The Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule has been released, featuring nine national TV games, including a Thanksgiving matchup against the Chicago Bears and a game in Germany against the New England Patriots. Predictions for each game have been provided by Lions beat writers.
Key points
Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule released
Nine games on national television
Thanksgiving game against Chicago Bears
First overseas game in over a decade
Lions to play New England Patriots in Germany
Mentioned in this story
Germany
Detroit LionsChicago BearsNew England PatriotsNFL
Finally, the Detroit Lions schedule for 2026 has been released.
The slate includes nine games on national television, including four set to played on Sunday, Monday or Thursday nights. Of course, the Lions also will host on Thanksgiving, welcoming the Chicago Bears to Ford Field this year for the late-November battle. Additionally, for the first time in more than a decade, the Lions will play overseas. They’re tabbed as the home team against the New England Patriots in Germany on Nov. 15.
With the order of games established, here are game-by-game predictions from our Lions beat writers.
The Lions will start the 2026 season at home versus the New Orleans Saints.
The Lions will start the 2026 season at home versus the New Orleans Saints.
Nolan Bianchi: For the first time in years, the Lions have a low-stakes season opener. That is not, however, to say the Saints are a bad opponent. But I’m expecting the Lions to meet the moment and set the tone for the season to come. The pick:Win (1-0)
Richard Silva: Dan Campbell welcomes his former team to Detroit for the first time since he became a head coach. The Saints are trending up, but Campbell's Lions take care of business. The pick: Win (1-0)
Q&A
What teams will the Detroit Lions face in 2026?
The Detroit Lions will face various teams, starting with the New Orleans Saints at home.
When do the Detroit Lions play the Chicago Bears in 2026?
The Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in late November 2026.
Where will the Detroit Lions play their overseas game in 2026?
The Detroit Lions will play overseas in Germany against the New England Patriots on November 15, 2026.
How many games will the Detroit Lions have on national television in 2026?
The Detroit Lions will have nine games on national television in 2026.
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Week 2: at Buffalo Bills ('Thursday Night Football')
Bianchi: The Lions and Bills are two evenly-footed foes, but the mania that will be the opening of the new Highmark Stadium might be too much to overcome, even if the Lions have generally been good in road primetime games under Campbell. The pick:Loss (1-1)
Silva: Playing an MVP-caliber quarterback is tough. Playing him on the road makes it tougher. Playing that QB on the road in a brand new stadium where Bills Mafia will be roaring? That's super tough. The pick: Loss (1-1)
Bianchi: The Jets might be a better team in Year 2 under Aaron Glenn, but I still don’t see them as a legit competitor for a team like the Lions. Still, it’d be a big win for the Glenn regime if they can steal one in Detroit, so we’re expecting him to throw the kitchen sink at the Lions. The pick: Win (2-1)
Silva: The Jets have added young talent and own three first-round draft picks next year, putting them in position to soon land their quarterback of the future. For this season, though? I wouldn't call the outlook promising. The pick: Win (2-1)
Bianchi: The vibes are high in Carolina after the Panthers won the NFC South a year ago. But on the road in primetime, I would expect the Lions to be heavily favored. The pick:Win (3-1)
Silva: What a pivotal season this is setting up to be for Bryce Young, who's produced mixed results through three season. I'd pick the Panthers or Buccaneers to win the NFC South, but I'm not picking Carolina to win here. The pick: Win (3-1)
Bianchi: We don’t know what the Cardinals will be under new coach Mike LaFleur, but however the regime turns out, I’m still expecting them to be an underwhelming team in Week 5. The pick: Win (4-1)
Silva: The Cardinals, based on current odds to win the Super Bowl, are expected to be the NFL's worst team in 2026. New Lions OC Drew Petzing gets a win in his return to Arizona, where he was from 2023-25. The pick: Win (4-1)
Bianchi: The Lions have some pride to reclaim after getting swept by Green Bay (and Minnesota) in 2025. Micah Parsons’ status (ACL) will play a big role in this one, but I think the Lions fight back after a dismal showing against the Pack last year. The pick:Win (5-1)
Silva: By the time this matchup rolls around, Micah Parsons will be a little more than 10 months removed from the the torn ACL he suffered in December. How he plays, or if he plays at all, can dramatically shift this one. The Pick: Win (5-1)
Bianchi: The Lions also are looking for vengeance against the Vikings, who singlehandedly kept them out of the playoffs last season. Both losses in 2025 were emblematic of the Lions’ season-long woes, which is why I’m expecting the Lions to be a much different team when they play Minnesota next season. The pick:Win (6-1)
Silva: Somehow, the Lions allowed themselves to be swept last season by a Vikings team lacking in adequate quarterback play. Kyler Murray is a clear upgrade. But give me the Lions defending Ford Field after last season's slip. The pick: Win (6-1)
