NFL star admits players have a special name for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium pitch

NFL star Justin Jefferson admits the Minnesota Vikings players call the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium surface 'a speed track' as it's different to what they are used to back home in the USA.

The 26-year-old is one of best wide receivers in the NFL and led the receiving yards by a distance with 123 of them in the Vikings' 21-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns. The Minnesota outfit won thanks to a Jordan Addison touchdown with 25 seconds left on the clock in front of a 61,082-strong crowd at Tottenhamin the first of the two NFL London games this month.

The artificial surface at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which lies underneath the turf that Thomas Frank's Premier League side play on which itself is wheeled underneath the south stand for NFL games and concerts, has sparked plenty of comments by NFL players in recent years amid the ongoing natural grass vs artificial turf debate in the game.

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Jefferson however said that he loves the surface at Spurs' stadium because of the pace of it and admitted the players have a name for it.

"We call it a speed track. You know, it's pretty much thinner than normal, than what we're used to. I love it!" he said. "It makes you run faster. It makes you look like you got a little extra speed on you, but I mean, it really doesn't matter about the surface. It's just all about your technique and your footwork and getting in and out of your breaks. I will never blame the turf or the surface."

The Vikings have a strong presence in London and have won their past four games in the English capital, including their last two at Tottenham, although they lost in Dublin last weekend to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first NFL Ireland game.

Sunday's game in N17 was meant to be a home one for the Browns, but the Vikings fans vastly outnumbered their Cleveland counterparts in the big crowd.

"Yes, there was [a lot of Vikings jerseys]. Definitely not surprised," said Jefferson. "Being here for the third time, we kind of have a history of bringing a lot of Vikings fans over here. I'm pretty sure they like it over here as well. But just to see the energy, to see the 'Skol' chant all around the stadium, our fans are the best in the league, and they always show support, always show us love, and always are into the game no matter what the score is and no matter if we're losing late in the game.

"They're going to still cheer and root for us like it's the first quarter with 0-0 on the board. So it's definitely great to hear those fans. I mean, I couldn't even think that it was an away game. I thought it was a home game for us!

"We definitely brought a lot more Vikings fans to London than to Ireland. Still was a great atmosphere. Still was very fun playing in Ireland, but something about London our fans are attracted to."