Detroit Lions Schedule Features Big Reunions
The NFL clearly believes in the Detroit Lions. With four primetime games, a trip to Germany and emotional reunions against former coaches, the Lions enter 2026 as one of football’s biggest attractions — and the pressure has never been higher.
The 2026 schedule is officially here for the Detroit Lions, and while the path to the playoffs looks manageable on paper, the layout of the schedule could define Detroit’s season. Between primetime showcases, long-distance travel, holiday matchups and emotional reunions with former coaches, the Lions are once again one of the NFL’s biggest attractions heading into the year. Detroit will play four confirmed primetime games, including a Week 2 Thursday Night Football showdown against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.
That matchup will also serve as the opener for the Bills’ new stadium and instantly places the Lions on a national stage early in the season. Detroit also draws a Sunday Night Football matchup in Carolina and a Monday Night Football game later in the year against the New York Giants. In total, the Lions have eight nationally televised games, showing just how much the franchise has grown in relevance across the league.
At the same time, fans who miss the traditional Sunday routine should enjoy this year’s schedule. Detroit is scheduled for eight 1 p. m.
kickoffs, a noticeable increase from recent seasons. That means more normal football Sundays at Ford Field and fewer late-night finishes for a fanbase that has grown accustomed to national attention over the last few years. One of the biggest storylines of the season arrives on Thanksgiving Day when former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns to Detroit with the Chicago Bears.