The question of what channel does the Detroit Lions play on today is one that hits differently depending on where you're sitting and how the standings look. Right now, it's Wednesday, January 14, 2026. If you're looking for a kickoff time this afternoon, you might want to take a breath. The Lions aren't on the field today.
Honestly, the NFL schedule is a beast.
The Lions wrapped up their 2025-2026 regular season on January 4, 2026, with a gritty 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. That victory brought their final record to 9-8. While it was a winning season, the NFC North was a total meat grinder this year. The Vikings, Packers, and Bears all finished with strong records, and unfortunately for the Honolulu Blue faithful, Detroit missed the cut for the 2026 NFL playoffs.
Where to Find the Detroit Lions Today
Since there is no live game on January 14, you won't find Dan Campbell's squad on FOX, NBC, or even local Detroit stations like WJBK today. The NFL is currently in the middle of "Wild Card hangover" week. We just finished the first round of the playoffs, and the Divisional Round isn't set to start until Saturday, January 17.
If you were hoping to see them in the postseason, the bracket is already set without them. This coming weekend, you'll see the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos on CBS, and the San Francisco 49ers heading to Seattle to face the Seahawks on FOX. On Sunday, the Patriots host the Texans (ABC/ESPN), and the Rams travel to Chicago for a primetime clash on NBC.
It’s a bit of a bummer. But the news cycle doesn't stop just because the games do. Today, the big news in the football world is actually about the College Football Hall of Fame. Former Lions legend Herman Moore was just announced as part of the 2026 induction class. If you're looking for Lions content today, sports talk radio like 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit is likely buzzing about Moore's legacy and what the front office needs to do to fix the defense for next year.
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What Channel Does the Detroit Lions Play On Today: A Look at the 2026 Broadcasts
While today is a "bye" in the literal sense for fans, you’ll need to know the landscape for when the 2026 season kicks off in September. The way we watch games has changed a lot. It’s not just about flipping to Channel 2 anymore.
When the next season starts, the broadcast rights will stay largely the same as what we saw this year. FOX remains the primary home for the NFC. Because the Lions are in the NFC North, the vast majority of their Sunday afternoon games—usually at 1:00 PM ET—will be on FOX.
However, if the Lions land a "cross-flex" game or play an AFC opponent at home, you might find them on CBS. This happened a couple of times in the 2025 season, specifically during the matchups against the Steelers and the Packers early on.
Streaming and Primetime Variations
Basically, you need a spreadsheet to keep track of this stuff. If the Lions are scheduled for Monday Night Football, you're looking at ESPN or sometimes ABC. For Sunday Night Football, it's NBC and Peacock.
Then there’s the Thursday night situation. Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for Thursday Night Football. If the Lions play on Thanksgiving—which they always do—that game is a bit of a wildcard. It usually rotates between FOX, CBS, and NBC. In 2025, the Thanksgiving game against Green Bay was on FOX.
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For those who have ditched cable entirely, here is how you'll typically find the game:
- YouTube TV: Includes FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. It’s the current home of NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market fans.
- Fubo: Great for local sports fans as it carries almost all the broadcast locals.
- Hulu + Live TV: Similar to YouTube TV, though the interface is a bit different.
- Paramount+: This is essential if the game is on CBS.
- Peacock: Required for any exclusive NBC streaming games or Sunday Night Football.
The 2026 Opponents Are Already Set
Even though the dates haven't been plugged into the calendar yet, we already know who Detroit will face in the 2026-2027 season. Since the Lions finished in fourth place in the NFC North this year, their 2026 schedule is actually looking a bit more manageable on paper.
They’ll do the usual home-and-away series with Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota. Outside of the division, the NFC North is matched up against the NFC South and the AFC East next year.
Home Games at Ford Field will include:
- 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 Games will include:
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- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
Traveling to Orchard Park to face Buffalo in the winter sounds like a nightmare, but seeing them head to Miami or Arizona might be a good excuse for a fan road trip.
Handling the "In-Market" vs "Out-of-Market" Headache
One thing people often get wrong when searching for what channel does the Detroit Lions play on today is the regional blackout rule. If you live in the Detroit metro area, the game is almost always on your local affiliate.
But let’s say you’re a Lions fan living in Florida. If the Lions are playing on FOX at 1:00 PM, but the Buccaneers are also playing on FOX at 1:00 PM, you aren't going to see the Lions. You’ll get the Bucs. In that case, you have to have NFL Sunday Ticket (via YouTube) or go to a sports bar that has it.
The NFL+ app is another option, but it's tricky. You can watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet, but you can't cast them to your TV. It’s a "small screen" solution for people on the go.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans Right Now
Since there isn't a game today, you can use this offseason time to set yourself up so you never miss a kickoff again.
- Check your local listings for the Draft: The 2026 NFL Draft will be the next "big event." It usually airs on ESPN and NFL Network.
- Verify your streaming subs: If you only subscribed to Peacock for the NFL season, you might want to pause that subscription now to save some cash until September.
- Herman Moore Celebration: Look up the highlights of Herman Moore on the Lions' official YouTube channel. He was one of the most dominant receivers of the 90s, and his Hall of Fame nod today is a huge win for the franchise.
- Update your Lions App: The official Detroit Lions mobile app is actually pretty good for "in-market" fans to stream radio broadcasts of the games if you're stuck in the car.
The road to the 2027 Super Bowl starts with the scouting combine in February. For today, the Lions are resting, the fans are regrouping, and the TV channels are occupied by playoff teams. We'll be back at Ford Field before you know it.