The Detroit Lions 2026 schedule comes out soon – the evening of Thursday, May 14 – but we already have some hints for what it will look like.
We just found out the Lions will play the Super Bowl runner-up New England Patriots at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Something else we now know is the Lions will play the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football for their Week 2 game on Thursday, Sept. 17. That matchup will be the first game played at Highmark Stadium, Buffalo’s new $2.2 billion home.
We know the Lions’ 17 opponents include seven games against 2025 playoff teams.
The full schedule release for all 32 NFL teams will take place on Thursday. Here is what we know so far for the Lions.
Lions Thanksgiving game 2026
The Lions are set to host former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears in the 2026 Thanksgiving Day NFL game Nov. 26 in Detroit, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Bears won the NFC North last season in Johnson’s first year as head coach, but went 0-2 against the Lions, including a 52-21 shellacking in Week 2 at Ford Field.
Lions to host Patriots in Germany
The NFL on Wednesday announced the Lions’ opponent in Munich will be the AFC champion New England Patriots on Nov. 15. The Lions last played in Europe in 2015, losing to Kansas City, 45-10, in London.
The Patriots, the only non-division team with a winning record in 2025 on the Lions’ home schedule in 2026, have international marketing rights in Germany like the Lions.
NFL Week 1 schedule
We know three matchups so far in Week 1, but not for the Lions.
Week 2: at Buffalo, Sept. 17
From the Free Press’ Dave Birkett: “A last-place finish in the NFC North last season hasn’t done anything to diminish the Detroit Lions as a primetime draw. The Lions will play the Buffalo Bills in a Week 2 Thursday night game to open Buffalo’s new stadium, Highmark Stadium, on Sept. 17. The game was announced by Prime Video, which airs “Thursday Night Football” all season, via social media. The Lions played five primetime games last season, seven more in the 4:25 p.m. national window – including on Christmas Day – plus their regular Thanksgiving game.”
Week 10: at Munich, Germany vs opponent TBD
From the Free Press’ Dave Birkett: “The Lions are scheduled to play their first international game since 2015 this fall in Munich at FC Bayern Munich Stadium. The game will precede Fox’s regular 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. kickoffs.”
Lions 2026 opponents
*Team made the 2025-26 NFL playoffs; 2025 record in parenthesis.
Lions home games (one will be in Germany):
Lions away games:
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions schedule 2026 rumors and leaks, live updates
Reporting by Christian Romo and Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
