The Detroit Lions just wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign with a gritty 19-16 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Honestly, it was a weird year. Dan Campbell’s squad fought through a mid-season slump to finish 9-8, which is technically their fourth straight winning season, but it wasn't enough to crack the postseason bracket this time around. Because the Lions finished fourth in the NFC North, the mystery of the immediate future is gone.
If you’re asking who does lions play next, the short answer is: nobody until the 2026 preseason.
The 2025 season is officially in the books for Detroit. While teams like the Bears and Rams are still duking it out in the Divisional Round this weekend, the Lions are already looking at flight schedules for next fall.
The Full 2026 Opponent List
The NFL's scheduling formula is basically a giant math equation that resets every January. Since Detroit landed in the basement of the NFC North—mostly due to being swept by the Minnesota Vikings—their 2026 slate is actually a bit "easier" on paper. They’ll be facing a lot of fourth-place finishers from other divisions.
Here is how the 2026 home and away matchups shake out for the Honolulu Blue:
Games at Ford Field
The Lions will host nine games in Detroit next season. It’s a heavy schedule featuring some big-name quarterbacks and a few teams that haven't visited Michigan in a while.
- NFC North Rivals: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings.
- AFC East Matchups: New England Patriots and New York Jets.
- NFC South Foes: New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- The "Place Finish" Games: Tennessee Titans (AFC South) and New York Giants (NFC East).
The highlight here is definitely the New England Patriots. Whether they’ve figured out their post-Belichick identity by then or not, Detroit fans always show up for those cross-conference games. Plus, seeing the New York Jets come to town means we might get one last look at a veteran-heavy roster trying to survive the turf at Ford Field.
On the Road
Detroit has eight road games scheduled for 2026. Pack your bags, because there are some decent travel spots on this list.
- NFC North Rivals: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings.
- NFC South: Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.
- AFC East: Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.
- NFC West Bonus: Arizona Cardinals.
That trip to Miami looks a lot better in October than it does in August, but the real test will be Buffalo. Bills Stadium in late November or December is a nightmare for dome teams. The Lions have struggled in the cold recently, and a trip to Western New York is basically the ultimate litmus test for Campbell’s "grit" philosophy.
Why the Lions Aren't Playing This Weekend
It’s a bit of a sore spot for the fans. Detroit was sitting at 8-5 in early December and looked like a lock for a Wild Card spot. Then, the wheels sort of wobbled. They dropped three straight games to the Rams, Steelers, and Vikings.
The Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (16-9) still haunts the message boards. A late-game pass interference call on Rock Ya-Sin basically gifted the Eagles a first down and ended Detroit's comeback hopes. If a few plays had gone differently, we’d be talking about a playoff matchup right now instead of looking at 2026 opponents.
Key Dates to Circle
Since the regular season is over, the "next" big events aren't games—they're milestones.
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- The 2026 NFL Draft: April 23-25. It’s happening in Pittsburgh this year. Detroit is currently slated for the No. 17 overall pick.
- Schedule Release: Typically, the NFL drops the actual dates and times for the 2026 games in mid-May. We know who they play, but we don't know if they'll be playing on Thanksgiving or Monday Night Football yet.
- Training Camp: Late July. This is when we’ll see if Jared Goff still has that chemistry with Amon-Ra St. Brown.
What Most Fans Are Getting Wrong
A lot of people think finishing last in the division is a total disaster. In the NFL, it’s actually a strategic "softening" of the schedule. By finishing fourth, Detroit avoids playing the heavyweights like the Eagles or the 49ers in those rotating "same-place" seeds. Instead, they get the Giants and the Cardinals.
It sucks not being in the hunt this January. Watching the Packers and Bears move on while the Lions sit at home is a bitter pill for the city. But the 2026 schedule actually looks manageable. If the defense can find some consistency in the secondary—and maybe find a pass rusher to help Aidan Hutchinson—this 9-8 team could easily be an 11-win team next year.
Immediate Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to stay locked in during the offseason, keep an eye on the coaching carousel. Ben Johnson is once again a top name for head coaching vacancies. If the Lions lose their offensive coordinator, the "who they play next" question becomes a lot more complicated because the playbook might look totally different.
Start looking at mock drafts for that 17th pick. Most analysts are pointing toward a defensive tackle or a shutdown corner. Check out the film on guys like Mason Graham or Will Johnson; those are the names that will define whether the 2026 season ends in a playoff run or another "next year" article.