Saints hope to repeat Giants' London success

By Steve Ginsburg

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Playing an early-season game in Europe does not hinder a NFL club's chances for success, the owner of the New Orleans Saints said on Friday.

Following the success of the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins game in London at Wembley last October, the NFL said on Friday that New Orleans and the San Diego Chargers would play a game there on October 26.

New York edged the Miami Dolphins 13-10 in front of 81,000 fans in the first regular season NFL game outside North America and still advanced to Sunday's Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

Many NFL teams balk at the chance to play in Europe, saying the time change would throw off their routine, however the Saints said they were looking forward to it.

"As I told our head coach (Sean Payton) coming out here, the Giants used this game during the 2007 season as a springboard for the Super Bowl," Saints owner Tom Benson told a news conference. "I hope we have the same success."

New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees added he was hoping that being the home team would give his side the edge at Wembley.

"I think it's going to be a goal between now and then to truly make that feel like a home atmosphere and to gain a lot of fans in the U.K," said Brees.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also said the NFL would play one game in London in 2009 and another in 2010, while the Buffalo Bills would play a regular-season game in Toronto once a season for the next five years.