🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
In the world of sports, playing at home is generally seen as an advantage. For the New England Patriots, though, a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered. The AFC East club has found itself in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the standings; at 2-7, Bill Belichick's squad is last in the entire conference.
In that vein, perhaps there's no better time to head abroad. Where better to get a fresh start than in Germany?
Yes, you read that correctly. Germany. In Week 10, the Patriots' matchup against the Indianapolis Colts will take place in Frankfurt, rather than Foxborough or Indy.
What's behind that scheduling quirk? And how can you watch the game?
Let's break it down.
Germany Is on the NFL's Radar
Last week, we explored why the Chiefs and Dolphins played an early morning game (at least by American time zones) rather than kicking off during a more conventional prime-time window. While this weekend's game is a bit less high-profile, the underlying logic is largely the same.
The NFL has been playing international games for more than a decade now in an attempt to expand its fanbase and, by European standards, Germany is a logical place to play. The country's NFL Europe teams drew well during that league's existence, and the modern European League of Football boasts multiple teams in Germany.
That reality sets the stage for the NFL to bring some of those fans into the fold.
"Most Germans don't have a team yet," Alexander Steinforth, the NFL's general manager for Germany, explained, according to The Guardian. "We are reaching that state of maturity where you see fans are actively seeking out teams and are looking for teams that they can follow. That's why the market is so exciting for franchises to be active in because they have a massive opportunity to pick up fans."
Regarding the Patriots—this is technically their home game—the club is one of the NFL teams with international marketing rights in Germany. And given that the AFC has the extra home game in 2023, it makes sense for the club to travel abroad this season.
Owner Robert Kraft also spoke about the club's trip abroad.
"Germany is a leader in Europe, and I think it's so cool that we're gonna be kicking off and having a game there and being able to touch our fans and let them feel the passion," he said in a video on the club's website. "And the privilege we have of playing in the third country outside of the U.S., playing in England, playing in Mexico and now Germany, where we're told we're No. 1, is very exciting."
How to Watch Colts vs. Patriots From Germany
For many football fans, gridiron action occupies most of Sunday. Having a game in Europe, however, makes the NFL even more of an all-day affair.
On Sunday, the Colts and Patriots will take the field in Frankfurt, Germany. The game will kick off on the NFL Network at 9:30 a.m. ET; Rich Eisen, Jason McCourty, Stacey Dales and Sara Walsh will be on hand to talk you through the contest.
Beyond NFL Network, the game will also stream on a variety of services, including NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket.
As of Tuesday, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the Colts as a narrow 1.5-point favorite. The over/under was set at 43.5 points.
About the writer
Joe Kozlowski is the Newsweek Sports Team Lead based in New York. His focus is covering U.S. sports. He is especially passionate about ... Read more