Patriots get a dry forecast in Munich as Drake Maye looks to avoid a repeat of London

The New England Patriots should get the dry field Drake Maye has been hoping for in Munich. Sunday's forecast for the game against the Detroit Lions at Allianz Arena shows no chance of rain, SB Nation's Pats Pulpit reported, citing German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk. Kickoff temperature should be about 48 degrees, and it is expected to stay in the 40s for the whole game. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. local time, which is 9:30 a.m. ET on Fox.

Footing has been on the quarterback's mind since the team arrived in Germany. Speaking at FC Bayern Munich's training facility on Thursday, Maye looked back on the rain at Wembley Stadium during New England's 2024 London game and said he "was slipping and worried about cleats" in warmups. The Patriots lost that game to Jacksonville 32-16, but Maye still completed 26 of 37 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns. A cool, dry afternoon takes one variable out of an overseas game that already comes with travel and an unfamiliar grass surface.

The weather is good news for a team that has a lot of other problems. Pats Pulpit's Wednesday injury report said running back TreVeyon Henderson, offensive lineman Ben Brown and cornerback Carlton Davis III have been ruled out. Wide receiver A.J. Brown returned to practice that week. Rhamondre Stevenson was limited on Thursday while dealing with a knee injury from the Green Bay game.

What it means for Sunday

At 5-4, the Patriots have scored 211 points and allowed 207, the thin margin of a team that has not settled in either direction. They have lost two of their last three games, both to NFC North opponents: 30-24 at Chicago and 45-27 at home against Green Bay. Those 45 points are the most New England has allowed this season. Before that stretch, the Patriots had won four of five, including a 45-17 win over Las Vegas and a 29-26 win in Buffalo. Away from Foxborough they are 2-3, and their worst result was also in a Jaguars game, a 35-6 loss in Jacksonville.

Detroit is another NFC North problem. NBC Sports Boston notes the Lions arrive at 6-2 with four wins in a row. That points to a game decided by Maye's arm, now that New England's backfield is short-handed and its secondary is missing Davis.

The market expects a close game. On this site's board, which lists Detroit as the home side across 12 venues, the Lions are favored by 2.5 points at -111 on Novig, with New England +2.5 priced at +108. The best Patriots spread available anywhere is +3 at -115 on Hard Rock Bet, which buys the extra half-point at the key number. On the moneyline, Novig has Detroit at -138 and New England at +135. The total sits at 50.5 on Novig, with the over at -100 and the under at -106. Bet365 has the lowest over on the board at 49.5 (-114). Sportsbook hold ranges from 3.0% to 5.4% across the markets, so prices vary only modestly from venue to venue. With a dry field expected, that total of about 50 assumes points in a game where the Patriots have scored and allowed plenty lately.