Lions Defeat Patriots in Munich as Drake Maye Exits with Injury

Detroit defeated the New England Patriots 35-10 in Munich, Germany, as running back Jahmyr Gibbs recorded 153 rushing yards on 22 carries with two scores alongside 99 yards on seven receptions. New England quarterback Drake Maye left the game due to an ankle injury, dropping the Patriots to a 5-5 record while the Lions improved to 7-2 and moved joint-top of the NFC North.

Match Details

Detroit backup Penei Sewell paved the way for a standout night from Gibbs, who surpassed Terrell Davis with his 62nd career touchdown in his first four seasons. Rookie defensive end Derrick Moore added two sacks for the Lions, while AJ Brown exited the game for New England with a hamstring injury. Patriots backup quarterback Tommy DeVito replaced the injured Maye, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to rookie Lan Larison in the fourth quarter after an earlier score was called back due to an offensive pass interference penalty.

Context

Regular season NFL matches played abroad as part of the league's international series often bring unique travel and environmental challenges for teams accustomed to playing domestically. The NFC North division remains one of the most competitive groupings in professional football, where late-season injuries to key starters like quarterbacks and primary rushers frequently alter the playoff race.