The Giants Are Out, So Who’s In?
Well, this is interesting. We’ve known the Lions are heading to Germany for a November showdown, and everyone assumed it would be against the Giants. Turns out everyone was wrong.
According to reports, the Giants will not be the Lions’ opponent in Munich. Which means we’re back to guessing, and honestly, that’s probably where this franchise feels most comfortable anyway.
Process of Elimination Time
Here’s what we know. The game is scheduled for Week 10 on November 15th during the 2026 season. It counts as a Lions home game. And the Lions already protected their Packers matchup from being shipped overseas, because even Brad Holmes isn’t crazy enough to give up a division rivalry game to European TV scheduling.
So let’s work through the teams with German marketing rights. Cross off the Packers (protected), the Giants (reportedly out), and the Chiefs, Seahawks, Steelers, and Colts (not on the schedule). Since this counts as a Lions home game, you can also eliminate the Falcons and Panthers.
That leaves two options: the Patriots and the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Makes Too Much Sense
Look, the Patriots would be a fine matchup, but they’re probably getting saved for Thanksgiving. Because nothing says Detroit Lions holiday tradition quite like hosting New England in late November.
The Buccaneers, though? That’s the pick. It’s a rivalry game with some actual history behind it, which gives German fans a reason to wake up at 9:30 AM local time to watch two teams they might not otherwise care about.
Plus, let’s be honest here. After everything this franchise has been through, playing Tampa Bay in Germany feels appropriately chaotic. Not quite 0-16 chaotic, but chaotic in that uniquely Lions way where you’re never entirely sure what you’re going to get.
We’ll know for sure when the schedule drops, but Bucs vs. Lions in Munich? Yeah, that tracks.
Are you hyped for Lions football in Germany or just worried we’ll find a new way to break our hearts internationally? Sound off below.
Okay I’m actually pumped about this. Bucs vs Lions in Germany is the kind of weird schedule quirk that works out for us if we can get a W. Brad Holmes has been way smarter about protecting what matters so I’m not worried about any of that stuff, and Dan Campbell’s got this team feeling different. Let’s go show Europe what we got.
I mean yeah the Bucs make sense on paper, but I’m still not sold on playing a home game across the ocean when we’ve got plenty of other problems to worry about. The current front office is definitely running things better than before, but this still feels like a distraction we don’t need.
Man this whole situation reminds me of why I fell in love with this franchise in the first place, the chaos and the weird situations. At least now with Holmes and Campbell we got people who actually know what they’re doing instead of the mess we used to deal with. Germany, Tampa, whoever, let’s just win it.
Breaking our hearts internationally has a nice ring to it honestly. But real talk, if this is who we’re playing, at least it’s somebody decent and not some random team we gotta learn everything about. Still skeptical but I’ll be watching.