The Detroit Lions are heading back to the international stage, with their highly anticipated game in Germany officially set for mid-November. Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 15, when the Lions will take the field at FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Munich for their first international game since 2015.
Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch confirmed the news during a conference call on Monday, May 11, revealing that the network will broadcast the Lions' Week 10 matchup as part of a special triple-header. The game will air before Fox's regular 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. kickoffs, giving fans an early morning start to their football Sunday.
While the full NFL schedule drops Thursday, the league is already teasing some exciting possibilities for this international showdown. According to reports, the Lions are expected to host one of three potential opponents: the New England Patriots, the New York Giants, or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The official matchup announcement will come Wednesday at 9 a.m. on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," as part of the league's complete international games slate reveal.
This German adventure comes with some unique scheduling challenges for the Lions. Team president Rod Wood noted back in March that the team likely won't get a bye week after the trip, given the game's timing just two weeks before their traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup. The NFL typically avoids giving teams a bye right before Thanksgiving, especially when their opponent would be forced to play on short rest.
"We're in a little bit of an odd situation with the game likely in November and Thanksgiving, so I don't know what our bye treatment will be, but I think it's unlikely that we'll get it the week right after," Wood explained. He also mentioned that he specifically asked the league not to schedule back-to-back Thursday games for the Lions on Thanksgiving and the following week—a scenario that's plagued the team for the past two seasons.
As the NFL continues to expand its global footprint, this Germany game represents another exciting chapter for Lions fans and football enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you're planning a trip to Munich or just gearing up for an early morning kickoff from home, November 15 is shaping up to be a memorable day in Lions history.