DETROIT – Today is the day we learn the full schedule for the defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions.
The Lions are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history: a 12-5 record, a division title, and a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
After coming one play away from their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, the Lions are hungry to get back on the field, especially after a busy offseason of improvement.
We’ll follow along with all the rumors and official announcements as they come through.
Here are some quick facts to know:
- As always, the Lions will play each of their NFC North rivals -- the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers -- twice: once at Ford Field and once on the road.
- The Lions will play each team in the NFC West Division: Home games against the Rams and Seahawks and road trips to San Francisco and Arizona.
- NFC North teams will square off against the AFC South in their interleague matchups this season. The Lions host the Jaguars and Titans and visit the Colts and Texans.
- Since they finished in first place in the NFC North, the Lions will play the Cowboys (NFC East winner) on the road and host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South winner).
- Detroit’s 17th game is a home battle with the Buffalo Bills.
You can follow along with the live updates below.
Thursday night games?
- 12:09 p.m. Wednesday
We’ll see if the Lions get any more Thursday night games this season after opening the season on a Thursday night in Kansas City and going to Lambeau Field three weeks later.
Since they play on Thanksgiving Day every year, the Lions automatically have one awkward short/long week baked into every schedule. Doing it three times felt a bit excessive.
Fans focused on primetime games
- 11:29 a.m. Wednesday
Fans speculating about the schedule on social media are trying to figure out how many times the Lions will play in front of the country after doing so several times last season.
Who will the Lions host on Thanksgiving Day? Will they get a primetime slot in Week 1? What’s in store for the 49ers rematch?
Those feel like some answers we could get before 8 p.m.
NFL games on Christmas Day
- 10:41 a.m. Wednesday
The NFL is expanding its schedule to include Christmas Day this year, and it appears those games will be streamed live on Netflix.
Two games will be played on Dec. 25, 2024. Those matchups have not yet been officially announced.
No legitimate reports so far
- 10:19 a.m. Wednesday
There are plenty of rumors about Lions matchups flying around on social media, but so far, none of them have been substantiated by any legitimate NFL reporters.
Lions don’t have international game
- 10:02 a.m. Wednesday
The Lions are one of the most popular teams in the NFL to watch right now, but they won’t be featured in any of the 2024 international games.
The Packers will play the Eagles in Brazil, the Giants will play the Panthers in Germany, and a trio of games will be played in London: Jets vs. Vikings, Jaguars vs. Bears, and Patriots vs. Jaguars.
So the other three NFC North teams will play one game out of the country, but the Lions get to stay in the U.S.
Lions vs. Cardinals
- 9:48 a.m. Wednesday
The Cardinals are the only new NFC team on the Lions’ schedule, if you count last postseason.
Detroit and Arizona haven’t played since 2021, but before that two-year hiatus, they faced each other five years in a row, starting in 2017.
The Lions never lost to the Cardinals in that stretch, going 4-0-1 with a tie in 2019.
So many rematches
- 9:35 a.m. Wednesday
When you look at the list of opponents for the Lions this upcoming season, it’s hard not to feel like it’s basically a repeat of 2023.
Obviously, there are always going to be six games against the Vikings, Bears, and Packers. But that only scratches the surface.
For one, the Lions have to play the Seahawks for the fourth year in a row -- the third-straight at Ford Field.
Detroit also gets rematches with all three of its 2023 playoff opponents -- all at the same sites: the Rams and Buccaneers at home and the 49ers on the road.
There’s also the return to Dallas, where the Lions lost on a controversial two-point conversion penalty last season.
The AFC games are always going to change season-to-season, but it’s pretty amazing that the only new NFC opponent for the Lions this year is Arizona.
What to expect today
- 9:27 a.m. Wednesday
The official release of the NFL schedule is at 8 p.m. Wednesday, but several games are sure to leak from a variety of sources.
When specific games involving the Lions are revealed by reliable sources, we’ll provide updates here.