Shpiltag in Germany.
The Seahawks’ first-ever game day in Germany started with fog. Then the sun came up about two hours before kickoff of the NFL’s first regular season game in this historic country against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Turned out quarterback Gina Smith superimposed on the upper part of st Olympic Stadium tower at Munich’s Olympic Park to talk with Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and throw passes in early warmups. He was at the field, which is usually the home of Bayern Munich, about two hours and 45 minutes before kickoff at 6:30 a.m. Seattle time.
A ticket was $1,200 or more for Sunday’s game, the first in 15 years of the NFL’s international regular-season series featuring the two division leaders. This was stated by the head of the German NFL, Alexander Steinforth this spring, three million inquiries were processed when Seahawks-Buccaneers tickets went on sale in Munich. Allianz Arena holds 67,000 spectators.
“It’s a staggering number,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of the three million people expected to attend the game. “I can’t imagine. It’s an honor … we’re going to respect every aspect of it.”
The Seahawks players were among approximately 20,000 Seattle fans who traveled to Munich for the game. They came from Italy, Sweden, Great Britain, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Denmark and, of course, Washington State.
Tight end Noah Fant showed up at Marienplatz on Saturday night. The line to meet him at the sporting goods store stretched down the street, around the block to the square.
Chris, a dentist from Switzerland, was in Augustiner Stammhaus, the Seahawks designated beer hall for the week in the old town Marienplatz section of Munich on Friday night. In addition to fixing teeth for children between the ages of 2 and 200 in the Swiss National Health System, Chris is also in the Swiss National underwater rugby team.
Yes, it’s a big deal in Europe. So is this Seahawks game.
“I wouldn’t miss it!” Chris said in accented English over the roar of Stamhouse.
DK Metcalf was featured alongside Tom Brady on displays throughout Munich promoting the game.
Look for the Seahawks to send rookie Ken Walker to test Vito Vea and the Buccaneers defense, a Tampa Bay power, early in this game. That would force Smith to give up the play action of Metcalf, Tyler Luckett and the three tight ends Waldron has used in Seattle’s surging offense this season.
In Seattle’s defense, Brady will likely target Tumwater’s Cade Ohtan. The University of Washington recruit had his first career touchdown catch last weekend when Brady put Tampa Bay over the Rams with 9 seconds left. Brady will likely go after the Chargers, Giants and Cardinals right before him to not target Seahawks rookie cornerback Tarik Woolen often. Cornerback Michael Jackson has been impressive against Woollen this season. But the middle of Seattle’s defense is where the Seahawks have been vulnerable.
Let’s see if Brady looks for Ohtano there. We wrote to the News Tribune feature about what Otton experienced to get here: the recent death of his mother Sally.
