Philadelphia Eagles running back Jay Ajayi crossed off an important career accomplishment when he helped the team win the Super Bowl last season. But this year, Ajayi will have another goal he’d like to cross out from his list: winning in his hometown of London.
As Ajayi tells James Simpson of Sky Sports, he feels like he’s finally due to end his losing streak in England.
“This will be my third time coming to Wembley (Stadium in London, England),” Ajayi said. “I've lost the last two, so I'm due for a win. It's time.”
Ajayi’s first two trips to London were as a member of the Miami Dolphins. He actually didn’t play in his first trip, which was a 27-14 loss to the New York Jets in 2015. He then had 46 rushing yards in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints last year.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and their imposing defense will be standing in Ajayi’s way of getting that elusive win when they face off on Oct. 28. But Ajayi says he’s looking forward to the challenge they pose to him and the champs.
“Yeah, they have a great defense,” Ajayi said of the Jags. “They do a lot of things well, a lot of great pieces on there. But I'm excited about that challenge and I'm excited about the team that I'm on and us being able to rise to that.”
The Eagles should come into that game against the Jags as favorites, which bodes well for Ajayi’s chances of getting that important win.
Ajayi contributed 408 yards and a touchdown in seven regular-season games for the Eagles last year after his arrival from the Dolphins. The 25-year-old running back is expected to take on a bigger role as the presumed lead back on the Eagles’ offense this season, so he will likely have a significant say as to whether he does experience that first win in England.