The Detroit Lions arrived in Munich for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots carrying a 6-2 record after a four-game winning streak and with a large fan presence tied to their German connection.
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The Detroit Lions arrived in Bavaria ahead of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots with a four-game winning streak and a 6-2 record, setting the stage for what coach Dan Campbell called an “almost” takeover feel in some stadiums.
Campbell said he noticed how far Detroit’s fans travel now that the team is winning. “Now that we’re winning, our fans have travelled everywhere we go,” he said Friday after the team arrived in Munich. “We almost feel like it’s been a takeover in some of these stadiums we’re at. Not every fan base is that way,” Campbell added. “Ours is that way,” he said, describing the support he’s felt in Munich and noting, “It’s pretty inspiring.”
The Lions have not played an international game since 2015, and the matchup is considered a home game for Detroit.
A key factor in the Lions’ presence in Germany is wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose German mother and fluency in the language have helped connect the team to fans. The Lions are also one of 11 NFL teams with league-granted marketing rights in Germany, which allows them to sign commercial deals, build brand awareness and hold fan activations.
Team president and CEO Rich Haddad said the organization is focused on building the Lions’ brand and engaging with fans in Germany and across Europe. “We’re thrilled to be here to bring Detroit to the world and to have this opportunity to build the Detroit Lions’ brand and to continue to build our fan base and to engage with all the fans we have here in Germany and here in Europe,” Haddad said.
Haddad said walking through downtown in Munich showed how established the team’s “Honolulu Blue” already is in the city, adding, “It’s only going to grow over the next couple days.”
Campbell was also asked to describe the Motor City for German fans, saying it is “a blue-collar city” with “blue-collar fans” who are “very much all about hard work.” He said those fans would “give you the shirt off their back if you needed it,” and described his goal since being hired in 2021 as building a team that people can relate to.
Injury updates heading into Sunday’s game: edge rusher DJ Wonnum (concussion) was a full participant at practice all week and does not have a game designation, indicating he is ready to play. Running back Sione Vaki (ankle) practised Friday for the first time this week, was limited, and is questionable for Sunday. The team also said safety Kerby Joseph (knee), centre Cade Mays (ankle) and cornerback D.J. Reed (hip) did not travel to Munich and had already been ruled out for Sunday.
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