Detroit Lions Schedule Release: The Lions’ 2026 schedule just dropped, and it’s loaded with storylines
The Lions’ schedule is here, and there is a lot of meat on the bones of this thing
It’s finally here. The Detroit Lions’ 2026 schedule is out, and there are a lot of twists and turns and storylines all over the place. Let’s take a look at what we’ve got:
The Detroit Lions’ 2026 schedule
Week 1: Lions vs Saints on Fox at 1:00 PM EST
Dan Campbell is going up against his former team, and Kellen Moore is going up against his. The Saints should bring a decent defense to town, but their offense still has a pretty big question mark next to it. Interestingly enough, this is the first time the Lions have faced a team with a losing record in Week 1 since 2021.
Week 2: At Bills on Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime at 8:15 PM EST
The Lions will head to Buffalo on a Thursday night to open up the Bills’ new stadium. This game has potential shootout written all over it. That’s what happened the last time these two high-powered offenses faced each other.
Week 3: Lions vs Jets on Fox at 1:00 PM EST
Dan Campbell vs Aaron Glenn for the first time ever. Glenn, in his second season with the Jets, should have a second season much like how the Lions did under Campbell in 2022. They might not make the playoffs, but you should see a clear improvement from them by season’s end.
Week 4: At Panthers on Sunday Night Football on NBC at 8:20 PM EST
This one is going to be a super fun game that I can’t wait to cover. The Panthers are an up-and-coming team that is starting to put it all together, and the Lions are still a younger team with an explosive offense. It’s going to be a highlight reel.
Week 5: Lions at Cardinals 4:25 PM EST on Fox
Drew Petzing vs his old team. The Cardinals are an interesting team, and I’m pretty sure they’re planning to full-on tank this season to get the top quarterback in next year’s big quarterback draft.
Week 6: Bye
A bye week this early in the season is never fun. The Lions are going to have to make sure they stay as healthy as possible after this point.
Week 7: Lions vs Packers at 4:25 PM EST on Fox
You would love to have seen the Lions pull their Lambeau trip early again, but instead they’re going to have to go there in the dead of winter. So they need to make sure they can get the win in the comfy confines of Ford Field.
Week 8: Lions vs Vikings at 1:00 PM EST on Fox
A couple of divisional games in a row at home. Not bad. After the trip to Arizona, the Lions will get three straight weeks to wake up in their own beds. You can’t beat that.
Week 9: Lions at Dolphins at 1:00 PM EST on Fox
Three weeks at home and then a trip to sunny Miami. That’s not bad at all. The Dolphins are going through a rebuild. At least that’s the way it looks from the outside. We’ll see what they look like come game time.
Week 10: Lions vs Patriots in Germany on Fox at 9:30 AM EST
Heading to Germany for the first time in franchise history, and it’s kind of a homecoming for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Expect him to get a ton of attention in Munich, and expect the German crowd to love the Lions. Plus, Dan Campbell vs Mike Vrabel is a fun matchup.
Week 11: Lions vs Buccaneers at 1:00 PM EST on CBS
I know it’s going to upset fans, it’s going to upset players as well. The Lions are not getting a bye week after the trip to Germany. This is no doubt going to be tough on them. To come back and play a playoff-caliber team is going to make it rough.
Week 12: Lions will play the Bears on Thanksgiving at 1:00 PM EST on CBS
Dan Campbell vs Ben Johnson, part two. It’s the first time Johnson has been in Detroit on Thanksgiving since he was the Lions’ OC, and he’s coming in town looking for revenge after going 0-2 against Campbell in his first season in Chicago.
Week 13: Lions at Falcons 1:00 PM EST on Fox
The running back bowl. The two highest-paid running backs in NFL history will go head to head, and I would make sure you’re starting both Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson (duh) in this one. This is going to be about pride for sure.
Week 14: Lions vs Titans at 1:00 PM EST on Fox
The Lions are taking on the young Titans, who picked early again and spent a lot of money in free agency. We’ll see if that pays off in the end.
Week 15: Lions at Vikings on Sunday Night Football at 8:15 PM EST on NBC
If you were hoping for some 1:00 games late in the season, you’re not getting them. This starts a three-week period for late games that could turn into four weeks if the Lions vs Packers game at the end of the year gets flexed to primetime.
Week 16: Lions vs Giants on Monday Night Football at 8:15 PM EST on ESPN
This should be a super fun game to watch. Can the Lions get the ground game going against this pretty tough Giants defensive line, and how can their new offensive line, which should be pretty gelled together at this point, hold up against that pass rush?
Week 17: Lions at Bears on Fox at 4:25 PM EST on Fox
The rematch, only this time it’s a cold-weather game, and it’s likely to be a very important game in terms not only of the division, but the playoffs as well.
Week 18: Lions vs Green Bay Packers at TBD
The Lions will end the season against the Packers for the first time in a while, believe it or not. These two teams haven’t finished the season against each other since that big 2022 win for Detroit. This one could very well be flexed into primetime when it’s all said and done. It could be the NFC North as well.
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