If you’re frantically refreshing your feed to figure out what time does lions game start today, I’ve got some news that might sting a bit. Honestly, there isn't a game.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026. While the NFL Divisional Round is in full swing with some heavy hitters taking the field, the Detroit Lions aren't among them. After a rollercoaster of a season that ended with a 9-8 record, the Lions found themselves at the bottom of a surprisingly competitive NFC North.
It's a tough pill to swallow. Especially when you see the Chicago Bears hosting a playoff game at Soldier Field later today.
Why isn't there a Lions game today?
Basically, the 2025-2026 regular season wrapped up on January 4th. The Lions played their heart out against the Bears in that final Week 18 matchup, but it wasn't enough to claw out of the cellar. Because the Minnesota Vikings swept Detroit this year, the tiebreakers just didn't go their way.
So, while the rest of the division—Green Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago—had various degrees of success, Detroit is already in "wait until next year" mode.
What’s actually on TV today?
If you’re a football junkie and just need to watch something, the NFL Divisional Round has a double-header today.
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- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: This one kicks off at 3:00 PM ET. You can catch it on ESPN or ABC. It’s the battle of the young gun versus the established dynasty reboot.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: This is the primetime slot at 6:30 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. Watching the Bears in this spot probably hurts for Lions fans, but it's the game of the day.
The winners of these matchups move on to the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25th.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lions Offseason
People think that because the Lions finished fourth in the North, they’re in for another "rebuilding" decade. That’s not quite how it works anymore.
By finishing in fourth place, Detroit actually gets a "last-place schedule" for the 2026 season. This means instead of playing the division winners from the NFC West or AFC South, they’ll face the teams that also finished at the bottom.
The 2026 Opponents are already set
We don't have the exact dates yet—the NFL usually drops that schedule in May—but we know who is coming to Ford Field.
Home Games at Ford Field:
The usual suspects are there: the Bears, Packers, and Vikings. But we’re also getting the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and the New York Giants.
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Away Games:
The Lions will have to travel to Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, and Arizona, along with their three divisional road trips.
Honestly, on paper? This looks like one of the most manageable schedules the Lions have had in years.
The E-E-A-T Perspective: Why the Lions Missed Out
As a long-time observer of Detroit sports, you can point to a few specific moments where the season slipped away. The Week 10 loss where the defense couldn't get off the field on third down? Huge. The red-zone turnovers in December? Even bigger.
According to analysts like Tim Twentyman, the season sweep by Minnesota was the definitive nail in the coffin. You simply cannot lose every game to a divisional rival and expect to playing in late January.
The silver lining? The Lions are projected to have a very healthy cap situation heading into the 2026 free agency period. General Manager Brad Holmes has a history of finding value in the middle rounds of the draft, and with a fourth-place finish, their draft positioning is much better than it was last year.
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Surprising Details for the 2026 Season
Did you know that in 2026, the NFC North will be paired with the AFC East and the NFC South?
That means Detroit fans get to see Josh Allen and the Bills, plus a look at whatever the post-Belichick Patriots have fully evolved into. It’s a diverse mix of high-flying offenses and gritty defenses.
Next Steps for Lions Fans
Since you aren't spending today tailgating at Eastern Market or screaming your lungs out at Ford Field, here is what you should actually be doing to prep for next season:
- Watch the Rams-Bears game tonight: Keep an eye on the Bears' defensive schemes. Since the Lions play them twice a year, seeing how they handle the Rams' pressure will tell you a lot about what Detroit needs to fix on the offensive line.
- Track the Draft Order: Now that the regular season is over for Detroit, their first-round pick is locked in. Start looking at mock drafts specifically for edge rushers or secondary depth.
- Monitor the Coaching Carousel: Keep an eye on whether any of the Lions' coordinators get poached for head coaching jobs. Continuity is key in the NFL, and losing a play-caller can change everything for 2026.
So, while there is no Lions game to watch today, the roadmap for 2026 is already being written. The road to Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium starts with the work being done in the front office right now.
Check back in May when the NFL releases the official calendar. That’s when we’ll know exactly when the 2026 Lions journey begins.