If you’re waking up on this Friday, January 16, 2026, and frantically searching for what time is the Detroit Lions game today, I have some news that’s probably going to sting a little. Honestly, there isn't a game. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not for a while.
The Lions aren't playing because their 2025-2026 season officially hit the wall a couple of weeks ago. While other teams are currently obsessing over film and preparing for the Divisional Round of the playoffs this weekend, the guys in Honolulu Blue are already deep into their offseason routines. It’s a weird feeling for a fanbase that, just a year ago, was riding high on deep playoff runs.
The Reality of the Lions Schedule Right Now
The NFL playoffs are moving full steam ahead without Detroit. If you look at the bracket for this Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, you’ll see teams like the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks still fighting for a Super Bowl ring. But the Lions? They finished their schedule on January 4 with a 19-16 win over the Bears at Soldier Field.
It was a bittersweet victory.
That win moved them to a 9-8 record for the season. In many years, nine wins gets you a ticket to the dance. Not this time. In a brutal NFC North, that record actually landed them in fourth place. Because they missed the Wild Card cut, there is no Detroit Lions game today to plan your afternoon around.
Why the Lions Aren't Playing Today
It’s easy to get confused with the playoff schedule being all over the place. The Divisional Round starts tomorrow, but the Lions were eliminated from contention when the Minnesota Vikings swept them earlier in the season. Losing tiebreakers is basically the fastest way to find yourself sitting on the couch in mid-January.
Dan Campbell didn't mince words after that final game. He mentioned being "pretty pissed" about watching everyone else play while his team stays home. It’s a sentiment every fan in Michigan shares. Instead of kickoff times and point spreads, the conversation in Detroit has shifted entirely to the NFL Draft and the 2026 opponents list.
What the Lions Are Doing Instead
While there is no game, the building at Allen Park is far from quiet. The "game" right now is the front office battle.
- Brad Holmes is scouting: The Lions are officially locked into the fourth-place schedule for 2026.
- Injury recovery: Penei Sewell and the offensive line are focusing on "regaining their swagger" after a season where 13 different linemen had to take snaps due to a revolving door of injuries.
- Offseason milestones: Alex Anzalone just welcomed his third child this week.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Since you can't watch a game today, you might as well look at who they’ll be facing when the pads go back on. Because they finished fourth in the North, the 2026 schedule actually looks somewhat favorable on paper. They’ll be facing other fourth-place finishers like the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants, and the Tennessee Titans.
We won't know the exact kickoff times for those games until the NFL releases the official schedule in May 2026. For now, the "schedule" is just a list of names and locations. They’ll have home games at Ford Field against the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they're even expected to headline an international game overseas next year.
Summary of Upcoming NFL Playoff Action (Not the Lions)
If you just need a football fix and don't care that the Lions are out, here is what the actual playoff schedule looks like for the next 48 hours:
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: 4:30 PM ET (CBS)
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: 8:00 PM ET (FOX)
Sunday, January 18, 2026
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: 3:00 PM ET (ABC/ESPN)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: 6:30 PM ET (NBC)
Basically, if you were hoping to see Goff and St. Brown today, the closest you're going to get is catching Amon-Ra in his new Little Caesars commercials. The wideout just launched a campaign for "Slices-N-Stix" that hits stores on January 19.
It’s a tough pill to swallow when you're used to January football, but that's the NFL. One year you're the hunter, the next year you're watching the highlights from your living room.
Next Steps for Lions Fans:
Check the 2026 NFL Draft order to see where the Lions will be picking. Since the team is officially in "retool mode," the scouting reports for the Senior Bowl (coming up later this month) are now the most relevant pieces of information for your 2026 season outlook.