The NFL Schedule Drops Thursday, and We’ve Got One Question That Actually Matters
The 2026 NFL schedule release is underway, and you know the drill. Lions fans will immediately scan for the bye week, count the primetime games, and then hold their breath for the most important announcement of all: who we’re hosting on Thanksgiving.
This is sacred ground, people. Even during the Matt Millen years when we were serving up turkey dinners to our opponents every damn November, Thanksgiving was still our day. The one day all year when the entire country had to watch the Detroit Lions, whether they wanted to or not.
It’s been tradition. It’s been family time. And yes, it’s been painful more often than we care to remember.
So Who Gets the Honor of Facing Us at Ford Field?
Word is the Patriots might be joining us for that Germany game, which would leave eight possible Thanksgiving opponents: Packers, Vikings, Bears, Saints, Giants, Jets, Buccaneers, and Titans.
Here’s the thing though. We’ve had a divisional opponent on Thanksgiving five straight years and nine out of the last ten. I’m tired of it. The stakes are always high with the Packers or Bears, sure, but can we get some variety? Please?
Give me the Buccaneers. Tampa and Detroit have been putting on shows lately, and this could be a legitimate NFC heavyweight bout if both teams live up to expectations in 2026. The only downside is losing a potential primetime matchup, but honestly? I’m tired of all these night games anyway.
The Thanksgiving slot is perfect. Four o’clock. Turkey in the oven. Family around the TV. And maybe, just maybe, a Lions team that doesn’t break our hearts in front of the entire country.
Who do you want to see the Lions carve up on Thanksgiving? Are you team divisional rivalry or ready for some fresh blood at Ford Field?
YES please give us someone other than a divisional rival for once. I’m so ready to see the Lions take on Tampa on Thanksgiving, that would be an actual must-watch game instead of the same old same old. Campbell and Holmes know how to build something special and having fresh matchups would be way more fun for the whole country to see.
I get what you’re saying about wanting variety, but honestly the divisional games are when it actually matters the most. That said, I trust Holmes to make the right call here. The Bucs would be cool but don’t sleep on how brutal Packers games get us every year.
Man, Thanksgiving at Ford Field has been our thing for decades and yeah we’ve had some rough ones, but that’s what makes it special. I like the Bucs idea too though, fresh blood would be nice for a change. Just want to see us finally get one of these where we’re not heartbroken at the end.