Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts Preview: Can New England Win in Germany?
Get that coffee brewing! In Week 10, the New England Patriots cross the Atlantic Ocean to face the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday morning.
As part of the NFL's International Games, the Patriots' plan is to depart Thursday night and arrive in Germany on Friday for a practice and a walkthrough before the Sunday game. The team's first game in Germany, the Patriots are historically successful internationally; New England has won all three international games, two victories in London and one in Mexico City.
A change of scenery could be exactly what New England needs after suffering another loss last Sunday. The Patriots were defeated 20-17 by the Washington Commanders, who sealed the win by picking off quarterback Mac Jones with 30 seconds to play.
The Patriots take on the Colts Sunday morning in Frankfurt.
Jones looks to bounce back after finishing 24 of 44 with one touchdown, an interception and a passer rating of just 66.5. New England's offense ranks 31st in points per game through nine weeks of the season.
The Patriots defense looks to get after Colts backup quarterback Gardner Minshew on Sunday. Minshew is 2-3 as a starter since taking over for injured rookie Anthony Richardson. He let Indianapolis to a 27-14 victory against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.
Watch for Indianapolis cornerback Kenny Moore, who picked off Panthers quarterback Bryce Young twice, returning both for touchdowns.
The Patriots are dead last in the AFC East. At 2-7, New England has the worst record in the AFC conference. A bit of optimism - If the season ended today the Patriots would have top-five selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Questions about coach Bill Belichick's job security continue to swirl. In typical Belichick fashion, he didn't pay much mind to those concerns right now.
"I'm going to control what I can control and get ready for the Colts," Belichick said.
RECORDS: New England Patriots (2-7) vs. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
ODDS: New England is a 1.5-point underdog vs. the Colts
GAME TIME: Sunday, November 12th, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. ET
LOCATION: FRANKFURT STADIUM
TV/RADIO: NFL Network / WCVB, 98.5 FM THE SPORTS HUB
THE FINAL WORD: Patriots receiver Matthew Slater on the team's trip to Frankfurt:
"It's a great opportunity for a lot of us," said Slater. "Again, nobody should be feeling sorry for us. We're blessed to be playing this game. We're blessed to have an opportunity to go there.
