FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 12, 2021 THREE CITIES IN DISCUSSIONS TO STAGE NFL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN GERMANY DÜSSELDORF, FRANKFURT, MUNICH INVITED TO 'CANDIDATE PHASE' The National Football League today confirmed that three cities are in discussions to host regular-season games in Germany. The NFL, which has staged 29 games in London since 2007 and will play its 30th at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (October 17), is aiming to find the most suitable partner city for a possible expansion of the International Series into Germany. After an initial period in which expressions of interest were received from multiple cities, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich have been invited to proceed to the 'candidate phase' of the process. Those cities will now participate in deeper conversations about staging games in Germany. "Regular-season games are a key part of continuing the development of our German fan base by creating more excitement for the sport and more connectivity with fans and communities," said BRETT GOSPER, NFL Head of Europe and UK. " "The strong interest we have received from German cities underlines what a fantastic opportunity this is for a host, ranging from the significant economic benefits and global exposure to the chance to become a hub for the growth of the NFL's fan engagement, community and grassroots activities. "As well as identifying a stadium that is fully capable of handling the logistics of an NFL game, we want to work with a host consortium that comprises local and regional government, stadium ownership, local stakeholders and potential commercial partners. We want this to be a long-term partnership." The NFL has enjoyed a number of strong years of fan growth in Germany, where it now has 19 million fans. Weekly NFL television viewership on partners ProSieben and DAZN has grown by more than 20 percent annually since 2017, and millions of fans tuned in for Super Bowl LV in February, making it the third consecutive season of record German Super Bowl viewership. Germany is a leading market outside North America for NFL Shop sales, fantasy football participation and sales of the Madden NFL video game. German-born players are making an increasing impact on the NFL, with fullback Jakob Johnson becoming a regular starter for the New England Patriots during the 2020 season and two other Germans currently in the NFL as part of the International Player Pathway program, David Bada (Washington) and Aaron Donkor (Seattle Seahawks). In recent seasons Sebastian Vollmer won two Super Bowls (XLIX and LI) as part of the Patriots offensive line that protected quarterback Tom Brady, while Björn Werner was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. | Week 6 NFL Preview | ANOTHER EXCITING NFL WEEKEND IN STORE; TWO CLASHES OF DIVISION LEADERS ON TAP IN WEEK 6 There are times when numbers can say so much more than words. This is one of those times. Through five weeks and 80 games, the 2021 NFL season has produced… - 19 contests with a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation or in overtime, the most such games through the first five weeks all-time.
- Eight overtime games, tying the NFL record for most through five weeks (also 2018, 2002 and 1983). At least one game has gone to overtime in each of the first five weeks of the 2021 season, marking the second time ever (also 2018) that a season has featured at least one overtime game in each of its first five weeks.
- 21 games decided by three points or less, including four such games in Week 5. Those 21 are tied with 2007 (21) and 1988 (21) for the third-most such games through the first five weeks of a season in NFL history.
COMEBACKS EN VOGUE: In Week 5, 13 of 16 games (81.3 percent) were within one score in the fourth quarter while four teams overcame deficits of at least 12 points to win: the Los Angeles Chargers overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Cleveland, 47-42, New England overcame a 13-point deficit to defeat Houston, 25-22, Philadelphia overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat Carolina, 21-18, and Baltimore capped another thrilling weekend by overcoming a 19-point deficit to defeat Indianapolis in overtime, 31-25. The last time four teams won after trailing by at least 12 points in the same week was Week 5 of last season. A REGULAR-SEASON TOURNAMENT: Every week matters in the NFL. In the AFC this week, two games feature battles of division-leading clubs: the Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS) and Buffalo at Tennessee on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN). The last time in Week 6 or later that the schedule produced two games in the same conference matching division leaders was Week 7 of the 2016 season. That week, New England won at Pittsburgh, 27-16, and Denver defeated Houston, 27-9. Foreshadowing what should be a thrilling ending to the regular season, NFL teams continue to play significant games that will determine each of the key playoff tiebreakers – head-to-head record, best winning percentage in common games, and top conference record. MONDAY NIGHT WINNERS ON SUNDAYS: The games with likely playoff implications continue in Week 6 with the AFC West-leading LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4-1) making the long trek to play the AFC North-leading BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-1) on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS).
