5 things I hate about the 2026 Detroit Lions schedule

The Detroit Lions’ 2026 schedule was released on Thursday, and man, the schedule makers did the Lions no favors. Despite finishing in fourth in their division and being labeled as having an “easy” schedule, the NFL made sure the Lions had an uphill battle to climb.

Here are five things that I hate when looking at the 2026 schedule for the Lions.

Previously: 3 things I love about the Lions’ 2026 schedule

1. Divisional road game cluster

The first thing I noticed when looking at the schedule was the BRUTAL ending they are giving the Lions. Not only are three of their final four games of the season on the road, but they’re divisional games as well. I don’t understand why the schedule makers think any team in the NFL deserves to play three divisional road games in four weeks at any point in the season.

Two in a four-week window? Sure, that sucks, but not the worst thing, but three is the worst-case scenario. A common theme for not just the Lions, but the city of Detroit when it comes to its sports luck. What sucks for Detroit is they have to play in Chicago and Green Bay in late December and early January, the worst times you could play in those stadiums.

2. Early bye week

After getting angry about the season ending, my attention shifted to where the bye week fell. I was disappointed seeing the bye week being at Week 6. That’s the second-earliest bye week of any team, and having it weeks before the Germany game seems crazy. I understand the league not wanting to give Detroit an advantage for Thanksgiving but Week 8 was right there.

Bye week timing is important, and the earlier they are, the tougher it is to keep your team healthy later in the season. It’s not the worst placement, but it could’ve been more friendly for the Lions.

3. Overseas/Thanksgiving scheduling

Another issue I saw was the timing of the Germany game and Thanksgiving. After playing on the road in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins, the Lions will only have a couple of days home before they travel to Germany. Thankfully, they play at home when they return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but then it’s suddenly Thanksgiving and the team has to play another game.

Three football games in 12 days isn’t going to be good on players’ bodies, and with one of those games being international, it means longer travel and challenges on an already challenging schedule. If the Lions didn’t have their Thanksgiving game quickly after, this wouldn’t be an issue, but once again, the Lions’ luck of the draw comes up short.

4. Lack of primetime home games

Last year, the Lions’ record wasn’t earth-shattering at 9-8, but they are still growing in popularity. So surely they’ll host multiple primetime games this year.

Wrong.

The Lions play in four primetime games in 2026. Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills on the road on “Thursday Night Football”, Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers on the road on “Sunday Night Football,” Week 15 at Minnesota for “Sunday Night Football,” and Week 16 against the New York Giants at home on “Monday Night Football.” I appreciate the home season finale being in primetime, but we couldn’t have the Packers or Bears in primetime at home?

5. Thanksgiving boredom strikes again

Remember when the Lions had fun Thanksgiving games? I remember. Games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots were fun Thanksgiving matchups, even if the Lions lost. For some reason the NFL has decided that Thanksgiving for Detroit is turning into a divisional game. Ever since 2007, the Lions have hosted an NFC North team 13 times.

65 percent of Detroit’s Thanksgiving games the past two decades have been against either the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, or Minnesota Vikings. But wait, it gets worse! Of those 13 times, the Lions have played the Vikings TWICE. That means 11 of the past 20, or 55 percent, have been against the Bears or Packers. Sure, those rivalries have more history to them, but let’s mix it up a bit, eh? I am tired of seeing the same game almost every year. Where’s the fun?

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