Why do the Dolphins and Chiefs play in Germany?

When the NFL schedule was first launched, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins matchup appeared fascinating. Except for the Tyreek Hill issue, each golf equipment are greater than able to find the tip zone. However since then, issues have gotten extra fascinating.

Kansas Metropolis hasn’t been firing on all cylinders, however the Tremendous Bowl champions nonetheless stand tall at 6-2. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are a historic duo that has bolstered the membership’s protection in 2023. Elsewhere within the AFC, the Dolphins have been on hearth. With Tua Tagovailoa enjoying to his capability, Hill and Jaylen Waddle lighting up defenses and a greater than succesful floor recreation, Miami rose to a 6-2 begin.

And now, these two groups will meet in a must-see matchup… which, oddly sufficient, will air at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, November 5.

That is in fact as a result of the match can be held in Germany. However how did one of many NFL’s most notable abroad video games finish? Let’s break it down.

The NFL needs to speak to a German fan base

Let’s begin with the broader query: Why is the NFL enjoying a recreation in Frankfurt, Germany?

The best reply is that the league is striving to develop its fan base past American borders. The primary worldwide common season recreation was held in 2005, and the NFL Worldwide Collection was launched in 2007. Through the years, video games have been held in England, Mexico and Germany.

Whereas this third nation is a comparatively new addition to the checklist – Tampa Bay and Seattle visited Munich in 2022, and there are two video games in Frankfurt in the course of the 2023 marketing campaign – American soccer is considerably of a confirmed commodity in Germany.

As Rodger Sherman defined to The Ringer in 2022, there’s a small group of NFL gamers. The European Soccer League did effectively in Germany, and in the course of the Nineties and early 2000s, the NFL additionally loved success within the nation.

“(German soccer followers) wish to be a part of one thing,” defined Jim Tomsula, who at present coaches Rheinfire. “They’re fanatical about it. The eagerness for it, the sacrifice…I’ve obtained guys, they arrive in after a tough day’s work they usually’re lining up within the fields. I’ve obtained our gear supervisor. I am undecided why.” “His (day) job is. I did not ask him. However he involves observe in a $180,000 BMW. I do know he is obtained an excellent job. He runs round with the jocks and washes helmets and simply smiles prefer it’s none of his enterprise.”

The NFL additionally shared the same view.

“We have reached a maturity the place you see followers actively in search of out groups and on the lookout for groups they’ll observe,” mentioned Alexander Steinfurth, normal supervisor of the NFL in Germany, in line with the AP story. “That is why the market is so thrilling for franchises to be lively in as a result of they now have an enormous alternative to draw followers.”

With that in thoughts, inserting some regular-season NFL video games in Germany makes some sense.

Why do the Chiefs and Dolphins play overseas?

Now that we all know why the NFL sends groups to Germany, we will dig a bit of deeper. Why was the Chiefs-Dolphins recreation, normally a prime-time recreation, chosen to alter the time and placement?

Nicely, in his weekly column on NBC Sports activities, Peter King laid out the framework.

First, the Chiefs requested that their worldwide recreation be held in Germany since they’re one of many groups with world advertising and marketing rights there. And since AFC groups have 9 dwelling video games this 12 months, 2023 was the logical time to ship Kansas Metropolis abroad.

Moreover, the NFL will not ship a divisional recreation abroad, in order that takes three choices off the Chiefs’ schedule. KC additionally wished to maintain their go to from the Bears at Arrowhead, since that was Chicago’s solely go to to Missouri between 2016 and 2030.

After that, it was a guessing recreation. The Chiefs-Eagles recreation was clearly meant for prime time. On the time the schedule was drawn up, video games towards Buffalo and Cincinnati appeared like secure bets to save lots of for giant home windows.

The NFL was additionally “intrigued by the Lions’ potential” and positioned them within the opening recreation. KC solely has one dwelling recreation left — sure, the one with the Miami Dolphins — as the sport to go on the highway.

Find out how to watch Dolphins vs. Chiefs

Though it will not be at Arrowhead, NFL followers will nonetheless wish to catch the matchup between two of the very best groups within the AFC. However how are you going to watch the match?

Since they’re enjoying on the highway, the Chiefs and Dolphins will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 5. The sport can be broadcast on NFL Community; You may as well catch the motion on quite a lot of streaming platforms, corresponding to NFL+ and NFL Sunday Ticket; There are additionally some restricted native TV choices for those who reside throughout the Kansas Metropolis or Miami markets.

Oddsmakers additionally give KC a slight benefit, with FanDuel Sportsbook Itemizing the Chiefs as 2.5-point favorites as of Tuesday, October 31. The Over/Beneath can be set at 50.5 factors.