If you are currently scrambling to find the remote and screaming "what channel is the lions on" at your smart speaker, take a breath. You aren't alone. NFL broadcasting rights are a tangled web of billion-dollar contracts that make it feel like you need a law degree just to watch a kickoff.
Today is Friday, January 16, 2026. If you are looking for the Detroit Lions on the NFL playoff schedule this weekend, there is some news you might not like. The Lions finished their 2025-2026 regular season with a 9-8 record after a gritty win over the Chicago Bears on January 4th. Despite that winning record, the NFC North was a meat grinder this year. The Lions officially finished fourth in the division behind the Vikings, Packers, and Bears.
This means the Detroit Lions are not playing in the Divisional Round this weekend. They were not among the teams that advanced past the Wild Card or earned a bye.
Where to Find the NFL Action This Weekend
Even without the Honolulu Blue on the field, the Divisional Round is happening, and the schedule is packed. Since most people asking "what channel is the lions on" are really looking for the big postseason matchups, here is the breakdown for the games happening right now.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The Buffalo Bills travel to Denver to face the Broncos. That game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET. You can catch that one on CBS. If you have ditched cable, it is streaming live on Paramount+. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers play the Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
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Sunday, January 18, 2026
The Houston Texans face the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. This is a multi-network broadcast on ABC and ESPN. To wrap up the weekend, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC, which also means it will be on Peacock.
Why the Lions Schedule is Different in 2026
The 2025 season was a rollercoaster. We saw the high of a 52-21 blowout against Chicago in Week 2 and the frustration of a Thanksgiving Day loss to Green Bay. Finishing fourth in the NFC North actually has a weird silver lining for next year. Because of the NFL’s scheduling formula, the Lions will play a "fourth-place schedule" in 2026.
This means next year’s opponents are already locked in. Detroit will face the fourth-place teams from the AFC South (Tennessee Titans), the NFC East (New York Giants), and the NFC West (Arizona Cardinals).
How to Watch Lions Games When They Return
When the 2026 season kicks off in September, you'll be back to the usual hunt for the right channel. Generally, the Lions are a staple on FOX because they are an NFC team. However, the NFL changed the rules recently, allowing "cross-flexing," which is why we saw them on CBS more often this past year, like that Week 1 game against Green Bay.
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If the game is on a Thursday, it’s almost certainly on Amazon Prime Video. If it’s Monday Night, head to ESPN or ABC. For Sunday Night Football, it’s NBC.
Local fans in the Detroit market usually have it easier. Even if a game is on a cable-only channel like ESPN, local stations like WXYZ (ABC 7) or WJBK (FOX 2) often sub-license the broadcast so you can watch it with a simple over-the-air antenna. Antennas are honestly the best-kept secret in sports. You get a crisp 4K or 1080p signal for free. No buffering. No lag.
Streaming the Lions Without Cable
If you’ve moved away from traditional TV, you have a few solid paths. YouTube TV is the heavyweight here because it carries all the local channels and offers the NFL Sunday Ticket add-on. If you live in Detroit, you’ll get the local FOX, CBS, and NBC affiliates automatically.
FuboTV is another big one for sports fans. It’s slightly more expensive than some others, but it carries almost every regional sports network. Sling TV is the budget pick, but be careful—the "Orange" package doesn't have the same local channels as the "Blue" package. You usually need a combination of both to guarantee you won't miss a game.
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For those on a tight budget, the NFL+ app allows you to watch live local and primetime games on your phone or tablet. The catch? You can’t cast it to your TV. It’s for the "watching under the desk at work" crowd.
Common Confusion About Lions Broadcasts
People often get tripped up by blackout rules. If you are using NFL Sunday Ticket, you cannot watch the Lions game if it is being shown on your local TV station. The app will literally lock you out. You have to switch to your local channel or a digital antenna.
Another weird quirk: if you are using a VPN, your streaming service might think you are in Seattle or New York. If the Lions are playing, and you’ve set your VPN to London, you’re going to get a "content not available" error. Turn the VPN off. Let the app see your actual GPS location in Michigan (or wherever you are) so it can serve the correct local broadcast.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since the Lions aren't playing today, you should use this downtime to audit your setup before the 2026 season starts. Check if your digital antenna needs a re-scan—frequencies change, and you might pick up an extra channel you didn't have before. If you're a streamer, look at your subscriptions. Many people pay for both Paramount+ and Peacock when they could just get a single live TV service that includes those networks.
Lastly, keep an eye on the 2026 NFL Draft in April. Since the Lions missed the playoffs, they'll have a decent slot to snag some defensive help. That's the real next big event on the Detroit football calendar.