If you’re waking up on this Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, wondering what time is the detroit lions play today, I have some news that might be a little tough to swallow. Especially if you had the wings prepped and the Honolulu Blue jersey laid out on the couch.
The Detroit Lions are not playing today.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling. For the last few years, we’ve basically grown accustomed to Detroit being a fixture in the January conversation. We expect the grit. We expect Dan Campbell to be caffeine-fueled on a sideline somewhere while the snow flies. But today, as the NFL Divisional Round kicks off, the Lions are watching from home just like the rest of us.
The Reality Of The 2026 NFL Playoff Schedule
The NFL schedule for today is actually pretty loaded, even without our guys in the mix. If you were looking for what time is the detroit lions play today because you saw "Football" on the calendar, here is what is actually hitting your TV screen:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: This one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: The nightcap starts at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
It’s a doubleheader of heavyweight matchups. Denver is currently a slim 1.5-point favorite over Buffalo, and that 49ers-Seahawks game is a classic NFC West grudge match. But yeah, no Lions.
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What Happened To The Lions This Season?
You might be asking how we got here. It wasn’t exactly the storybook ending we wanted. The Lions wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign with a 9-8 record.
They actually finished on a high note, beating the Chicago Bears 19-16 on the road. It was a gritty win, very "on brand" for this era of Detroit football. However, because the Minnesota Vikings swept the season series against Detroit, the Lions were locked into fourth place in the NFC North.
Even with a winning record—their fourth consecutive winning season, by the way—the math just didn't work out. The NFC was a gauntlet this year. Teams like the Rams, Seahawks, and Packers squeezed into those wildcard spots, leaving Detroit just outside the velvet rope.
Where Do They Stand Now?
Since they aren't playing today, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 NFL Draft. By finishing where they did, the Lions secured the No. 17 overall pick.
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General Manager Brad Holmes has a history of finding absolute gems in the middle of the first round. While it's a bummer not to be playing in the Divisional Round today, that draft position is a prime spot to add another "glue guy" to this roster.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Detroit Lions Schedule
Even though the question of what time is the detroit lions play today has a disappointing answer, the future schedule is already set. We know exactly who they’ll be facing when things kick off again next autumn.
Because they finished fourth in the division, they actually get a "last place" schedule in terms of their strength-of-schedule rotating games. That could be a huge advantage for a bounce-back year.
2026 Home Opponents at Ford Field:
The Lions will host the usual divisional rivals—Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota. Beyond that, they’ve got some massive matchups coming to Detroit. The New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, and New York Giants are all slated to visit Ford Field.
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2026 Road Trips:
Pack your bags for some sunshine. The Lions are scheduled to play away games against the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and Arizona Cardinals. They also have a tough road date in Buffalo and, of course, their divisional road games.
Why This "Off-Season" Feels Different
It’s easy to be frustrated. But if you look at the stats, the Lions are in a much better place than they were five years ago.
Four straight winning seasons? That hasn't happened in Detroit since the 1950s. The culture is clearly there. The reason people are searching for what time is the detroit lions play today is because the expectation has changed. We expect them to be here. We expect to be worried about kickoff times in mid-January.
The NFL is a league of razor-thin margins. A couple of plays in those Minnesota games go the other way, and Dan Campbell is probably preparing for a game today. Instead, the team is evaluating talent and looking toward the 2026 Draft in Pittsburgh this April.
Your Next Steps for Today
Since the Lions aren't on, you don't have to stress about the game clock. If you still want your football fix, tune into CBS at 4:30 p.m. ET to see if Buffalo can pull off the upset in the thin air of Denver. Or, if you're already looking toward next year, start scouting the potential prospects for that 17th overall pick. The draft cycle starts sooner than you think, and that's where the 2026 playoff run actually begins.