NFL game in Munich: Two teams made for a promotional trip

Ja, actually: The Detroit Lions will also be playing football this weekend. Against the New England Patriots, in the arena in Munich-Fröttmaning. It’s really just a 75-hour trip, which the German-born Lions professional Amon-Ra St. Brown recently described in a conversation like this: “On Thursday afternoon after training in Germany. Straight to training to get rid of the jet lag. Sunday straight after the game, we might land in Detroit in the evening local time.” What St. Brown, whose image currently adorns the arena’s exterior, also has planned: “Eat with the boys: schnitzel, potato dumplings. And hopefully on the motorway!”

Of course, one could immediately interject at this point and point out that on such a trip, given the six-hour time difference for both teams, all sorts of PR appointments and the game in a football stadium, sport is just a minor matter. Or you look at it like St. Brown, one of the best pass receivers in the National Football League (NFL): “The trip to Europe is intended to introduce people to the sport and the rules and the culture around it. That’s our job, it’s part of the job. You can use the hardships as an excuse – or approach the whole thing as a challenge and look forward to it.”

Well then. Sunday 3:30 p.m.: Detroit Lions against New England Patriots, the duel between two Super Bowl candidates in Munich.

Thinking of quarterback legend Tom Brady, coaching monument Bill Belichick and force of nature Rob Gronkowski when you hear the word “Patriots” is a bit like saying “FC Bayern” brings up images of Jupp Heynckes, Gerd Müller or Robbery generated. The names are reminiscent of great times for the Patriots. The present looks different – except that they are expected to make the playoffs again. Or more.

When it comes to safety or risk, Detroit always chooses the second option

In the predictions before the season, head coach Mike Vrabel’s team, a Patriots defender for eight seasons under Belichick, was reliably in the top ten. So far the season has been mediocre, five wins, four defeats. They won the games they were supposed to win, managing an emotional 29:26 against co-favorites Buffalo Bills. Only: They lost all other games that were considered an indicator of quality and form, most recently 27:45 against the Green Bay Packers.

This result symbolizes the style of play as well as strengths and weaknesses and is the first reason why the duel on Sunday in Munich should be a spectacle. Since game day four, the Patriots have not scored fewer than 24 points in any game. Running player Rhamondre Stevenson is out, so playmaker Drake Maye should blow the ball like he did last Sunday: 38 attempts, three touchdowns – but also three passes intercepted by the opponent. It was a spectacle. And that brings us to Sunday.

Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Detroit Lions, has courage. Whenever he has to choose between safety and risk, extension or direct decision, conservative tactics or trick play, Campbell chooses the dopamine-rich option. He taught his team to think the same way. When he wanted to go for an extension last season, quarterback Jared Goff warned him about the possibility of immediate success. The coach followed, Detroit won.

But this moment also showed that there is a method to the supposed madness. “I had the choice between sending out an injury-plagued, unrehearsed defense and hoping that things would go well – or I could trust the well-rehearsed offensive guys who were rolling,” said Campbell. In addition to Goff, the “offensive guys” are: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs with nine touchdowns (second in the league) and 847 yards gained (three). Tight end Sam LaPorta for short passes, Jameson Williams (16.7 yards per pass caught) for long ones.

And of course Amon-Ra St. Brown, the man with the German flag on the Lions helmet. So far he has caught 61 passes for 657 yards and five touchdowns. He therefore has a good chance of being among the top three in each of these three categories at the end of the season.

Sometimes it looks to the people in the stadium like the Lions have decided they’re sure to score a touchdown, and then they just do it. Last weekend in the third quarter when the score was 6:9 against the Miami Dolphins, it went like this: passes to Williams (31 yards), St. Brown (17) and LaPorta (12). Gibbs with two runs of eight yards each, one of them into the end zone. 160 seconds of net playing time, eight plays, 66 yards gained, touchdown.

So on Sunday, a Patriots offense that has found its rhythm will face a Lions defense that is plagued by numerous injuries and is already very vulnerable to passes. And a Detroit offense that comes across like the legendary Ford Indy V8 engine against the New England defense, which allowed 45 points to the opponent last week. Nevertheless, there are two Super Bowl candidates who are worried about playoff participation because of their extremely strong divisions and who urgently need a win.

One can predict that German football fans can expect a spectacle. Amon-Ra St. Brown is looking forward to it: the motorway, the food, the German fans. “It’s the first time that I’m allowed to play in Germany as an adult,” he says: “Despite all the joy that a dream is coming true: the victory is the most important thing.”