| Buccaneers-Eagles Draws Viewership of 14.5 Million Across All Platforms | Viewership of 14.5 Million Across TV and Digital – Up +14% vs. 2020 Week 6 'Thursday Night Football' Matchup Average Minute Audience on All Digital Platforms, Including Amazon Prime Video, Hits 1.5 Million – Second Highest for Any NFL Regular Season Game on Record Last night's Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum game featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles was seen by an average audience of 14.5 million across all platforms, including FOX, NFL Network, FOX Deportes, NFL digital, FOX Sports digital, Amazon Prime Video, Twitch and Yahoo Sports mobile properties. The 14.5 million viewers for Buccaneers-Eagles across all platforms is up +14% versus last year's Week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills (12.7 million). Digital streaming across Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, NFL digital, Buccaneers and Eagles mobile properties, FOX Sports digital and Yahoo Sports mobile properties produced an average minute audience of 1.5 million – up +59% versus last year's Week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup (954k). Amazon Prime Video and Twitch reached a total of 2.3 million combined viewers worldwide for the FOX pre-game and post-game shows and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles game. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles game alone, 2.1 million worldwide viewers initiated a stream on Prime Video or Twitch. The average worldwide audience watching Thursday Night Football for at least 30 seconds on Prime Video or Twitch was 850K. The 2021 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum season continues Thursday, October 21 when quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns host quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the Denver Broncos at 8:20 PM ET on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video. Pregame coverage on NFL Network begins with TNF First Look at 3:00 PM ET, followed by NFL GameDay Kickoff at 6:00 PM ET. At 7:30 PM ET, FOX NFL Thursday airs on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video.
| Buccaneers-Eagles Draws Viewership of 14.5 Million Across All Platforms | Viewership of 14.5 Million Across TV and Digital – Up +14% vs. 2020 Week 6 'Thursday Night Football' Matchup Average Minute Audience on All Digital Platforms, Including Amazon Prime Video, Hits 1.5 Million – Second Highest for Any NFL Regular Season Game on Record Last night's Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum game featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28-22 win over the Philadelphia Eagles was seen by an average audience of 14.5 million across all platforms, including FOX, NFL Network, FOX Deportes, NFL digital, FOX Sports digital, Amazon Prime Video, Twitch and Yahoo Sports mobile properties. The 14.5 million viewers for Buccaneers-Eagles across all platforms is up +14% versus last year's Week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills (12.7 million). Digital streaming across Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, NFL digital, Buccaneers and Eagles mobile properties, FOX Sports digital and Yahoo Sports mobile properties produced an average minute audience of 1.5 million – up +59% versus last year's Week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup (954k). Amazon Prime Video and Twitch reached a total of 2.3 million combined viewers worldwide for the FOX pre-game and post-game shows and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles game. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles game alone, 2.1 million worldwide viewers initiated a stream on Prime Video or Twitch. The average worldwide audience watching Thursday Night Football for at least 30 seconds on Prime Video or Twitch was 850K. The 2021 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light Platinum season continues Thursday, October 21 when quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns host quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the Denver Broncos at 8:20 PM ET on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video. Pregame coverage on NFL Network begins with TNF First Look at 3:00 PM ET, followed by NFL GameDay Kickoff at 6:00 PM ET. At 7:30 PM ET, FOX NFL Thursday airs on FOX, NFL Network and Amazon Prime Video. | Seven From Sunday - Week 6 | A look at seven statistical highlights from games played at 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 17, the sixth week of the 2021 season.
- There have been 22 games with a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation or in overtime this season, the most such games through the first six weeks all-time.
Both Dallas and Minnesota earned overtime victories in Week 6. At least one game has gone to overtime in each of the first six weeks of the 2021 season, marking the second time ever (2018) that a season has featured at least one overtime game in each of its first six weeks.
