So, you're looking for the lions game score now and probably seeing a lot of "final" tags instead of live clocks. It’s a bit of a weird time to be a Detroit fan. Honestly, the 2025-2026 season ended just about two weeks ago for the Lions, while the rest of the league is currently duking it out in the divisional round of the playoffs.
If you were hoping to see them on TV today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. They aren't on the field. The schedule today is actually the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos, followed by the 49ers and the Seahawks. The Lions are officially in "next year" mode.
The Last Time the Scoreboard Moved
The final Lions game score of the season was a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears on January 4, 2026. It was one of those classic "too little, too late" moments that Detroit sports fans know all too well.
Jake Bates—who basically became the team's MVP by the end of the year—drilled a 42-yard field goal as time expired to seal it. It was a gritty, ugly win at Soldier Field. Jared Goff threw for 331 yards and Jahmyr Gibbs looked like the superstar we know he is, but the victory only brought their final record to 9-8.
Because the Minnesota Vikings swept them earlier in the season, that 9-8 record wasn't enough to climb out of fourth place in the NFC North. Think about that for a second. A winning record and you still finish last in the division. The North was a total buzzsaw this year.
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Why There Is No Lions Game Score Now
Basically, the Lions missed the playoffs by a hair. While teams like the Bears (11-6) and the Packers (9-7-1) are still alive or just recently eliminated, Detroit is sitting at home watching.
It's frustrating. Amon-Ra St. Brown recently went on the record saying the sting of missing the postseason is his primary motivation right now. You can't blame him. He finished the season with 139 yards in that final game against Chicago, proving he's still one of the best in the business even when the team's overall chemistry felt "sorta" off for most of December.
What the 2025 Season Scoreboard Looked Like
If you missed the middle of the season, here’s a quick look at how the scores shook out during the final stretch:
- Week 18: @ Chicago (W 19-16)
- Week 17: @ Minnesota (L 10-23)
- Week 16: vs Pittsburgh (L 24-29)
- Week 15: @ LA Rams (L 34-41)
- Week 14: vs Dallas (W 44-30)
That three-game losing streak in December is what really killed the season. Giving up 41 points to Matthew Stafford and the Rams felt like a gut punch that the locker room never quite recovered from until that final meaningless—but prideful—win against the Bears.
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The Search for a New Offensive Identity
The biggest "score" Lions fans are watching right now isn't on a scoreboard; it's in the front office. The team is currently hunting for a new Offensive Coordinator.
The rumor mill is spinning fast. Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel already interviewed for the job. Fans are kind of obsessed with the idea of him pairing up with Goff. Then you’ve got Zac Robinson, the former Falcons OC, who has a massive history with Goff from their Rams days.
Even Arthur Smith is in the mix. It's a crowded field. The Lions know they have the talent—Gibbs, Montgomery, and St. Brown are a "three-headed monster"—but the play-calling got predictable toward the end of 2025.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Schedule
Since the regular season is over, the opponents for next year are already locked in based on the fourth-place finish.
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They’ll be playing the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals—all teams that also finished at the bottom of their respective divisions. This "last place" schedule might actually be the break the Lions need to jump back into the 12-win territory in 2026.
Home Opponents for 2026:
- Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots, New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans, New York Giants
Road Opponents for 2026:
- Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
Actionable Insights for Fans
Since there's no live lions game score now, here is what you should actually be tracking to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the OC Hire: Whoever Dan Campbell picks will determine if Jared Goff returns to his 2023 form or continues the "up and down" trend we saw this past season.
- Draft Position: The Lions are officially slotted for the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mock drafts from experts like Dane Brugler are already pointing toward an offensive tackle to eventually succeed Taylor Decker.
- Free Agency Cap Space: Keep an eye on Penei Sewell’s health and the contract situations for the secondary. The defense ranked 21st against the pass this year, and that’s where the off-season money has to go.
The scoreboard might be dark at Ford Field for now, but the next few months of coaching hires and draft prep will dictate the scores we see next September.