Nov 13, 2022; Munich, Germany; Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots,Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers fans pose before an NFL International Series game at Allianz Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Germany is the next big front for the NFL’s product development, and more business is heading that way this autumn.
Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks squared off in Munich at Allianz Stadium. The league also featured games in London and Mexico City in 2022 as part of its evolving International Series.
Well, in 2023, German fans will reportedly get a double-dip with two NFL showdowns, possibly in Hamburg or Frankfurt instead of Munich. According to Max Schrader of The Bild, the Minnesota Vikings secondary rival, the Chicago Bears, will take on the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bears were utterly terrible in 2022, producing a 3-14 record, while the Chiefs continued achieving destiny with a second Super Bowl triumph in four seasons, led by best-in-the-business quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Meanwhile, in addition to Bears-Chiefs, another Vikings rival could be in action across the pond. The New Orleans Saints will allegedly take on the New England Patriots in Germany, two teams with similar win-loss expectations in 2023. The NFL schedule will formally release next week and likely confirm both matchups.
NFL marketing director Alexander Steinforth said about the product in Germany, “The game in Munich was a significant moment for the NFL in Germany, one that will be remembered by spectators at the stadium and by spectators from around the world for years to come.”
“The economic and social impact of our first regular season game is impressive and underscores the positive contribution the game has made to the city of Munich and beyond, and we look forward to playing more games in this country in the years to come,” he added.
The Chiefs need no introduction. Andy Reid’s team outlasted the mighty Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, 38-35, about three months ago and are favored to win the chip all over again in 2023. The Bears, on the other hand, are more mysterious, entering the next phase of a rebuild that involved trading their best defensive players midseason and stockpiling draft picks via trade with the Carolina Panthers. On paper, Chicago looks more formidable, and general manager Ryan Poles has conducted business wisely, but in September, they’ll have to “play the games” to determine if the rags-to-riches rebuilding efforts pay off.
The Bears-Chiefs and Saints-Patriots matchups will likely occur in Week 10 or 11, so either November 12th or 19th.
The Vikings played the Buffalo Bills in an exhibition game 30 years ago in Berlin.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.