If you’re staring at your phone trying to figure out what time does detroit lions play right now, I have some news that might sting a little, depending on how much of a die-hard fan you are.
The Detroit Lions aren't playing today.
In fact, they aren't playing next week, either. The Lions officially wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign on January 4, 2026, with a gritty 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. While finishing with a 9-8 record and a winning season is objectively "good" in the grand scheme of NFL history, it wasn't enough to punch a ticket to the postseason this year.
The NFC North was a total buzzsaw. Because the Minnesota Vikings swept the Lions during the regular season—including that painful 23-10 Christmas Day loss—Detroit ended up at the bottom of the division standings despite having a winning record. It's a weird, frustrating reality of the current NFL tiebreaker system.
When is the next Lions game?
Since the Lions missed the 2026 NFL Playoffs, we are officially in "wait until next year" mode.
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If you are looking for a kickoff time, you’re looking at September 2026. The NFL typically releases the official schedule with exact dates and times in mid-May. Usually, it’s a Wednesday or Thursday evening when the league drops the full calendar and everyone starts circling dates for road trips or Thanksgiving Day plans.
Even though we don't have the "what time" yet, we already know exactly who they are playing and where.
The 2026 Home Opponents
You’ll be heading to Ford Field to see these teams:
- Chicago Bears (Division Rival)
- Green Bay Packers (Division Rival)
- Minnesota Vikings (Division Rival)
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
The 2026 Road Opponents
Pack your bags for these away games:
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
The 2026 schedule is actually looking pretty interesting. Because the Lions finished fourth in the NFC North, they get a "fourth-place schedule." This means they'll match up against other teams that finished at the bottom of their respective divisions, like the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans. On paper, it looks a bit easier than the gauntlet they just ran, but in the NFL, that "strength of schedule" metric changes the second Week 1 kicks off.
Why the 2025 Season Ended Early
It’s easy to look at the 9-8 record and feel okay, but for a team that had Super Bowl aspirations under Dan Campbell, missing the playoffs feels like a step backward.
The defense was inconsistent. The ground game, which has been the identity of this team for a couple of seasons, sort of lost its way down the stretch. Penei Sewell even mentioned in a recent interview that the offensive line needs to "re-gain their confidence and swagger" this offseason. You could see it in those December games; the push just wasn't there.
Then there’s the coaching situation. As of mid-January 2026, the Lions are actively hunting for a new Offensive Coordinator. Ben Johnson’s name has been everywhere in head coaching rumors (again), and the team has already requested interviews with candidates like Arthur Smith.
Honestly, the "what time does detroit lions play" question is usually answered by "1:00 PM ET on a Sunday," but last year showed they are becoming a prime-time staple. We saw them on Thursday nights, Monday nights, and even a Christmas afternoon slot. Expect more of that in 2026 because, let’s be real, the Lions are fun to watch even when they’re breaking our hearts.
Tracking the 2026 Calendar
Since there isn't a game today, here is the timeline for when you’ll actually get your football fix:
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- NFL Draft (Late April 2026): This is where the 2026 season actually starts. The Lions will be looking for defensive depth and likely a successor for some of the aging vets on the line.
- Schedule Release (May 2026): This is the moment we find out the exact hour and minute for every game.
- Training Camp (Late July 2026): The first time we see the boys back in Allen Park.
- Preseason (August 2026): Usually three games, mostly used to see which undrafted rookies can actually tackle.
- Week 1 (September 10-14, 2026): The real deal.
For now, the best thing to do is keep an eye on the coordinator search. If they land a creative play-caller who can maximize Jahmyr Gibbs—who Theo Gremminger recently ranked as a top-2 fantasy asset for 2026—this offense is going to be terrifying next September.
Keep your Sundays open starting this fall. The Lions might have missed the dance this year, but with a fourth-place schedule and a chip on their shoulder, the 2026 kickoff can't come soon enough.
Actionable Next Steps for Lions Fans:
- Download the Lions App: Set your notifications for "Breaking News" to get the Offensive Coordinator announcement the second it happens.
- Check Ticket Renewal Dates: If you're a season ticket holder, renewal windows usually close in late winter/early spring.
- Monitor the Mock Drafts: Keep an eye on prospects like Taylor Decker’s potential successor; the Lions are widely expected to go O-line early in the 2026 Draft.