If you’re frantically refreshing your feed or checking the local TV listings to find out what time is the lions football game, I’ve got some news that might sting a bit. Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the NFL Divisional Round is officially underway. Unfortunately, the Detroit Lions aren't on the schedule.
They’re done for the year.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially since Dan Campbell’s squad finished the regular season with a 9-8 record. Normally, that kind of grit gets you a ticket to the dance. But this year, the NFC North was a complete meat grinder. The Chicago Bears took the crown at 11-6, and even with a winning record, the Lions ended up sitting at the bottom of the division due to some brutal tiebreakers and a season sweep by the Minnesota Vikings.
The Playoff Schedule Without Detroit
While Detroit is home in Michigan planning for the draft, the rest of the league is busy. If you were looking for football today, you’ll find the Denver Broncos hosting the Buffalo Bills right now (kickoff was at 4:30 PM ET on CBS). Later tonight, the San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle for an 8:00 PM ET kickoff on FOX.
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It feels weird not seeing the Honolulu Blue in these late-January slots. Last year was such a high, and the expectation was that Detroit would be a permanent fixture in the Divisional Round. Instead, the "Grit" era hit a bit of a speed bump in 2025.
What Happened to the Lions?
The 2025-2026 season was a roller coaster. Honestly, it was the "close but no cigar" season. They lost five games by a single possession. You’ve seen this story before: a missed tackle here, a questionable fourth-down call there, and suddenly a 12-win talent level turns into a 9-8 reality.
- Week 17 Heartbreak: The loss to Minnesota on Christmas Day was essentially the nail in the coffin.
- The Defense: While Aidan Hutchinson remained a monster, the secondary struggled with depth issues all year.
- The Division: Every single team in the NFC North finished with a winning record or right at .500. It was arguably the toughest neighborhood in the NFL this season.
When Do the Lions Play Again?
Since you won't be finding a lions football game time for the rest of January or February, we have to look ahead. The NFL typically releases the official 2026 schedule in May, but we already know who they are playing because of the league’s rotation formula.
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Because the Lions finished fourth in the North, they actually get a "last-place" schedule for 2026, which might be the silver lining fans need. They’ll be facing the New York Giants, the Tennessee Titans, and the Arizona Cardinals—teams that also struggled this year.
2026 Home Opponents
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
2026 Road Trips
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
- (Plus the usual three division rivals)
Basically, if you’re planning a road trip, Arizona or Miami in the winter sounds a lot better than a snowy afternoon in Green Bay, though we still have to play that one too.
How to Watch the Remaining Playoffs
Even without the Lions, the Divisional Round is usually the best weekend of football all year. If you’re a fan of Jared Goff, you might want to keep an eye on the Rams vs. Bears game tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, at 6:30 PM ET on NBC. It’s at Soldier Field, and it’s going to be freezing. Seeing Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay take on our division rivals is probably the closest thing to a "Lions interest" game left on the bracket.
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The AFC side is also stacked. The Houston Texans are playing the New England Patriots tomorrow at 3:00 PM ET. It’s a weird new world where the Pats are back in the playoffs with a young roster while we’re on the outside looking in.
Steps for the Offseason
Since there is no game today, the focus shifts to Brad Holmes and the front office. The Lions have some soul-searching to do. They need to address the secondary and find a way to close out those one-score games that haunted them this winter.
What you can do now:
- Stop looking for today's kickoff time: It isn't happening.
- Watch the Draft Order: Detroit will likely be picking in the middle of the first round.
- Scope the Free Agents: The team has some cap space, and the secondary needs an elite corner.
- Check the Senior Bowl: It's coming up in a few weeks, and that's where Holmes usually finds his mid-round gems.
The Lions will be back at Ford Field for the preseason in August 2026. Until then, grab a drink, enjoy the Divisional Round as a neutral observer, and remind yourself that 9-8 used to be a dream season in Detroit—even if it feels like a failure now.