So, you’re looking for the Detroit Lions kickoff time. You’ve got the chips ready, the lucky jersey is draped over the chair, and you’re scrolling through your phone to see exactly when the Honolulu Blue hits the field.
Here is the cold, hard truth: the Detroit Lions aren't playing anyone this week.
If you just felt a pit in your stomach, you aren't alone. After the dizzying highs of the 2024 season, where it felt like Dan Campbell and Jared Goff were destined to steamroll the entire league, the 2025 campaign ended with a bit of a thud. The Lions wrapped up their regular season on January 4, 2026, with a 19-16 victory over the Chicago Bears, finishing with a 9-8 record.
While a winning record is usually something to celebrate in the Motor City, it wasn't enough this year. The NFC North was a meat grinder, and the Lions ultimately finished 4th in the division. Because they didn't nab a Wild Card spot, their season is officially in the books.
Who Does Detroit Lions Play This Week? Why the Schedule is Empty
While most of Michigan is wishing for a playoff run, the Lions are currently in "exit interview" mode. As of Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the rest of the NFL is gearing up for the Divisional Round, but the Lions are watching from the couch.
It’s weird, right? Just a year ago, Ford Field was the loudest place on the planet. This week, it’s quiet. The players are undergoing physicals, meeting with Brad Holmes, and probably heading out for some much-needed vacations.
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The playoffs are moving on without Detroit. This coming weekend, the NFC matchups are locked in: the San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle to face the top-seeded Seahawks on Saturday, and on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams head to Soldier Field to take on those same Chicago Bears the Lions just beat. Seeing the Bears in the Divisional Round while the Lions sit home is a particularly bitter pill for fans to swallow, especially since Detroit actually won the season finale against them.
The 2025 Season: What Went Wrong?
To understand why the "who does detroit lions play this week" search leads to a dead end, we have to look at the wreckage of the last few months. It wasn't one single thing; it was a slow accumulation of "not quite enough."
Jared Goff put up respectable numbers—4,564 passing yards and 34 touchdowns—but the consistency that defined 2024 just wasn't there. The defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson, had moments of brilliance, but the secondary was absolutely ravaged by injuries. Losing Brian Branch to an Achilles tear earlier in the season was a knockout blow that the team never truly recovered from.
Then you have the heartbreak of the tight end room. Sam LaPorta ended the year on Injured Reserve with a back issue. Brock Wright was right there with him, sidelined by a neck injury. When you lose your primary safety valves in an offense that relies on rhythm, everything starts to stutter.
Basically, the Lions became the "almost" team. They almost beat the Packers in November. They almost held on against the Rams in Week 15. In the NFL, "almost" doesn't get you a game in mid-January.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Opponents
Since there's no game this Sunday, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 schedule. We already know which teams are coming to Detroit and where the Lions are traveling next fall.
The home slate for 2026 is actually pretty spicy. Along with the usual NFC North rivals (Bears, Packers, Vikings), the Lions will host the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and the New England Patriots.
If you're looking to travel, the road games include trips to Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Miami, and Arizona. The Buffalo game already looks like a potential "Snow Bowl" candidate, and a trip to Miami in the fall doesn't sound too bad for a fan base looking to escape the Michigan gray.
The Looming Offseason Questions
Honestly, the lack of a game this week might be a blessing in disguise for the front office. They have a mountain of work to do.
The biggest cloud hanging over the team is the potential retirement of veteran left tackle Taylor Decker. He was visibly emotional after the Bears game on January 4, and at 32 years old, he’s been playing through a staggering amount of pain. If he walks away, the Lions have a $15 million hole in the cap and an even bigger hole on the blindside of Jared Goff.
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There’s also the free agency situation. Players like Amik Robertson and Marcus Davenport seem unlikely to return. Brad Holmes is going to have to be a wizard with the draft and the remaining cap space to fix a defense that finished in the bottom third of the league in several key categories.
Actionable Steps for Lions Fans This Week
Since you aren't tailgating at Eastern Market this weekend, here is how you can actually stay productive as a fan:
- Watch the Divisional Round Scout-Style: Keep an eye on the Chicago vs. LA Rams game on Sunday. The Bears are the current benchmark for the NFC North, and seeing how they handle the Rams' pass rush will tell you exactly what the Lions need to add in the draft.
- Track the Underclassmen Deadline: Today, January 14, is the deadline for college underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. This is when the "Big Board" for the Lions' 2026 draft picks actually becomes real. Keep an eye on defensive tackle and edge rusher prospects.
- Check the Coaching Carousel: Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson are always names that pop up in head coaching rumors. While the Lions' season is over, the status of their coordinators will determine if the team has to rebuild its entire playbook this spring.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara doesn't go through Detroit this year. It's a bummer, honestly. But for a team that finished 9-8 while dealing with an absurd injury report, the foundation is still there.
Wait for the draft. The 2026 schedule will be here before you know it.