Tim Twentyman

The NFL has released the 2025 regular season schedule, and the Detroit Lions will begin the year on the road against division foe Green Bay on Sunday, Sept. 7. Detroit will end the season on the road in Chicago.

Detroit's schedule initially includes five prime-time games Week 3 at Baltimore (Monday night), Week 6 at Kansas City (Sunday night), Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay (Monday night), Week 11 at Philadelphia (Sunday night) and Week 14 vs. Dallas (Thursday night). The Lions also play on Thanksgiving (vs. Green Bay) and Christmas Day (at Minnesota) in front of a nationally televised audience. Detroit is on the national 4:25 p.m. television slot five other times, so there will be a lot of nationally televised Lions football in the fall and winter. Detroit plays a 1 p.m. Sunday game just four times this season.

The Lions enter the 2025 season tied with the second toughest schedule in the league based on last year's opponent win percentage (.571).

The schedule includes 11 games against teams that qualified for the playoffs last season: Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Kansas City, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Minnesota (2) and Green Bay (2).

This year's schedule formula breaks down as follows:

• 6 home & away division games (Chicago, Minnesota & Green Bay)
• 4 games vs. opponents outside division, same conference (NFC East)
• 4 games vs. opponents outside division, opposite conference (AFC North)
• 2 games vs. opponents in same conference based on prior year standings (Tampa Bay & Los Angeles Rams)
• 1 game vs. opponent outside conference based on prior year standings (Kansas City)

Here's a complete breakdown of the entire regular-season schedule:

Week 1, Sept. 7, at Green Bay, Sunday., 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

It's an NFC North showdown at Lambeau Field for the Lions to begin the 2025 season. Detroit swept the season series from the Packers last year and haven't lost in Green Bay since 2021. In fact, Detroit was 6-0 against the NFC North last season and were a perfect 8-0 on the road. They were only the 11th team in NFL history to go undefeated on the road in a season. Can the Lions kick off their road slate 1-0 in 2025?

Week 2, Sept. 14, vs. Chicago, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

It's the return of former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who took over as Chicago's head coach this offseason after orchestrating one of the best offenses in the league in Detroit the last two seasons. Detroit gets a chance to make an early statement in the NFC North with back-to-back division games to open the season.

Week 3, Sept. 22, at Baltimore, Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

The first primetime game for Detroit comes on the road on Monday Night Football against the 2024 AFC North champion Ravens. The Ravens lead the all-time series vs. Detroit 6-1 and defeated the Lions 38-6 in Baltimore in 2023. It will be an early test for new Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard as the Ravens were No. 1 in total offense, No. 3 in points scored and No. 1 in rushing yards last season.

Week 4, Sept. 28, vs. Cleveland, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

It's back-to-back matchups against the AFC North as Cleveland takes the short trip north to face the Lions at Ford Field. The Lions have won the last five matchups with the Browns in Detroit as Cleveland hasn't beaten Detroit in the Motor City since 1983.

Week 5, Oct. 5, at Cincinnati, Sunday, 4.25 p.m. (FOX)

The Lions continue their run through the AFC North for a third-straight week as they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow along with wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins had the No. 1 passing offense in the NFL last season at 272.9 yards per game. It's an early test for Detroit's defensive front and secondary.

Week 6, Oct. 12, at Kansas City, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

On to Kansas City for a primetime matchup against Patrick Mahomes and the defending AFC Champions as the Lions take on their fourth unfamiliar AFC opponent in as many weeks. The last time Detroit went on the road to Kansas City was the 2023 season opener when the Lions kickstarted their run to the NFC Championship Game with a win over the Chiefs, 21-20.

