The Detroit Lions are set to face the New England Patriots this Sunday at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, according to The Detroit News.
The game, scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. kickoff, features a Lions squad currently boasting a 6-2 record against a 5-4 Patriots team.
New England enters the contest following a difficult loss to the Green Bay Packers, as noted by The Detroit News.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has struggled with ball security, having tossed 11 interceptions in 11 games this season, per The Detroit News.
Analysts are divided on the impact of the international travel on both teams.
Richard Silva of The Detroit News stated, “I don’t think traveling to Germany will have any more of an impact on the Lions than it will the Patriots,” as reported by The Detroit News.
The Lions’ defense, which has allowed an average of 15.5 points over their last four games, aims to maintain its momentum, according to The Detroit News.
However, the Patriots’ defensive front remains a significant concern for the Detroit offense.
Nolan Bianchi noted that the Patriots’ defensive front could give Detroit problems, considering how much the Lions have struggled to protect quarterback Jared Goff in recent weeks, per The Detroit News.
The Patriots are also expected to receive a boost with the return of star receiver A.J. Brown from injury, as reported by The Detroit News.
While most analysts picked the Lions to win the matchup, Bob Wojnowski suggested the Patriots could play with an edge, stating, “They’ll be an ornery bunch,” according to The Detroit News.
The game will be broadcast on Fox and 97.1 FM.