With two games remaining in Week 6, 10 games have gone to overtime this season, tied with the 1983 season (10 games) for the second-most through the first six weeks of a season all-time. Only the 1995 season (12 games) had more.
The ARIZONA CARDINALS, the last remaining undefeated team, improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1974 with their 37-14 win over Cleveland.
- At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, Jacksonville overcame a 10-point deficit to win, 23-20, over Miami. Jaguars rookie quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE (22 years old, 319 passing yards) and Dolphins quarterback TUA TAGOVAILOA (23 years old, 329 passing yards) each recorded at least 300 passing yards on Sunday.
It marked the second game in NFL history in which two quarterbacks under the age of 24 each passed for at least 300 yards in the same game. The only other time this occurred was on December 20, 2020, when Philadelphia's JALEN HURTS (22 years old, 338 passing yards) and Arizona's KYLER MURRAY (23 years old, 406 passing yards) each passed for at least 300 yards in the same game.
Jaguars kicker MATTHEW WRIGHT, who kicked a game-winning 53-yard field goal, became the third kicker to register a game-winning field goal with no time remaining in an international NFL game, joining MATT PRATER (Week 8, 2014 at Wembley Stadium in London, England) and MATT BRYANT (Week 13, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada).
- Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON totaled 218 yards (167 passing, 51 rushing) with one touchdown pass in the Ravens' 34-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Jackson, who turns 25 years old in January, earned his 35th-career win as a starting quarterback and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (34 wins) for the most wins by a quarterback prior to his 25th birthday in NFL history.
- Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 397 yards with two touchdowns, while tight end TRAVIS KELCE had eight receptions for 99 yards in the Chiefs' 31-13 win at Washington.
Mahomes has 29 career games with at least 300 passing yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (29 games) for the most such games by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history.
Kelce has 78 career games with at least five receptions, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE (78 games) for the fourth-most such games by a tight end in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (139 games), JASON WITTEN (130) and ANTONIO GATES (96) have more.
- Making his 75th career start, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT passed for 445 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 108.7 rating while cornerback TREVON DIGGS registered a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Cowboys' 35-29 overtime win at New England.
Prescott has 39 games with passer rating of 100-or-higher and surpassed PHILIP RIVERS (38 games) for the third-most such games by a player in his first 75 career starts in NFL history. Only AARON RODGERS (43 games) and TONY ROMO (41) had more.
Diggs leads the league with seven interceptions and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer ROD WOODSON (1993) as the only players since 1970 with seven interceptions in their team's first six games of the season.
Diggs became the second player in the Super Bowl era to record at least one interception in each of his team's first six games of a season, joining BRIAN RUSSELL (first six games in 2003).
- Cincinnati quarterback JOE BURROW passed for 271 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for a 115.7 rating, while rookie wide receiver JA'MARR CHASE led the team with 97 receiving yards in the Bengals' 34-11 win at Detroit.
Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has at least two touchdown passes in each of the Bengals' first six games this season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (first 10 games in 1984) as the only first- or second-year quarterbacks with at least two touchdown passes in each of their team's first six games of a season in NFL history.
Chase has 553 receiving yards this season, the second-most receiving yards by a rookie in his first six career games in the Super Bowl era. Only ANQUAN BOLDIN (592 receiving yards in 2003) had more.
- Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS passed for 373 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 112.6 rating in the Vikings' 34-28 overtime win at Carolina.
Cousins has 20 career games with at least 300 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110-or-higher, surpassing AARON RODGERS (19 games) for the most such games by quarterback in his first 10 seasons in NFL history.
- Other notable performances from Sunday include:
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP recorded nine receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns in the team's 38-11 win at the New York Giants.
Kupp, who also had two touchdown receptions in Week 2 and Week 3, is the first player since JULIUS THOMAS (2014) with at least two touchdown catches in three of his team's first six games of a season.
Kupp has 46 receptions for 653 yards and seven touchdowns this season and joined Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (45 catches for 709 yards and eight touchdown receptions in 1999) as the only players with at least 45 catches, 650 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions in their team's first six games of a season in NFL history.
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