Bianchi: The Dolphins were bad in 2025, then fired their head coach and unloaded all their best players. They might just be the worst team in football next year. The pick: Win (7-1)
Silva: Only the Cardinals have worse odds than the Dolphins to win next season's Super Bowl. Miami's new front office has done its best to clear cap space moving forward, leaving the roster with holes aplenty in the short term. The pick: Win (7-1)
Week 10: vs. New England Patriots in Munich
Bianchi: The Mike Vrabel saga is hanging over the Patriots like a dark cloud, which makes it hard to project what the Patriots will be in 2026. But assuming New England comes back to earth after a magical run to the Super Bowl, I think like the Lions to take this one. The pick: Win (8-1)
Silva: On paper, this is the best opponent on Detroit's home schedule, so it's unfortunate local fans won't be able to attend at Ford Field. Regardless, quarterback Drake Maye looks like the real deal, and the Patriots have upgraded his supporting cast. The pick: Loss (7-2)
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bianchi: The Lions’ game against the Buccaneers is sandwiched between a trip to Germany and a pivotal Thanksgiving Day game against a division rival. This is a textbook letdown spot. The pick: Loss (8-2)
Silva: Detroit vs. Tampa Bay has developed into somewhat of a rivalry over the last handful of years, with the two sides meeting four times since 2023. The Lions are 3-1 against the Bucs over that stretch, and the lone loss was a close one. The pick: Win (8-2)
Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving)
Bianchi: For whatever reason, the Lions haven’t been able to figure out how to play on Thanksgiving Day, even during recent times of success. After the quick turnaround from Germany, it’ll be asking a lot for them to face another short week against the Bears. The pick: Loss (8-3)
Silva: The Bears, who won the NFC North in 2025, lost twice to the Lions last season. You better believe Ben Johnson remembers those results, especially a blowout that went in Detroit's favor in Week 2. An improved secondary is the difference for Chicago. The pick: Loss (8-3)
Bianchi: The Falcons are an intriguing team following the arrival of new head coach Kevin Stefanski. But I think the Lions have the better roster, and after a mini-bye following Thanksgiving, they should be able to take care of business. The pick: Win (9-3)
Silva: Between Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, the Falcons have one of the NFL's best trios at running back, receiver and tight end. The 2026 season will come down to what new coach Kevin Stefanski can get out of QB Michael Penix Jr. The pick: Win (9-3)
Bianchi: The Titans are another team who project to be one of the league’s worst in 2025, and I don’t think the combination of Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll will do much to change that. The pick: Win (10-3)
Silva: Circling back to Super Bowl odds, the Titans are sixth from last. Of the bottom 10 teams, Detroit has eight of them on its schedule. The Lions will be in a great position if they simply beat the teams they're supposed to. The pick: Win (10-3)
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings ('Sunday Night Football')
Bianchi: This game kicks off a tough divisional road stretch for Detroit, and even though I think the Lions’ ability to play outdoors is often undersold, I think they will be at their best in Minnesota’s domed conditions and start the run on a high note. The pick: Win (11-3)
Silva: This is the start of Detroit's stretch, where the Lions will play three NFC North foes on the road in less than a month. While I'm not expecting the Vikings to again drop the Lions twice, I've got them winning at U.S. Bank Stadium. The pick: Loss (10-4)
Bianchi: The Giants gave Detroit fits a season ago, but they're a much different team with John Harbaugh at the helm. Still, in another classic letdown spot, this is a game Detroit needs to win to prove it's serious after a laughably easy schedule to this point. The pick: Win (12-3)
Silva: Don't sleep on the John Harbaugh-led Giants, who suddenly have a promising offensive line to go along with an already-strong pass rush. Key for the Giants will be stopping the run, something they couldn't do well last season. The pick: Win (11-4)
Week 17: at Chicago Bears
Bianchi: For the fourth straight year, the Lions will visit Chicago in December or later. They've won three of those four, and after falling to Chicago on Thanksgiving, I don't expect the Lions to allow a sweep. The pick: Win (13-3)
Silva: Johnson is one of the NFL's brightest offensive minds. With another strong season, he'll quickly establish himself as one of the league's top coaches, period. I've got the Bears beating the Lions twice to bring the Campbell-Johnson series to a 2-2 draw. The pick: Loss (11-5)
Week 18: at Green Bay Packers
Bianchi: I might be a little overconfident in the Lions' ability to stack wins in this part of the season, especially considering how often they've been battered and bruised late in the season. After a valiant effort in the previous divisional games, I think there's a good chance they drop this one. The pick: Loss (13-4)
Silva: Not only do the Lions have to play three of their final four games within the division, but two of those contests will take place outside. The Lions might not win the NFC North with a 2-4 division record in my predictions, but 11-6 overall should have them back in the playoffs. The pick: Loss (11-6)
