The Patriots left for Germany on Wednesday night after one last practice in Foxborough, and they left three players behind on the injury report. The Lions stayed in Allen Park, where Jared Goff showed up on the practice report for the first time this season. In Munich, the FC Bayern Munich stadium is still being turned into a football field, down to seven extra showers in the Bayern locker room. And on Thursday the first Lions fan event of the week opens at the Hofbräuhaus.
Patriots vs. Lions kicks off on Sunday, November 15, at 3:30 p.m. in Munich, which is 9:30 a.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. in Cairo. Detroit is the home team. Day one of the week, with the Patriots’ travel plan and the goalposts going up, is in our Munich game week, day one story.
The Patriots take off
New England practiced inside Gillette Stadium on Wednesday and then headed for the airport. The team posted video of the players leaving for Germany late Wednesday night, Boston time, and it is due in Munich on Thursday morning. That gives the Patriots three days in Germany before kickoff, one more than the Lions.
The Patriots leave for Germany on Wednesday night. Video by the Patriots.
Mike Vrabel explained the early trip earlier this week. “We’re going over a day early,” he said. “We want to try to get work in here as much as we can get done Wednesday, (then a) walk-through Thursday. Then maybe have a day where we’re acclimated, where Friday can resemble what we feel like is a Friday practice here.” He added that in the past, teams would “travel, land and try to have a Friday practice. I don’t know if that necessarily mirrors a Friday practice that we would have here.”
Before Wednesday’s practice, Vrabel said that “most everybody but a few guys are going to go to Germany,” but that a seat on the plane is not a promise of a uniform. “There’s going to be guys that go to Germany that won’t play,” he said. “I don’t know who those will be, but there’ll be a lot of guys that’ll go to Germany that won’t be active.” He said the Patriots needed Wednesday to “understand the first, second, and third down game plan before we travel.”
Three Patriots ruled out before the flight
Because New England practiced only once at home this week, its first injury report already carried game designations. Running back TreVeyon Henderson (illness), guard Ben Brown (knee) and cornerback Carlton Davis III (knee) were ruled out. Henderson will miss a third straight game. Ben Brown, the starting left guard, was hurt in Sunday’s 45–27 loss to Green Bay.
A.J. Brown was the good news. The receiver was limited with ankle and knee injuries after missing the last two games, and he made the trip. Fullback Reggie Gilliam was designated to return from injured reserve and was also limited. Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) did not practice, so the Patriots could be without both of their top running backs. Drake Maye (right shoulder) was a full participant.
| Patriots, Wednesday | Players |
|---|---|
| Out | RB TreVeyon Henderson (illness), G Ben Brown (knee), CB Carlton Davis III (knee) |
| Did not practice | RB Rhamondre Stevenson (knee), TE Cameron Latu (back), OL Walter Rouse (concussion protocol), S Brenden Schooler (hamstring) |
| Limited | WR A.J. Brown (ankle/knee), S Kevin Byard III (chest), FB Reggie Gilliam (knee), TE Hunter Henry (foot), T Morgan Moses (foot), OL Greg Van Roten (hamstring), CB Charles Woods (hamstring) |
| Full | QB Drake Maye (right shoulder) |
Goff on the Lions’ report, and Campbell’s 12 days
The Lions held a walkthrough on Wednesday, so their report was an estimate. Jared Goff was listed as limited with a chest injury. It is his first appearance on the report this season, and he has not missed a game since Week 17 of the 2021 season. Amon-Ra St. Brown (rib) was limited again. He was limited last week too and still led Detroit with eight catches for 86 yards in Miami.
Center Cade Mays (ankle) and cornerback D.J. Reed (hip) did not practice, and Dan Campbell gave them only a “way outside shot” of playing in Munich. Edge rusher DJ Wonnum was a full participant after a concussion. “He’s cleared his first obstacle, second obstacle here,” Campbell said. “As long as he gets through practice, he should be good to go.” Safety Andre Cisco, acquired at the trade deadline, travels with the team, and Campbell said the plan is “to get him going in this game.”
| Lions, Wednesday (estimated) | Players |
|---|---|
| Did not practice | C Cade Mays (ankle), CB D.J. Reed (hip), RB Sione Vaki (ankle) |
| Limited | QB Jared Goff (chest), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (rib), S Brian Branch (hip), S Kerby Joseph (knee) |
| Full | RB Jacob Saylors (neck/hamstring), DE DJ Wonnum (concussion) |
Munich starts the hardest stretch of Detroit’s season: three games in 12 days, with the Buccaneers at home next and the Bears on Thanksgiving four days after that. Campbell called it a test. “It’s a good thing to be tested during the season,” he said. “It really is. And to have to go through some of these tough stretches because that’s what the playoffs are.” He added: “This is the next obstacle we have. Told the team we’re not going to clear it. Our objective is to go through it and that’s the mindset.”
Dan Campbell on the Lions’ schedule this week. Video by the Lions.
Detroit practices once more in Allen Park on Thursday and then flies overnight. Campbell has described the plan as practice, a shower, the plane, a nap and a red-zone walkthrough on Friday in Munich.
Seven extra showers in Bayern’s locker room
The work inside the FC Bayern Munich stadium goes on all week. NFL field director Nick Kappas told German reporters that the league is using the plans from the 2022 and 2024 games. The field has been changed to American dimensions, with each end zone extended by 2.5 meters, and the goalposts sit in sockets that have been in the ground since 2022. Extra media booths went in above the press box over the summer, and coaches’ booths were built into a VIP box.
The Patriots get Bayern’s own locker room, and seven temporary showers were added to it because NFL rosters are so much bigger than soccer squads. Vrabel gets the office of Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, with its own shower. Thirteen NFL staff members are working on the grass, which has had to deal with cold weather and steady rain, and dozens of grow lamps are lighting it. After the game, the football turf is stripped out and new grass is laid for Bayern.
The conversion of the FC Bayern Munich stadium for Sunday’s game. Video by NFL Deutschland.
The Lions’ fan pub opens Thursday
The Lions take over the Hofbräuhaus, the famous beer hall on Platzl, from Thursday through Saturday, open from 11 a.m. to midnight Munich time (noon to 1 a.m. in Cairo). The team promises live entertainment, giveaways and appearances by Lions legends, the mascot Roary, the Lions cheerleaders and others. Two years ago the same building flew Giants banners during the Panthers–Giants game week.
The rest of the week in Cairo time
| Day | Patriots | Lions and fans |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov. 12 | Patriots land in Munich and hold a walkthrough | Lions practice in Allen Park, then fly overnight; Lions fan pub at the Hofbräuhaus, 11 a.m. to midnight (noon to 1 a.m. Cairo) |
| Fri, Nov. 13 | Patriots’ full practice in Munich | Lions arrive and walk through; Lions Fan Fest at Odeonsplatz from 11 a.m. (noon Cairo), Kevin Saunderson concert from 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Cairo) |
| Sat, Nov. 14 | Final preparations | Fan Fest from 11 a.m. (noon Cairo), Big Sean concert from 5 p.m. (6 p.m. Cairo) |
| Sun, Nov. 15 | Kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. Cairo | LaBrassBanda sing the German anthem, Drew Baldridge the U.S. anthem, and Cage The Elephant play halftime |
The full list of fan events is in our Munich “Novemberfest” fan map and our Munich and Madrid game-week guide.
The Patriots are 5–4 and hold the AFC’s No. 7 seed. The Lions are 6–2 after a 19–9 win in Miami. New England has its bye after Munich.
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