For the third year in a row, the Lions will open their season in the national spotlight. And for just the third time ever, they will play on Christmas Day.
Detroit visits Lambeau Field in Week 1 to take on the Packers for a 4:25 kick, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. And it will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings on Christmas, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Lions opened last year on Sunday Night Football against the Rams and the year prior on Thursday Night Football against the Chiefs. Their other two Christmas Day games were losses at the Dolphins in 1994 and home against the Broncos in 1999.
Detroit won all four of its games against Green Bay and Minnesota last season, including 24-14 at Lambeau in another nationally-broadcast game in Week 9 and 31-9 over the Vikings in Week 18 at Ford Field to clinch the NFC North.
All three teams went on to make the playoffs and lose in the wild card round, the Packers to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles, the Vikings to the Rams, and the Lions to the Commanders.
The Packers had a top-five offense last season led by quarterback Jordan Love, and added more firepower in the draft with wide receivers Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third, sandwiched around offensive tackle Anthony Belton in the second. They also signed veteran receiver Mecole Hardman in free agency.
The Vikings invested heavily in their offensive line to support quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who's taking over for Sam Darnold after missing his rookie season with a torn meniscus. They signed guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly from the Colts, then drafted Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson in the first round. They wound up being the second biggest spenders in free agency, including the additions of defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.
The full NFL schedule will be released Wednesday night. The Lions are rumored to have as many as six primetime games and 12 on national TV.
They face a daunting slate on the road, with games against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, Joe Burrow and the Bengals, Matthew Stafford and the Rams, and Jayden Daniels and the Commanders.
