Detroit Lions 2018 Schedule Unveiled
The NFL unveiled it 2018 regular season schedule Wednesday and Lions fans looking to attend the opener might want to consider calling in on Tuesday, September 11.
That's because the Lions will be opening their season with a Monday night home game.
The Lions will be opening their season on a Monday for the first time since 2014 when they hosted the Giants, this time around they are hosting the other New York team, the Jets.
The Lions don't fade from the primetime spotlight quickly though. Week three the New England Patriots come to town for a Sunday night showdown on NBC. Don't worry the Lions will have a game to get used to the national spotlight, their preseason week three game against Tampa Bay will be nationally televised on CBS.
Other games of note Detroit will host the first game of a three day Thanksgiving set on November 22 against the Chicago Bears, it will mark the second meeting against the Bears in a three week span. This will be the 17th time the Bears and Lions will play on Thanksgiving (first since 2014). The all-time series on turkey day is 8-8.
Detroit also has two brutal stretches on the road during the season. After a week six bye, three of the Lions four games are on the road with trips to Miami in week seven and back-to-back road games in Minnesota and Chicago in weeks nine and ten.
Their second tough road stretch comes at the very end of the season when playoff berths are potentially on the line. Three of the Lions' final four games are on the road, and two of those in cold weather environments. Week 14 in Arizona and Week 16's home finale are both indoors, while week 15 (at Buffalo) and week 17 (at Green Bay) will likely be played in some heavy elements.
For reference, here's what happened when the Bills hosted a game last season in mid-December.
That was in week 14 last season, the Lions make the trek to upstate New York in week 15.
Here's the Lions schedule this season, with only a few preseason game dates to be finalized.
Pre-week 1: @ Raiders (August 9-13)
Pre-week 2: v. Giants (August 16-20)
Pre-week 3: @ Buccaneers (August 24, 8:00 P.M. CBS)
Pre-week 4: v. Browns (August 30-31)
Week 1: v. Jets (September 10, 7:10 P.M. ESPN) MNF
Week 2: @ 49ers (September 16, 4:05 P.M. FOX)
Week 3: v. Patriots (September 23, 8:20 P.M. NBC) SNF
Week 4: @ Cowboys (September 30, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 5: v. Packers (October 7, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 6: Bye Week
Week 7: @ Dolphins (October 21, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 8: v. Seahawks (October 28, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 9: @ Vikings (November 4, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 10: @ Bears (November 11, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 11: v. Panthers (November 18, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 12: v. Bears (November 22, 12:30 P.M. CBS
Week 13: v. Rams (December 2, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 14: @ Cardinals (December 9, 4:25 P.M. FOX)
Week 15: @ Bills (December 16, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 16: v. Vikings (December 23, 1:00 P.M. FOX)
Week 17: v. Packers (December 30, 1:00 P.M. FOX)