Schedule Release Week: What We Know About the Lions So Far
The NFL loves its pageantry, and schedule release week is no different. They’re going to milk this thing for every ounce of drama they can squeeze out of it, which means we get breadcrumbs all week instead of just dumping the whole thing at once.
Here’s what we know so far about Detroit’s 2026 slate, and trust me, there are already some things worth talking about.
The Germany Game Gets a Date (But Not an Opponent)
The Lions are heading back to Munich, and now we know when. Week 10, Sunday, November 15th, 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX. An early morning kickoff for us, which means the bars will be open by 8 a.m. and Lions fans will be three deep by kickoff.
What we still don’t know is who they’re playing. The Giants have been ruled out as of yesterday, so that leaves several possibilities from their away opponent list. Could be the Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, Panthers, or Dolphins.
And yes, before you ask, Rod Wood already confirmed back in April that the Lions are “unlikely” to get a bye week after the Germany game. Because of course they won’t. Why would this franchise make anything easy on itself?
Thursday Night Football in Buffalo
Week 2 is locked in. Lions at Bills on Thursday Night Football, September 17th, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video. This one’s already confirmed by the league.
Buffalo in September on a short week. That’s not exactly a soft landing spot for the second game of the season, but at least we’re getting our primetime exposure early.
The Opponent List Looks Manageable
Let’s be real about this schedule strength thing. The Lions are projected to have the easiest schedule in the NFL, and when you look at the opponent list, it’s hard to argue.
At home: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets, Buccaneers, and Titans. Away: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, Panthers, and Dolphins.
That’s a lot of teams that finished fourth in their division in 2025. The AFC East is always a mixed bag outside of Buffalo. The NFC South was a disaster. And finishing fourth in the division means they get to play other last-place teams.
FanDuel has the Lions as favorites to win the NFC North at +145, make the playoffs at -215, and they’re giving them +1700 odds to win the Super Bowl. Those are not the odds of a team with a brutal schedule.
More Leaks Coming This Week
The full international slate gets announced Wednesday morning on Good Morning Football. The complete schedule drops Thursday. Between now and then, expect more breadcrumbs to fall.
Primetime games, division matchup dates, Thanksgiving details. It’s all coming. And honestly, for a team that’s been projected to have the easiest schedule in the league, there’s reason to be optimistic about what we’re going to see Thursday.
Are we buying into the hype around this schedule, or is “easiest in the NFL” just another way to set us up for disappointment? Let me know what you think below.
