Patriots arrive in Munich with some question marks before Sunday’s critical game against the Lions

ملخص مفصل

Will star receiver A.J. Brown ever return to form? Can their makeshift offensive line, still without its starting guards, hold up against Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson?

MUNICH — When Patriots tight end Hunter Henry took the podium Thursday afternoon at FC Bayern’s training facility, a reporter asked if he’s learned any German.

When the reporter followed up to hear more, Henry replied, “I know, ‘Hallo!’ ”

The room, full of reporters from Boston, Germany, and other European countries, erupted in laughter. A German reporter then gave Henry another word to store away, “bier.”

The Patriots arrived in Munich Thursday morning, with plans to practice twice at facilities of the city’s famed Bundesliga team. On Sunday, they’ll face the Lions at Allianz Arena.

The game is critical for the 5-4 Patriots, who are coming off a humiliating loss at home to the Packers last Sunday. The Patriots’ top players on both sides of the ball, quarterback Drake Maye and cornerback Christian Gonzalez, struggled mightily, with Maye throwing three interceptions and Gonzalez getting torched by two receivers.

The 6-2 Lions, also part of the formidable NFC North, boast an offense that will be difficult to match, averaging 27.8 points per game. The secondary will have to bounce back against the duo of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, while the offense will need to protect Maye and take care of the football.

“We’ve got to be able to find a way to start playing some games where we don’t turn the ball over,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said before Thursday’s jog-through practice. “We all know that. It’s our challenge. It’s going to be a goal and focus of ours, until we get it done.”

There are plenty of questions surrounding the Patriots. Will star receiver A.J. Brown ever return to form? Can their makeshift offensive line, still without its starting guards, hold up against Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson? Will their backfield hold up without Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) and TreVeyon Henderson (undiagnosed neurological condition)?

There are reasons to be optimistic. Stevenson, who limped off the field during Sunday’s game and did not return, made the trip and…

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