day, it is kind of crazy just hearing the talk because you don’t know. It can be true; it may not. At the end of the day, you never really know.”

Hurns eventually called his agent, who insisted there was no truth to the trade rumors.

Probably a good thing, too. Once Robinson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Hurns was back in the starting lineup.

Now, he’s headed across the pond in hopes of another memorable moment at Wembley.

“He tends to come up with big plays in London,” quarterback Blake Bortles said. “Hopefully that keeps happening.” No one should be surprised if it does. Hurns has 159 receptions for 2,309 yards and 20 touchdowns in three-plus seasons. His 1,031-yard, 10-touchdown campaign in 2015 earned him a fouryear, $40.6 million contract extension that included $16 million guaranteed.

All of Hurns’ guaranteed money will be paid by the end of this year, so staying in Jacksonville is probably contingent on staying healthy — he missed five games in 2016 — and having another solid season.

There are few better places for Hurns to state his case than London.

His diving reception against the Bills was as artful as it was athletic. Bortles scrambled out of the pocket and rolled left and floated a pass toward the front pylon. Hurns came across the field, totally stretched out and managed to maintain control of the ball and get an elbow down before sliding out of bounds at the goal line.

Hurns said it remains the best catch of his career. Bortles called it his favorite, too. The one against the Colts wasn’t too shabby, either. Hurns turned a 5-yard out into a huge gain when he made one defender miss on slippery grass and then juked four more on his way to the end zone.

Team executive Tony Khan, owner Shad Khan’s son, gave Hurns the “Mr. London” moniker afterward.

“When I step out there on the field, I just make plays,” Hurns said.

Meanwhile, Brandon Carr knows all about playing an NFL game in London, so he’s been a source of information this week for his Baltimore Ravens teammates preparing to make the trip for the first time.

The Ravens (2-0) leave for England on Thursday night. They will practice there Friday and Saturday before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) on Sunday at historic Wembley Stadium.

“I told the guys to embrace the different culture,” Carr said Wednesday. “The food is going to taste different, the soda is going to taste different, even the ketchup.” Ketchup? “They don’t use all the artificial stuff that we use here, so their stuff may be more healthy,” guessed Carr, who played in London as a member of the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.

Guard Tony Bergstrom will be subbing for injured right guard Marshal Yanda this week, no small task for a player with four career starts over threeplus NFL seasons. For that reason, and because he’s been to London previously, Bergstrom’s focus abroad will be entirely on football.

“I did it once before with the Raiders, been to Mexico City with the Texans. It’s a business trip,” Bergstrom said. “The first time I went there, it was kind of a big deal. You go all over. But really, you’re flying there to win a game.” Still, his visit was memorable. “The hotel we stayed at, it looked like

In this Sept 17 file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (left), tries but can’t stop Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) from getting in the end zone to complete a 17-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game, in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP)

Hogwarts,” Bergstrom said, referring to the Scottish castle and school of wizardry from the Harry Potter series.

His most sound advice to teammates involved getting ready for the five-hour time difference, which extends beyond the fact that the 2:30 pm kickoff in London is 9:30 am in Baltimore.

“Start sleeping now. Start trying to get that clock set early,” Bergstrom said. “The biggest thing is, once you’re there, whatever time it is, that’s what time it is. You kind of just figure it out.”

Sounds simple, but the Ravens organization spent a half-hour stressing the importance of getting plenty sleep early in the week to make up the difference.

“That was part of the plan,” coach John Harbaugh said, who acknowledged he didn’t adhere to the blueprint. “I wanted to do it the right way, but it’s more important for the players.”

Carr’s take on the time change is: “It’s real. I’m going to try to stick to the script this year as far as getting my sleep cycle ready.”

After forcing a collective 10 turnovers in wins over Cincinnati and Cleveland, the Ravens hope to keep the streak alive with a victory across the Atlantic Ocean.

“As much as we want to see London, we still have to come back 3-0,” defensive back Lardarius Webb said. “We’re going over there to get a win.”

Quarterback Joe Flacco expects his family to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Crown Jewels and all the sights. He will count on them to take pictures, because he’s got a different kind of trip in mind — especially because the team hotel is 45 minutes outside of London.

“I’m going to bank on getting some rest, getting a couple good meals and that’s about it,” Flacco said. “I’m definitely banking on falling asleep on that flight because if I don’t, Friday is going to be a pretty long day.”