NFL INTERNATIONAL SERIES: San Diego Chargers 32 New Orleans Saints 37
Like Christmas and birthdays, once-a-year events are usually special occasions to be savoured and the 83,226 fans crammed into Wembley to witness Sunday's NFL game did just that.
The New Orleans Saints became the exalted tenants for the night as they took on the San Diego Chargers in the second regular season game in London.
But unlike last year's monsoon-affected clash between the more stellar casts of the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins, both sides showed exactly why gridiron's popularity on these shores is growing at a rate of knots.
Despite indifferent starts to their seasons (both had won three and lost four) and Saints' megastar running back Reggie Bush missing through injury, this spectacle sold out months ago.
It was about so much more than two teams (backed by 5,000 hardcore followers who had made the trip from the USA) searching for a win to kick-start their seasons. Sure, it will raise their profiles enormously but it is so much easier to win over sceptics in the flesh rather than try and explain such a complex sport to a nation that still has problems understanding the off-side rule.
It also provided a stage for British-based NFL fans to put on a show of unity and send out a message that the UK can embrace a 'foreign' sport and accommodate it between the likes of its own global brands, like the Premiership and Wimbledon.
And they did it in style. Virtually every NFL team was represented in the aisles while others entered the spirit of things by dressing up as everything from Fred Flintstone to Captain America.
And after the pre-match formalities were dealt with, it was showtime. Cameras flashed en masse as the ball was booted into the night sky and an almighty roar went up.
However, the crowd soon confirmed their demand for touchdowns galore when Taylor Mehlhaff's early field goal for the Saints received a lukewarm response.
There was no doubt things would get better but nobody could have predicted such a rip-roaring second quarter.
And key to the Saints' 20-point haul in just over eight minutes was quarterback Drew Brees, facing his former Chargers team-mates for the first time since being traded.
His enviable vision and precision picked out Devery Henderson, hugging the left corner of the endzone, for the first touchdown, but Mehlhaff failed to add the extra point as his kick smashed the left upright.
The Chargers were clearly rattled by that score and were soon under the cosh when Usama Young seized upon Darren Sprole's fumble from the restart. A few plays later and Saints' trundling running back Deuce McAllister barged over from close range for his 51st career TD to put his side in control at 3-16.
Chargers' star rusher, LaDainian Tomlinson, finally came to life and showed great balance by pirouetting away from two Saints defenders before setting off on a 40-yard run.
Moments later he squeezed over in front of the posts after collecting a neat pass from quarterback Philip Rivers.
But, this was to be Brees' day and three jaw-dropping passes later the Saints strengthened their grip on the game when Lance Moore collected an arrowed throw from 30 yards low in the left corner.
The Chargers had the final say of the quarter when Rivers put in tight-end Antonio Gates with just over a minute left to reduce the gap to 17-23 at half time.
Whatever Saints coach Sean Payton said to his side at the break certainly had the desired effect, as they soon stretched their lead when tight-end Mark Campbell took another Brees beauty in his stride before the Chargers were left cursing their luck.
Brandon Manumaleuna's TD celebrations were cut short by a holding call and the Saints added insult to injury when full-back Mike Karney crashed over.
But after a 31-yard field goal by Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding, his side discovered a new tempo and set up a grandstand finish when Rivers picked out Vincent Jackson for a TD, bringing the score to 30-37.
Brees took a safety to complete the scoring, before the Saints' fierce defence broke up a last-gasp Rivers pass as the Chargers fought to the death.
Man-of-the-Match: Drew Brees - the Texan was mesmeric and completed 30 of 41 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
