NFL announces London games scheduled for next season

LONDON -- The Washington Redskins could become the first team to play two NFL games in London in the same season, and in consecutive weeks.

The Redskins will face the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 30 at Wembley Stadium, the NFL announced Wednesday. The team also could face the St. Louis Rams a week earlier at Twickenham Stadium depending on how Washington finishes this season in the NFC East.

In the first of the three games scheduled for next season, the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley on Oct. 2.

The NFL has been playing regular-season games in London since 2007, with every one played at Wembley, the home of England's national soccer team. But next year will start a new deal to hold games at Twickenham, the home of England's national rugby team.

The Redskins will travel to London for the first time since 1992, when they played the San Francisco 49ers in the American Bowl, a preseason game held at the old Wembley Stadium. But they could remain there for a bit longer than every other team that has been going since the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins in a regular-season game in 2007.

In Wednesday's announcement, the NFL said only that the Rams would face an NFC East opponent.

"Washington may play in consecutive weeks in London in 2016, depending on the final standings," the NFL said. "At minimum, they will face the Bengals in Week 8."

The Rams could also face the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys or the Giants in Week 9.

The Redskins aspect of the announcement drew a swift reaction from Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation representative and leader of the Change the Mascot campaign.

"At a time when the United States is desperately trying to fortify its international relationships, the NFL has decided to go on the world stage and promote an ugly racial epithet slurring indigenous people all over the world," Halbritter said. "This is not only offensive but also at odds with American interests across the globe at this critical time. We need to show respect to our foreign allies -- the NFL choosing to slur people of color at a high-profile international event does the opposite.

"The NFL is a $9-billion-a-year enterprise that plays a critical role in shaping the perceptions and views of millions of fans in America and around the globe. That is why in 2014, the United Nations Special Rapporteur called the Washington NFL team name offensive and encouraged the team to change the team name. If the NFL wants to be a global brand that contributes to the positive image of the United States across the world, it should not be choosing to send a team represented by a racial slur to London."

The operator of the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis says the team's lease agreement prohibits the Rams from playing a game in London, but there is uncertainty whether the franchise will even reside in St. Louis by then. Owners of the Rams, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders are all exploring moves to Los Angeles, perhaps as early as next season.

In a statement, the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission says terms of the team's lease agreement require all home games, other than preseason, to be at the dome.

As for the other announced teams, the Bengals and Colts will be playing in London for the first time, while the Jaguars will be returning for the fourth straight year.

This season, the Jags won for the first time in London, coming back to beat the Buffalo Bills 34-31.

Earlier this month, the NFL said it would stage at least one game per season starting next year at Twickenham, which recently hosted the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia.

The agreement is for three years, with an option for two more.

The NFL has also agreed to play at least two games per season at Wembley through 2020 and has reached a 10-year deal to play at least two games at Tottenham's new soccer stadium starting in 2018.

That means there will be a minimum of five regular-season NFL games in London in 2018 -- two at Wembley, two at Tottenham's stadium and one at Twickenham.

The NFL also said it might add another game outside of Britain next season.

ESPN's John Keim and The Associated Press contributed to this report.