Lions Heading Back to Europe for the First Time in a Decade
The worst kept secret in the NFL became official Wednesday morning. The Detroit Lions will face the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany for Week 10 of the 2026 season. This marks the Lions’ first international game since that disaster in London over a decade ago.
You remember that one, right? The Lions got absolutely embarrassed by Kansas City in front of a crowd that probably had no idea what they were watching. That was back in 2015 when this franchise was still figuring out how to tie its cleats, let alone play competitive football overseas.
Patriots Bring Experience to Germany
On paper, this matchup has some serious juice. New England is a team with international experience, having played overseas multiple times before. Meanwhile, the Lions are trying to bounce back after a tough 2025 season and prove they belong in contention.
The Patriots have played internationally six times before, posting a 3-2 record. They know how to handle the logistics, the travel, the whole circus that comes with playing football in a different time zone. For Detroit, this is uncharted territory under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes.
History Says This Could Get Ugly
The recent head-to-head history between these teams is not pretty if you bleed Honolulu Blue. Since 2000, New England has won five of seven meetings. The most recent matchup was that brutal 29-0 shutout in 2022 that still makes Lions fans wince.
That game happened during Campbell’s early tenure, back when this roster was still a work in progress. This Lions team is built differently now, but the Patriots have a way of making good teams look ordinary when it matters.
Game Details
Who: Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots
When: Week 10, Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
TV: FOX
Tickets are not available yet, but you can sign up for updates through the NFL’s official site. Fair warning though, if this game goes like most Lions primetime moments, you might want to save your money for therapy instead.
Are we finally ready to show out on the international stage, or is this just setting us up for another decade of European nightmares? Drop your take below.
Finally a chance to show the world what this team is really about. Campbell and Holmes have built something special and I’m ready to see it on the biggest stage. The Patriots are legit but so are we now, and that 2022 game was a different team entirely.
I want to believe, I really do. But something about this setup feels off – early morning kickoff, travel nightmare, facing a team that’s been overseas before while we haven’t done it in forever. I hope I’m wrong but this feels like a trap game waiting to happen.
Back in my day we couldn’t even field a competitive team at home, let alone travel across the world. At least now we have real coaches and a real front office that knows what they’re doing. That’s a huge difference from what we used to watch.