Lions vs Patriots Munich game preview, Digi Mart USA News (Munich, Germany): Heading into international games, NFL coaches typically talk up the niceties of growing the game globally. Not this week.
The New England Patriots (5-4) have lost two of their past three games and have a slew of injury concerns, including running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
The Detroit Lions, even with a 6-2 record and four straight victories, are trying to keep pace in the tight NFC North. Sunday’s game in Munich is a big one for both teams.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he has not thought that far ahead. “Well, if I’m being honest, I just haven’t thought that far into it.
I’m like, ‘We’ve got to get prepared,'” Campbell said.
The Patriots were beaten 45-27 at home by the Green Bay Packers last week, with Drake Maye throwing three interceptions. Campbell expects a much-improved New England team on Sunday, calling them “dangerous” and saying they will “clean a lot of things up.”
The Lions won 19-9 over the rebuilding Miami Dolphins last week, relying on four field goals from Jake Bates. The win came a week after a neck injury to All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell.
After Munich, Detroit hosts Tampa Bay and then Chicago on Thanksgiving Day.
Before traveling Wednesday night, the Patriots ruled out LG Ben Brown (knee), CB Carlton Davis III (knee) and RB TreVeyon Henderson (illness). Stevenson, the team’s leading rusher with 399 yards on 102 carries, did not practice Wednesday because of a knee injury, which could put second-year running back Corey Kiner in line for the bulk of the carries.
Coach Mike Vrabel said Kiner has done well but must improve his recognition of pressure and his ability to block it. Vrabel noted that “a lot of contending teams” are 5-4 and said the Patriots aim to be playing meaningful games in January.
The game is set for Sunday at 9:30 a.m. EST on FOX.
The Lions are favored by 2 1/2 points. Against the spread, the Patriots are 3-5-1 and the Lions are 4-4. New England lead the series 8-5, with its last meeting a 29-0 Patriots win on Oct. 9, 2022, at Gillette Stadium.
To watch: Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez against Lions receivers Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Gonzalez gave up 105 yards to Matthew Golden and 82 yards to Christian Watson last week, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. St.
Brown leads Detroit with 61 receptions for 657 yards and five touchdowns; Williams has 468 yards on 28 receptions and five touchdowns.
Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs leads the NFL with 60 scrimmage touchdowns and ranks second with 6,161 scrimmage yards since entering the league in 2023. With a touchdown Sunday, he can tie Terrell Davis for the most touchdowns by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. This is Detroit’s first international game since 2015, and the Lions are 1-1 internationally.
The Patriots are 3-0 in international games with Tom Brady at quarterback, but lost 32-16 to Jacksonville in London in 2024 and 10-6 to the Colts in Frankfurt in 2023. Entering Week 10, Maye is tied with Justin Herbert for most interceptions (11) and is tied for fourth in touchdown passes (18).
