Honestly, if you’re frantically scrolling through your TV guide right now trying to figure out what channel is the Detroit Lions game on, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. You can stop looking.
The Detroit Lions aren't playing today.
It’s January 16, 2026. While the NFL playoffs are currently in full swing with the Divisional Round kicking off tomorrow, our Lions are already officially in "next year" mode. After a 2025 season that felt like a rollercoaster with the brakes cut, Detroit finished at the bottom of the NFC North with a 9-8 record. That record sounds okay on paper—over .500, right?—but because they got swept by the Minnesota Vikings and struggled within the division, they missed the postseason cut entirely.
So, if you were hoping to see Dan Campbell pacing the sidelines today, you're out of luck. The pads are off. The lockers are empty.
Why the Lions Aren't Playing Today
It’s kinda weird to think about given how much hype there was back in September. People were talking Super Bowl. Then, reality hit. The Lions wrapped up their season on January 4, 2026, with a 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
While it was nice to end on a high note, that win was basically just for pride. The Vikings and Packers both stayed ahead in the standings, and the wildcard race in the NFC was a total bloodbath this year. By finishing fourth in the NFC North, the Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention before the calendar even flipped to 2026.
If you want to watch football this weekend, you’ll have to settle for other teams. The Divisional Round schedule looks like this:
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- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos at 4:30 PM (CBS/Paramount+)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 PM (FOX)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots at 3:00 PM (ESPN/ABC)
- Sunday, Jan 18: LA Rams vs. Chicago Bears at 6:30 PM (NBC/Peacock)
Yeah, you read that right. The Bears made it in. That's gotta hurt.
How to Watch the Lions in 2026
Since the current season is over for Detroit, let’s talk about the future. When the 2026 regular season starts up in September, you’re going to need to know where to find them. The NFL's broadcast map is getting more complicated every year, but for Lions fans, the "usual suspects" still apply.
Most Sunday games will still live on FOX (locally WJBK-TV). Since Detroit is an NFC team, FOX is their home base. However, if they’re playing an AFC team at Ford Field, there's a good chance it flips over to CBS.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the platforms you'll likely need:
Local and National Broadcasts
Most weeks, you’ll just need a good old-fashioned antenna or a basic cable package. FOX and CBS handle the Sunday afternoon slots. For those big primetime moments—assuming the schedule-makers still give Detroit some love—you'll be looking at NBC for Sunday Night Football and ESPN (or sometimes ABC) for Monday Night Football.
The Streaming Situation
If you've cut the cord, it gets a bit pricier.
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- Paramount+: This is essential for the games that air on CBS.
- Peacock: If the Lions snag a Sunday Night Football spot, NBC usually streams it here.
- Amazon Prime Video: Thursday Night Football is still locked behind the Prime wall.
- FOX One: This is the newer player in the game, a dedicated streaming service from FOX that’s become a big deal for sports fans who don't want a full cable substitute.
What Most People Get Wrong About Lions Broadcasts
A common mistake fans make is assuming every game is on the same channel just because it was last week. The NFL uses "flexible scheduling." Basically, they can move games from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night with relatively short notice if a matchup gets juicy.
Also, don't forget the International Series. It was recently confirmed that the Lions are heading overseas in 2026. While the exact city hasn't been nailed down, many insiders are pointing toward Munich, Germany. When the Lions play in Europe, the game usually kicks off early in the morning (around 9:30 AM ET) and often airs exclusively on NFL Network or ESPN+. You won't find that on your local FOX station unless you're actually in the Detroit market.
The 2026 Opponents: Who Are We Playing?
Since the 2025 season is in the rearview mirror, we already know who the Lions will face in 2026. Because they finished fourth in the division, they actually get a "last-place" schedule, which might be the silver lining we need for a comeback.
At Home (Ford Field):
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
On the Road:
- Green Bay Packers
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
- Atlanta Falcons
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Miami Dolphins
- Arizona Cardinals
That road trip to Miami or Arizona sounds a lot better than a cold December game in Buffalo, doesn't it?
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Watching Out-of-Market
If you're a Lions fan living in, say, California or Florida, you probably already know the struggle. Unless the game is nationally televised, you’re usually stuck with whatever regional game the local stations pick.
YouTube TV is currently the exclusive home of NFL Sunday Ticket. It’s the only legitimate way to see every single out-of-market Lions game. It’s expensive—usually hovering around $350–$450 a season—but if you can't live without hearing Dan Miller's play-by-play, it's the gold standard.
Speaking of Dan Miller, if you can’t get to a TV, the radio flagship is still 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM). There is something uniquely Detroit about listening to a game on the radio while working in the garage or driving down I-75.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
Since there's no game today, here is how you can stay prepped for when the 2026 season officially kicks off:
- Check your hardware: If you use an antenna for local games, January is a great time to check your signal strength before the spring storms hit.
- Audit your streamers: Don't keep paying for Peacock or Paramount+ through the spring if you only use them for football. Cancel them now and save some cash for the 2026 season.
- Watch the Draft: The 2026 NFL Draft will be the next big "televised event" for the Lions. It’ll be on ESPN and NFL Network in late April. Since Detroit finished with a losing record, they’ll have a solid pick in the first round.
- Update your apps: Make sure the Detroit Lions official app is updated. They usually broadcast local-market games for free on mobile devices (though blackout rules apply).
The wait for the next kickoff is long, but at least you can stop flipping channels for today.