It’ll be fish ’n chips ’n football! 

That will be one of the featured entrees served up by the NFL this week as the league makes history by playing its first-ever regular-season game overseas.  It will be the New York Giants taking on the Miami Dolphins in London , England at the new Wembley Stadium on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET (5:00 PM locally) in a game to be broadcast live by FOX-TV and Westwood One Radio Sports. 

“It’s going to be a neat experience,” says Giants quarterback ELI MANNING.  “Everyone is looking forward to going over there and being the first teams to play in an international game.  It is a great opportunity.  It’s going to be a little different and we have to get our minds set for that.”   

Meanwhile, back in the states, there will be a lot happening – like 12 other games packed with intriguing storylines. 

Two of the most interesting will be New England hosting Washington and Indianapolis playing at Carolina . 

New England and Indianapolis are seeking to extend their records to 8-0 and 7-0, respectively.  Since 1970, in only five seasons have two teams built records of at least 7-0 (1985: 8-0 Bears, 7-0 Rams; 1990: 8-0 49ers, 8-0 Giants; 1991: 8-0 Redskins, 7-0 Saints; 1998: 8-0 Broncos, 7-0 Vikings; 2006: 8-0 Colts, 7-0 Bears). 

Individually, the teams have accomplished some rare NFL feats: 

• New England leads the league with 279 points while allowing 120.  That 159-point difference is the highest for a team’s first seven games in 41 years, since the 1966 Dallas Cowboys had a 160-point differential (266-106).

• Indianapolis can join the 1929-31 Green Bay Packers as the only teams in history to start three consecutive seasons with at least 7-0 records (Green Bay: 10-0 in 1929, 8-0 in 1930, 9-0 in 1931; Indianapolis: 13-0 in 2005, 9-0 in 2006).

Just some of the interesting games in Week 8: 

 STORYLINE:  History is made! 

Giants and Dolphins play first overseas regular-season game in NFL history.  “Of course, we want to see a little bit of London ,” says Giants LB ANTONIO PIERCE, “but we are going over there to play a game and win.” 

Winning is exactly what the Giants have done recently.  After losing their first two games while giving up a combined 80 points, they have won five in a row while surrendering a total of 69 points. 

Leading New York ’s defense is London-born DE OSI UMENYIORA, who ties for the NFL lead in sacks (8.0) and comes off a game in which he had a combined sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery and 75-yard TD return on the same play. 

One of the Dolphins, DE JASON TAYLOR, “preceded” his teammates to England .  A giant, 26-foot-tall replica of Taylor in full uniform has been erected in Trafalgar Square .  It is the largest animated human figure ever constructed.    

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NFL LONDON FACTOID 

OSI COMES HOME:  He was only seven when he left, but for New York Giants defensive end OSI UMENYIORA, this Sunday’s game in London will be a return home.  Umenyiora was born in London and lived there until he was seven.  His family then moved to Nigeria before settling in Alabama , where Umenyiora first played football in the 11th grade.    

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 STORYLINE:  Joe’s wary of their defense! 

Sure the Patriots lead the league in scoring.  And every time you turn around, TOM BRADY (24-4 lifetime against the NFC), RANDY MOSS, DONTÉ STALLWORTH or WES WELKER are pulling off some sort of offensive histrionics. 

But Redskins head coach JOE GIBBS thinks it’s New England ’s defense – ranked fourth in the league -- that sets up the team.  “They are on pace to break every record on offense,” says Gibbs.  “A big part of that is their defense and special teams.  What happens is they get the ball back and their offense is so prolific, people have a tough time stopping them.” 

 The Redskins have nothing to apologize for with their own defense (fifth in the NFL), one of the toughest New England has faced this year.   Washington leads the league in fewest yards allowed per play (4.3) and is third in points per game (14.7).  And ’07 first-rounder LA RON LANDRY has joined SEAN TAYLOR – five interceptions in the past four games – to form one of the strongest safety combos in the league.   

 STORYLINE:  They’re not invincible! 

So say the Panthers.  Carolina – which has topped the Colts all three times the teams have played and tie Indy with 13 takeaways – feels its defense is coming together, and is not ready to concede anything to the undefeated Colts.  “We can compete with these guys,” says Carolina CB KEN LUCAS.  “They’re not invincible and they can be beaten just like anybody else in the NFL.”       

Yes they can, but Indy makes it awfully tough.  The Colts are the only team in the NFL with a top-three ranking in total offense and defense (both No. 3).  With Indianapolis , it’s always who-do-you cover?  RBs JOSEPH ADDAI and KENTON KEITH combined for 141 yards against Jacksonville Monday night.  WR REGGIE WAYNE added 131 yards on nine catches.   

And then, of course, there’s QB PEYTON MANNING, who directs it all.  On Sunday, Manning can top one of the all-time greats, Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHNNY UNITAS, for most touchdown passes in team history.  With two, No. 18, Manning (286), passes No. 19, Unitas (287) 

 STORYLINE:  Garcia’s accuracy vs. Jaguars’ stinginess. 

He hasn’t been intercepted going back to last year.   Tampa Bay QB JEFF GARCIA has not been picked off in his last 270 attempts (including playoffs), the best such streak in the league.  That goes back to when he was with Philadelphia last season.  Garcia ranks second in the league (70.4) only to Tom Brady (73.8) in completion percentage. 

That’s impressive, say the Jaguars, but look at our points-allowed total, the second-lowest in the league (87).   Jacksonville comes off a game – albeit a loss – in which they “limited” the Colts’ Manning to one TD. 

Or…the “fireplug” RBs could make the difference.   Jacksonville ’s 5-7 MAURICE JONES-DREW was held to 52 rush yards Monday night against Indy but averaged 103.5 yards (with three TDs) in his two games before that.  Bucs coach JON GRUDEN says that 5-9 RB MICHAEL BENNETT, acquired in a trade last week, will see considerable action.  

 STORYLINE:  It’s nighttime.  It’s Colorado .  Time to break out the running game, Brett? 

The Packers certainly hope so, and the Broncos hope no.  That way Denver can concentrate on shutting down Green Bay QB BRETT FAVRE and the NFL’s No. 2 (tie) pass offense with its own No. 2 NFL pass defense. 

The Pack’s running game has not ignited yet this year, while the passing game has excelled.  “We’re winning, but we need to run the ball and run the clock out,” says Favre. 

 The Broncos will come at Favre.  They forced three turnovers last week against Pittsburgh and sacked QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER four times.  The main sack protagonist for Denver is second-year DE ELVIS DUMERVIL, who has 14.5 take-downs in his 19 games with the team.