Week 7, Oct. 20, vs. Tampa Bay, Monday, 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

It's consecutive primetime games for the Lions in Weeks 6 & 7 as they come home to the friendly confines of Ford Field after playing back-to-back road games. The Lions and Buccaneers have had some good battles the last couple years. Tampa Bay came to Detroit Week 2 last year and gave the Lions one of their two losses in the regular season. Detroit eliminated Tampa Bay from the 2023 playoffs in the Divisional Round at Ford Field. Expect another great matchup on a national stage between these two NFC foes.

Week 8, Bye week

Detroit gets a midseason-ish bye which breaks the season up pretty nicely into two sections and gives the Lions a week to rest up and recover after a tough stretch of games their first two months.

Week 9, Nov. 2, vs. Minnesota, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Last year's NFC North title went down to the wire Week 18 between these two clubs, and it won't be until Week 9 they see each other for the first time this season. Detroit will get their first look at Vikings' new signal caller J.J. McCarthy in this one as the two best rosters in the NFC North square off in this pivotal midseason matchup.

Week 10, Nov. 9, at Washington, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Dan Campbell and the Lions get a second chance at Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and a Washington squad that ended the Lions season prematurely in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at Ford Field last season. Detroit hasn't won on the road in Washington since 2013.

Week 11, Nov. 16, at Philadelphia, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

A primetime matchup between two of the best teams in the NFC as the Lions go to Lincoln Financial Field looking to make a statement in the conference and knock off the defending Super Bowl champions. This will be a great test for Detroit's offensive line against arguably the best defensive front in football.

Week 12, Nov. 23, vs. New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Lions face their third straight NFC East opponent as they host the New York Giants at Ford Field. Detroit's offensive line will get another good test in this one as the Giants ranked in the Top 10 in sacks last year and feature Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter up front on defense.

Week 13, Nov. 27, vs. Green Bay, Thursday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Day Game will feature a matchup between the Lions and Packers for the 23rd time in the game's 90-plus-year history. These two teams last squared off on Thanksgiving in 2023 with the Packers winning 29-22. The Lions snapped a seven-game losing streak on Thanksgiving last season by defeating the Bears 23-20.

Week 14, Dec. 4, vs. Dallas, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. (Amazon Prime)

For a second consecutive season, the Lions will play a Thanksgiving Thursday game followed by an Amazon Prime Thursday night game the following week. The biggest difference this year is the Sunday before Thanksgiving the Lions are also home. They were on the road in Indianapolis last season. It's a tough stretch of three games in 11 days for Detroit, but at least all three are at home as the Lions conclude their slate of four NFC East opponents in five weeks hosting the Cowboys.

Week 15, Dec. 14, at Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

This kicks off a tough four-game final stretch for the Lions as this is the first of three road games in their last four to end the 2025 regular season. These two clubs have had some close battles coming right down to the wire in each of the last two seasons, including a Wild Card playoff matchup in 2023 and a Week 1 opener last season, both won by the Lions.

Week 16, Dec. 21, vs. Pittsburgh, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

The last home game of the regular season slate welcomes Mike Tomlin and the Steelers to town. These two teams last played in 2021, finishing in a 16-16 tie in Pittsburgh. Will it be Mason Rudolph at quarterback, rookie Will Howard or someone else come this Week 16 matchup in Detroit?

Week 17, Dec. 25, at Minnesota, Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (Netflix)

Merry Christmas! We have Lions football on two holidays this season. Detroit hits the road for their first of two road games to end the season in what's expected to be a major clash with potential ramifications for both the NFC North title and the NFC playoff picture. The Lions have won their last five matchups against the Vikings and two straight in Minneapolis.

Week 18, TBD, at Chicago, TBD (TBD)

The Lions have enjoyed two home games to end the regular season in each of the last two seasons but will have to finish on the road this year. The best chance for a cold-weather game for the Lions comes in early January in Chicago against the Bears. Last year's Week 18 matchup against the Vikings had so much on the line for both clubs. Will that be the case this year for Detroit and Chicago? The Lions are looking for their third straight division title, while the Bears have playoff aspirations in Johnson's first season at the helm.