Lions travel to Munich: What to know before Sunday's kickoff
The Detroit Lions face the New England Patriots in Germany on Sunday, marking their first game on foreign soil in a decade.
By Diego Mendoza ·
Fans in the Detroit metro area will wake up on Sunday, November 15, to find the Lions already in action. The team plays the New England Patriots at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. The Lions serve as the designated home team for this Week 10 matchup.
The Lions have not played on foreign soil since 2015. Their previous two overseas games took place in London in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, Detroit defeated the Atlanta Falcons 22-21 on a last-second field goal by Matt Prater. The following year, the Chiefs beat the Lions 45-10 at Wembley Stadium.
The Patriots have dominated this series in recent history. Since 2000, the Lions have won only two games against New England. Those victories occurred in November 2000 and on Sunday Night Football in 2018. The Patriots won the other five meetings during that span.
A win in Germany would give Detroit a fifth consecutive victory. That would be the team's longest winning streak since the 2024 season, when they won 11 games in a row. The Lions currently hold a 6-2 record, sitting in second place in the NFC North behind the 7-2 Chicago Bears.
Quarterback Drake Maye is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions with 11. He has also been sacked 20 times this season. Maye finished second in MVP voting last year, but he threw only one touchdown pass and six interceptions in his first three games this season. He threw three interceptions in the first half of his last game against Green Bay before improving in the second half.
The Lions made one move at the trade deadline. General Manager Brad Holmes acquired safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets. Cisco provides depth in the secondary and can play free safety or in the box. He is expected to make his debut in Munich.
Rookie defensive end Derrick Moore recorded the first two sacks of his career against the Miami Dolphins. He saw increased snaps after DJ Wonnum was ruled out. Head Coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday that D.J. Reed and Cade Mays have small chances of playing. Kerby Joseph will wait at least one more week for his debut.
The NFC North is the best division in football through Week 9. All four teams are at least three games over .500. The division is 20-4 against opponents outside their own conference. The Lions are the only team in the division that is undefeated in divisional play.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has personal ties to Germany, as his mother was born there. The team has developed strong relationships with fans in the country. St. Brown, along with Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta, has been a key part of an offense that relies on quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
The game airs on Sunday morning. The Lions are one of the most popular NFL teams in Germany. Local fans are expected to fill the Allianz Arena for the matchup.
