It is a weird feeling when the calendar hits mid-January and the Detroit Lions aren't on the field. For a fan base that has lived through the highest of highs recently—and decades of "maybe next year"—the realization that the 2025-2026 season has officially wrapped up is a bit of a gut punch. If you're scrolling through your guide today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, looking for Honolulu Blue, you won't find it.
The Lions are not playing today.
Despite finishing the season with a winning 9-8 record after a gritty 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 18, Detroit narrowly missed the postseason cut. It’s frustrating. It’s football. While the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs is currently in full swing with the Texans, Patriots, Rams, and Bears taking the stage, Dan Campbell’s squad is already looking toward the 2026 Draft and free agency.
What Channel Does the Lions Play On Usually?
If you were hoping to catch a game, you probably know the drill by heart, but the landscape of NFL broadcasting changes faster than a Jared Goff audible. When the team is active, the question of what channel does the Lions play on typically depends on who they’re playing and what time the kickoff is scheduled.
Normally, you'll find them on one of these four spots:
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- FOX (Local Channel 2 in Detroit): This is the bread and butter. Because the Lions are in the NFC, the vast majority of their Sunday afternoon games live here. If it’s a 1:00 PM or 4:25 PM kickoff against a divisional rival like the Packers or Vikings, FOX is almost a guarantee.
- CBS (Local Channel 62 in Detroit): You’ll see them here when they host an AFC team, like the upcoming 2026 matchups against the New England Patriots or the New York Jets.
- NBC (Sunday Night Football): The primetime "Game of the Week." When the Lions are winning, they get flexed here.
- ESPN/ABC (Monday Night Football): The classic Monday night slot.
Honestly, the "where to watch" game has become a bit of a scavenger hunt. We’ve got games on Amazon Prime Video for Thursday nights, and occasionally, Peacock or Netflix snags an exclusive holiday window.
Why the Lions Aren't Playing Today
It came down to the wire. Entering the final week of the 2025 season, there was a glimmer of hope. But the Minnesota Vikings’ sweep of Detroit earlier in the year meant that even with identical 9-8 records, the tiebreaker didn't go Detroit's way.
The Vikings secured third place in the NFC North, leaving the Lions in fourth. While a winning record is nothing to sneeze at—it’s actually their fourth consecutive winning season—it wasn't enough to punch a ticket to this weekend’s Divisional Round.
Instead of watching Amon-Ra St. Brown shred secondaries today, we're watching the Chicago Bears (the NFC North champs) take on the Los Angeles Rams at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. It’s a bit of a bitter pill, especially since the Lions just beat that same Bears team two weeks ago.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Detroit Lions Schedule
Since the season is over, the NFL has already released the list of opponents for 2026. If you want to plan your Sunday afternoons (and your wallet) for next fall, here is who is coming to Ford Field and where the team is traveling.
Home Games at Ford Field
Expect these to be high-demand tickets. We’re looking at the usual NFC North suspects—Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota—plus some intriguing AFC East visitors.
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
Away Games
The road schedule looks tough. A trip to Buffalo in late autumn? That’s always a coin flip with the weather.
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
How to Watch NFL Games Without Cable
By the time the 2026 season kicks off in September, you might be looking for ways to ditch the expensive cable bill. You've got options, but they aren't exactly cheap anymore.
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YouTube TV is the big player now, especially because it’s the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. If you live outside of the Michigan market and want to see every Lions game, that’s your only legal path. For local fans, a simple Digital Antenna is still the GOAT. It’s a one-time purchase, and you get FOX, CBS, and NBC in high definition for free.
For the streamers, Hulu + Live TV and FuboTV carry the local Detroit affiliates. If you’re only interested in the Lions and don’t care about the rest of the league, NFL+ allows you to watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. It’s affordable, but staring at a 6-inch screen for three hours is an acquired taste.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans Right Now
Even though there's no game on the TV today, the "offseason" in the NFL is mostly a myth. Here is what you should be doing if you want to stay ahead:
- Check the Draft Order: Since the Lions finished 4th in the division with a 9-8 record, they’ll likely be picking in the middle of the first round. Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl rosters coming out soon to see which defensive line prospects might fit Aaron Glenn’s system.
- Audit Your Streaming Subs: If you only pay for certain services to watch football, now is the time to cancel them. Don’t keep paying for that "Sports Extra" add-on through February and March if you don't need it.
- Watch the Divisional Round: Even without the Lions, today’s games are important. The winner of the Rams-Bears game on NBC (6:30 PM ET) will be one of the primary obstacles for Detroit next year. It pays to know the enemy.
The hunt for what channel does the lions play on will return in August for the preseason. Until then, we’re all just draft analysts.