NFL Returns to Munich: New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers

For just the fourth time ever, the National Football League will host a regular season game in Munich, Germany. The New York Giants and Carolina Panthers will face off at Allianz Arena this Sunday, Nov. 10, at 9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network.

It’s been a rough season for both teams, with each squad only winning two of their first nine games.

The Panthers will enter the matchup in good spirits, coming off an impressive one-point victory over their division rival New Orleans Saints at home last Sunday. It was a game where their entire offense clicked, something that’s been a rare sight this season.

Second-year quarterback Bryce Young completed 16 of 26 passes, throwing for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Running back Chuba Hubbard found the end zone for the game-winning touchdown to help Carolina prevail.

Carolina also made two notable roster moves this week. On Tuesday, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that second-year wide receiver Jonathan Mingo was traded, along with a 2025 seventh-round pick, to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

On Thursday, another NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport, reported that the aforementioned Chuba Hubbard signed a four-year contract extension worth $33.2 million ($15 million fully guaranteed).

For the Giants, things haven’t been as great. They’ve lost four straight games, and haven’t won since defeating the Seattle Seahawks 29-20 on Oct. 6. Since that win, quarterback Daniel Jones has only thrown two touchdown passes.

However, a big bright spot for New York has been defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, who has nine sacks so far this season.

This game will be interesting for more reasons than Germany being the host. Giants’ pass rusher Brian Burns will face his former team for the first time.

Burns was traded by the Carolina Panthers, along with a 2024 fifth-round pick, to New York on March 11th for a 2024 second and fifth-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick. Immediately after the trade, Giants’ general manager Joe Schoen inked Burns to a five-year extension worth $150 million ($76 million fully guaranteed).

Another reason to be excited for this matchup is the rookies. Both New York and Carolina feature a rookie running back and wide receiver.

For the Giants, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. has 89 carries for 442 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in nine games played.

Wide receiver Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been sensational. In seven games, he has 55 receptions for 557 yards and three touchdowns in the air.

Carolina’s rookies aren’t as exciting but are still fun to watch. Wide receiver Xavier Legette, the 32nd pick in the draft, has played nine games this season, totaling 26 catches for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

While he’s been less productive than Nabers, Legette was recently named Carolina’s top receiver on their depth chart, so his production will improve over time.

Along with Legette, Panthers’ running back Jonathon Brooks, a second-round pick, is set to make his NFL debut this week. He’s been out to this point with an ACL injury he suffered during his final collegiate season at Texas.

However, both teams will be lacking a key receiver for the game. The Giants will be missing Darius Slayton, and the Panthers will be without Adam Thielen. Both players have been ruled out due to injury. Thielen has not played since going down in the first half of Carolina’s Week 3 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Lastly, I’ve got my eye on the quarterbacks in this game. As previously mentioned, Daniel Jones has had a rough stretch but is probably still the better QB in this matchup. Panthers’ Bryce Young is making just his fourth start of the season, and third since being benched after Carolina’s Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

I predict the Panthers will win this game, by a score of 25-22. It will be like their last game, close throughout with Carolina getting the job done in the end.

Adam Pietrzak is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu.