If you’re frantically scrolling through your guide looking for the channel for Lions game today, I have some news that might sting a little. The Detroit Lions aren't playing today, January 15, 2026.
Honesty is the best policy here. While we’d all love to see Dan Campbell’s squad back on the field, the Lions' 2025-2026 NFL campaign officially wrapped up on January 4, 2026. They ended the year on a high note with a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, but it wasn't enough to propel them into the postseason this time around.
The NFL is currently in the thick of the playoffs, but Detroit is watching from home after finishing fourth in the NFC North with a 9-8 record. It’s a bit of a "good news, bad news" situation for fans in Michigan.
Where is the NFL action today?
It is Thursday, January 15, and typically, we’d be looking for Thursday Night Football. However, the NFL playoff schedule doesn't actually include Thursday games. The league generally shifts its postseason matchups to Saturdays, Sundays, and occasionally a Monday night for the Wild Card round.
Since the Wild Card round just finished up on January 12, the league is currently in a "dark period" for live games while teams prepare for the Divisional Round.
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If you were hoping to catch some football today, you’re basically out of luck across the board—not just for Detroit. The next time you can catch a live NFL broadcast will be Saturday, January 17. On that day, the Buffalo Bills will face the Denver Broncos on CBS at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Seattle Seahawks on FOX at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Why the channel for Lions game today is empty
The reality is that the Lions' season was a bit of a roller coaster. They had some massive moments—like that 52-21 blowout of the Bears in Week 2—but a tough stretch in December really did them in. Losing three straight games to the Rams, Steelers, and Vikings at the end of the year effectively tanked their playoff hopes.
Because they finished fourth in their division, their schedule for the upcoming 2026 season is already set, even if the dates aren't. If you’re a die-hard fan, you’ve probably already heard that finishing in the cellar of the NFC North actually gives them a "last-place schedule" for next year. This means they’ll face other fourth-place finishers like the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Detroit Lions season
Even though there isn't a channel for Lions game today, we can already look at where you'll be watching them come September. The Lions' home and away opponents are locked in. You'll be seeing games broadcast on the usual suspects: FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN.
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Next season, Detroit will host:
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
They'll be hitting the road to play in places like Atlanta, Buffalo, and Miami. It’s a schedule that looks challenging on paper, especially with trips to face the Bills and the Dolphins, but that’s the nature of the modern NFL.
How to stay connected during the offseason
Just because there’s no game on TV doesn't mean the team is quiet. The next big "event" for Lions fans isn't a game; it's the 2026 NFL Draft and the start of free agency.
Since the season ended, the front office is likely already looking at how to bolster the defense, which struggled at times during the late-season slide. You can usually find Lions news and press conferences streamed on the Official Detroit Lions App or via DetroitLions.com. These are the best spots to catch the latest from Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell as they conduct their post-season evaluations.
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Catching other football today
If you really need a football fix and were specifically looking for the "Lions," there is one game happening today, but it’s not the NFL.
The Lindenwood Lions are playing a nationally televised basketball game against SEMO tonight, January 15, at 8:00 p.m. CT. You can catch that one on ESPNU. It’s not Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown, but if you just want to cheer for a team called the Lions on a Thursday night, that is your only real option.
Actionable steps for Lions fans
Since you can't watch the game today, here is what you should do to prep for the next era of Detroit football:
- Check the Divisional Round Schedule: If you just love the sport, mark your calendar for Saturday, January 17, to watch the Bills-Broncos and 49ers-Seahawks games.
- Monitor the Coaching Staff: Offseason moves happen fast. Keep an eye on local Detroit sports outlets like the Detroit Free Press or The Detroit News for updates on potential coordinator changes.
- Audit Your Streaming Services: The 2025 season saw games spread across Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Peacock. Use this downtime to see which subscriptions you can pause until the preseason starts in August.
- Draft Prep: With the Lions picking earlier in the draft than they did last year, start looking at mock drafts for top-tier defensive talent or depth at offensive line.
The search for the channel for Lions game today might have come up empty for the NFL, but the road to the 2026 season has already begun.