The New Orleans Saints secured a convincing victory over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in the second National Football League (NFL) game to be played at Wembley Stadium.

Thankfully, the match was not played in the driving rain which affected last season’s international series game but the glitz and glamour that has charmed American audiences for decades was transferred brilliantly from the vast stadiums of the US to England’s most historic venue.

After last year’s inaugural game at Wembley, Sky Sports saw a massive 45% increase in British viewers watching NFL games. A quick glance through the search engines reveals that the sport is thriving in the UK and participation in both adult and junior leagues is growing by an average of 12% a year. There are three professional adult leagues, an annual “Britbowl”, and a number of youth competitions held throughout the country.

Sunday’s match ended 37-32 and it has already attracted praise from British media outlets including the BBC and the Independent newspaper.

Fans were particularly impressed by the unwavering accuracy of the Saints' quarterback, Drew Brees, and the electric pace of LaDainian Tomlison, a man who currently holds the record for the most touchdowns scored in a single season.

Despite myriad financial woes, which resulted in the downsizing of American staff teams by as much as 10%, the NFL is determined to extend its partnership with Wembley beyond the contracted four years.

Information on British American football is available at the Get into American Football website.