The Honolulu Blue is officially back in the closet for the winter. If you're waking up on this Friday, January 16, 2026, wondering is the lions game televised today, the short, painful answer is no. Honestly, there isn't an NFL game on the schedule for anyone today, as the league is currently in that awkward Friday lull before the Divisional Round kicks off tomorrow.
But for Detroit fans, the news is a bit heavier than just a Friday break. The Lions didn't make the cut this year.
After a 2025-2026 season that felt like a rollercoaster with the brakes cut, Detroit finished at 9-8. They capped things off with a solid 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears on January 4, but it wasn't enough to bridge the gap. Because the Minnesota Vikings swept them during the regular season, the Lions were locked into fourth place in the NFC North. No playoffs. No "today" game. Basically, the season is a wrap, and the TV guides are looking pretty empty if you're searching for Dan Campbell's squad.
Is the Lions game televised today? Breaking down the current schedule
Look, I get it. We’ve been spoiled lately with the Lions being relevant deep into January. But right now, the NFL is moving into the Divisional Round without Detroit. Even if they had made it, Friday is almost never a game day in the NFL unless it’s a weird holiday fluke.
If you're looking for football on TV today, January 16, you’re mostly looking at the ECHL or college hoops. For example, the Trois-Rivières Lions (the hockey ones, not the football ones) are playing the Adirondack Thunder at 7 p.m. ET. If you’re a Columbia University alum, the Columbia Lions are prepping to host Yale tomorrow, but they aren't on your screen today either.
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Why the Detroit Lions are off the air
The 2025 season was... complicated. We saw massive wins, like that 52-21 blowout against the Bears in Week 2 and a gritty Monday Night win over the Ravens. But a late-season skid really soured the milk. Losing three in a row to the Steelers, Vikings, and Rams in December effectively killed the playoff dream.
By the time Week 18 rolled around, the Lions were playing for pride and draft position. They got the win, but they didn't get the invite to the big dance.
- Final Record: 9-8
- Divisional Standing: 4th in NFC North
- Next Televised Event: The 2026 NFL Draft (April 23-25)
Where to watch the NFL playoffs this weekend instead
Since you can't watch the Lions, you might as well watch the teams that beat them out. The Divisional Round starts tomorrow, Saturday, Jan 17. If you're a football junkie who just needs a fix, here is how the weekend is shaping up.
Tomorrow, the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. That’s a massive divisional grudge match. Earlier that day, the Denver Broncos take on the Buffalo Bills. Sunday is just as stacked, with the New England Patriots facing the Houston Texans on ESPN/ABC, followed by the Chicago Bears—the team Detroit just beat—hosting the Los Angeles Rams on NBC.
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Seeing the Bears in the Divisional Round while the Lions sit at home is a tough pill to swallow for Detroit fans. It’s a reminder of how thin the margins are in the North.
How to stay ready for the 2026 season
Even though there’s no game today, the front office is already moving. Brad Holmes and the crew are looking at the 17th overall pick in the upcoming draft. They've already determined the opponents for the 2026 season, which is kind of wild to think about when the current season isn't even over.
Next year, the Lions will host some heavy hitters at Ford Field:
- New England Patriots
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- The usual suspects: Packers, Vikings, and Bears
Actionable steps for Lions fans today
Since you aren't spending your afternoon screaming at the TV, here’s how to actually spend your time productively if you’re still in Detroit football mode.
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Check the draft boards. With the 17th pick, the Lions are in a prime spot to snag a high-end defensive back or more O-line depth. Mock drafts are already flying around sites like The Athletic and ESPN.
Review the 2026 schedule. The home and away opponents are set. Start planning those road trips now. The Lions will be headed to Miami, Buffalo, and Arizona next year. Those are some decent travel spots if you want to follow the team.
Watch the "Other" Lions. If you just want to support a team called the Lions, the Columbia University women’s basketball team is actually having a killer season. They’re 7-3 in their last ten games. It’s not the NFL, but it’s winning Lions sports.
The bottom line: Stop checking the TV listings for Detroit today. They're done until the preseason. It’s a bummer, but that’s the reality of a 9-8 finish in a brutal NFC North.
Grab some wings, watch the 49ers and Seahawks tomorrow, and start dreaming about 2026. The 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh will be here before you know it, and that’s the next time we’ll see the Lions' "clock" actually running.