The Detroit Lions enter the 2025 NFL season with high expectations and a schedule that reflects their rising status in the league. After a strong playoff run in 2024, the Lions are no longer underdogs—they’re contenders. Their 2025 regular season schedule is packed with prime-time games, holiday matchups, and fierce divisional rivalries, offering fans a thrilling ride from September through December.
The Lions kick off their season on September 7 with a road game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field—a classic NFC North showdown that sets the tone for the season. Week 2 brings the Chicago Bears to Ford Field, giving Detroit a chance to assert dominance at home. The early schedule is no cakewalk: Week 3 features a Monday night clash against the Baltimore Ravens, followed by a home game against the Cleveland Browns.
These first four weeks will test Detroit’s revamped defense and give quarterback Jared Goff a chance to prove he can lead the team deep into the postseason once again.
Prime-Time and Holiday Highlights
The Lions are featured in seven nationally televised games, a testament to their growing popularity:
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Week 6: Sunday Night Football at Kansas City (Oct. 12)
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Week 7: Monday Night Football vs Tampa Bay (Oct. 20)
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Week 11: Sunday Night Football at Philadelphia (Nov. 16)
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Week 13: Thanksgiving Day game vs Green Bay (Nov. 27)
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Week 14: Thursday Night Football vs Dallas (Dec. 4)
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Week 17: Christmas Day game at Minnesota (Dec. 25) on Netflix
These spotlight games will be crucial for playoff positioning and national recognition.
Ford Field hosts eight regular season games, including key matchups against division rivals Minnesota and Chicago, as well as high-profile opponents like the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Lions’ road schedule is equally intense, with visits to Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
The Week 8 bye provides a midseason breather before a tough November stretch, including three road games in four weeks.
Detroit’s schedule is front-loaded with tough opponents, but the team has the depth and coaching to navigate it. The defense, led by Aidan Hutchinson, must contain elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. Offensively, Goff will rely on weapons like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs to keep pace in shootouts.
The Lions also benefit from a relatively balanced travel schedule, avoiding back-to-back coast-to-coast trips. Their final game—a flex matchup at Chicago—could be pivotal in determining playoff seeding.
The 2025 Detroit Lions schedule is a proving ground for a team on the rise. With marquee games, divisional battles, and national attention, Detroit has every opportunity to cement its place among the NFL elite. If they can stay healthy and execute, the road to the Super Bowl might just run through the Motor City.
