If you're waking up and checking your phone to see when is lions game today, I hate to be the bearer of bad news. There isn't one. The Detroit Lions are officially on vacation, and for a fan base that spent most of the 2025 season dreaming of a deep playoff run, that reality is a tough pill to swallow.
January 17, 2026, is a massive day for NFL football. We've got a Divisional Round doubleheader that’s going to be electric. The Buffalo Bills are heading into the thin air of Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET. Later tonight, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are going to beat the living daylight out of each other at 8:00 p.m. ET.
But the Lions? They're watching from the couch.
The Current NFL Playoff Schedule (Without Detroit)
The bracket is set, and the path to Super Bowl LX is moving forward without the Honolulu Blue. Since the Lions aren't playing, here is what the actual schedule looks like for the Divisional Round this weekend:
- Saturday, Jan. 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Saturday, Jan. 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
- Sunday, Jan. 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC)
- Sunday, Jan. 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
It's a weird feeling. For most of the year, Detroit looked like a lock for one of these slots. Dan Campbell had the guys firing. Then the wheels didn't just fall off—they basically disintegrated.
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What Happened to the Detroit Lions?
Honestly, the end of the season was a car crash. The Lions finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 9-8 record. In many years, that might sneak you into a Wild Card spot. Not this year. The NFC North was a gauntlet.
The Chicago Bears, led by Caleb Williams and former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, surged to a 12-6 record and claimed the division. Watching Ben Johnson find massive success in Chicago after leaving Detroit was a specific kind of pain for Lions fans. It's like seeing your ex win the lottery with the person they told you not to worry about.
The final nail in the coffin happened in Week 18. Detroit managed to beat the Bears 19-16 in a gritty, ugly game at Soldier Field, but it was too little, too late. They needed help from other teams to slide into the playoffs, and they didn't get it. They finished 4th in the NFC North.
Think about that. A 9-8 team finishing last in their division. It’s brutal.
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Misconceptions About the 2025 Season
A lot of people think the Lions "regressed" because they lacked talent. That's not really the whole story. The talent was there. Amon-Ra St. Brown was still a vacuum for catches. Jahmyr Gibbs was electric.
The issue was the defense. It was porous.
They couldn't stop the big play when it mattered most. During a crucial stretch in December, the Lions dropped games to the Steelers and the Vikings, mostly because the secondary couldn't stay attached to receivers. When you're asking Jared Goff to put up 35 points every single week just to stay competitive, you're playing a dangerous game. Eventually, the luck runs out.
Where to Watch the NFL Today
Even though you won't find a Lions game today, the matchups we do have are legendary.
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If you're looking for the Bills/Broncos game, that's on CBS and Paramount+.
The nightcap with the 49ers and Seahawks is on FOX.
If you have Fubo or YouTube TV, you’re good to go. If you’re still wearing your Aidan Hutchinson jersey while eating wings, nobody is going to judge you. We’ve all been there.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans
So, the season is over. What now?
- Scope out the Draft: The Lions are officially in "mock draft season." With the season over, the front office is looking at the 2026 NFL Draft. Expect a heavy focus on the defensive interior and potentially another high-end cornerback.
- Watch the Bears vs. Rams: This is a "grudge match" for Detroit fans. You have Matthew Stafford (the old hero) taking on Ben Johnson and the Bears (the new rivals). It kicks off tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Check the Cap Space: Brad Holmes has some work to do. Keep an eye on the upcoming free agency period in March. The Lions have some aging contracts that might need restructuring to fix that defensive backfield.
The quest for a Super Bowl continues, just not today. Detroit fans are used to the "wait until next year" mantra, but this time, the window is still open. It just needs a little WD-40 and a better secondary.
To stay updated on the off-season moves, keep an eye on the official Lions transaction wire and local Detroit sports radio. The moves made in the next three months will determine if we're asking "when is lions game today" next January or if we're actually watching them play.