The Detroit Lions are officially heading to Germany, and now we know exactly when they'll take the field across the Atlantic. According to a report from sports business insider Daniel Kaplan, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch revealed during a Monday conference call that the Lions' international game in Munich is set for Sunday, November 15, as part of a Fox triple-header.
The game will be played at FC Bayern Munich Stadium during Week 10 of the NFL season—just two weeks before the Lions' beloved annual Thanksgiving Day showdown in Week 12. While the opponent remains a mystery for now, the NFL is scheduled to announce the full slate of international matchups on NFL Network at 9 a.m. this Wednesday, with the complete schedule dropping Thursday night.
One question on every Lions fan's mind: will the team get a bye week after the Germany trip? In years past, an automatic bye followed international games, but that's no longer guaranteed. Lions president and CEO Rod Wood hinted at the NFL's annual league meetings in March that a post-game bye seems unlikely, saying, "I think it's improbable we'll get that week right after the international game." That means Detroit could face a grueling stretch—traveling to Munich, then returning for a short week leading into Thanksgiving.
This marks the Lions' third international appearance, and their track record overseas is a mixed bag. In 2015, they suffered a tough 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at London's Wembley Stadium. But the 2014 trip to the same venue was pure magic: the Lions stormed back from a 21-0 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons, with kicker Matt Prater drilling a 48-yard field goal as time expired to seal the win—after a dramatic delay-of-game penalty erased his first attempt.
As the countdown to Munich begins, Lions fans have plenty to look forward to—and plenty of questions about how the team will handle the travel, the time change, and a packed schedule. Stay tuned for the opponent reveal, and get ready to rep your Lions gear for this historic game in Germany!