The odds had seemingly faded, but the Detroit Lions may be back in play for an international game this season.
Going back over a year, it has seemed the Detroit Lions were lined up to play game overseas this season. In recent months, some buzz came about said game being in Germany against the Kansas City Chiefs based purely on how opponents lined up for 2023.
Then in early April, a report from David Kaplan suggested the Chicago Bears were the favorites to play the Chiefs in Germany this season. Kaplan is based in Chicago, so some grain of salt was inherent with that report. But it did likely seem to be down the Bears and the Lions to be the Germany opponent for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Here is the Monday edition of the REKAP - Rush Hour with @ChicagoBears news! Georgia DT Jalen Carter is at Halas Hall today. Plus, sources confirm the #Bears will be playing the @Chiefs in Germany next fall! Plus, all the sports news of the day! https://t.co/nXsux3AtxD
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) April 3, 2023
Then more recently, a German newspaper reported the same.
Peter King is out with a fresh “Football Morning In America” on Monday morning. After a note about the 2023 regular season schedule announcement possibly not coming on Thursday night as expected, there’s this.
"Kansas City is playing a November game in Frankfurt this year; that’s a fact. The German newspaper Bild reported KC would play Chicago in the Germany game, and that KC would play again in Germany in 2024 when Carolina is due to host a game there. Bild reported Carolina’s 2024 foe would be Kansas City. I’ve been told there’s some doubt on both of those reports. First: When a team gives up one of its home games to play overseas, it has the option of requesting to the league one home game on its schedule the team does not want moved. I’m told Kansas City requested that the Chicago game not be played overseas."
Detroit Lions appear to be back in play to play the Chiefs in Germany
Lions back in play for Germany this year? From @peter_king this morning, the Chiefs requested the Bears game NOT be moved overseas. ... Schedule due to come out Thursday.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) May 8, 2023
If the Chiefs have to give up a home game to play overseas, it’s fair to say they’d like an opponent worthy of the buzz around said game. The Bears seem to be on a better track, but they are not lined up to be a playoff contender and by the time a game in Germany comes in November that should be confirmed. That the Chiefs have asked for their Bears game to not be overseas, according to King, says it all.
The Lions are certainly a team with a lot of positive buzz around them, and they are the early betting favorites to win the NFC North. It also appears the Chiefs would rather play them in Germany if the choices are the Lions or the Bears, as much as that may matter to the league.
So the Lions playing the Chiefs in Germany seems to be back in play, and we’ll find out soon if it’s happening.