Detroit Lions unveil 2025 schedule: Toughest opponents, primetime showdowns ahead

DETROIT – The 2025 schedule for the Detroit Lions has finally been revealed.

On Wednesday night, May 14, the NFL unveiled its entire 2025 slate.

The atmosphere is different for the Lions, who are coming off their best record in franchise history at 15-2.

They ended the regular season with the best record in the NFC North and clinched the No. 1 seed in the conference.

However, their playoff run ended abruptly with an upset loss to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, prompting a focus on the 2025 draft, where Executive Vice President Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have been cooking during the offseason as they came out of the NFL draft with key guys.

The Lions took Ohio State Buckeyes CFP National Champion defensive tackle Tyleik Williams with the No. 28 pick in the first round of the NFL draft.

--> Detroit Lions select Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams with No. 28 pick in NFL draft

Williams is a run defender with violent first contact and nimble feet, contributing to his impressive tackling with the Buckeyes to help bolster their defensive line.

--> From felines to big cats: Detroit Lions first-round pick Tyleik Williams talks love for cats

The Lions then traded up to select Georgia Bulldogs offensive guard Tate Ratledge with the No. 57 pick in the second round.

--> Detroit Lions trade up to select Georgia OG Tate Ratledge with No. 57 pick in NFL draft

Detroit then traded up for the second time during day two of the draft to select Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa with the No. 70 pick in the third round.

--> Detroit Lions trade up to select Arkansas WR Issac TeSlaa with No. 70 pick in NFL draft

While all of that was going on during the offseason, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has been pleading with anybody who’d listen to put them in the season opener vs. the reigning defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

But on Monday (May 12), the NFL decided differently as the Eagles will host their divisional foes in the Dallas Cowboys, who just acquired former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens as another weapon for quarterback Dak Prescott on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.

The one thing we do know is that the Lions will have the third-hardest strength of schedule: one spot above the Eagles, two spots above the Minnesota Vikings, and one behind the Cleveland Browns, as the New York Giants will have the most challenging schedule this season.

So far, the Lions have been announced to face the Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs, and a rematch against the Commanders this season.

Detroit will also take on the AFC North, facing teams such as the Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Lions will also face the Cowboys and Giants and have their rematch with the Commanders, but the dates and times are still being determined.

Since moving to 17 games, the conferences flip-flop that extra home game, which means the Lions will have an extra road game outside of Ford Field this season.

The Lions will play on Thanksgiving and Christmas for the first time since the 1999 season.

Here’s what the full 2025 season looks like for Detroit:

• Week 1, Sept.7: @Green Bay -- 4:25 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 2: Sept. 14: vs. Chicago Bears -- 1 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 3: Sept. 22: @Baltimore Ravens -- MNF-- 8:15 p.m. -- ESPN
• Week 4: Sept. 28: vs. Cleveland Browns -- 1 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 5: Oct. 5: @Cincinnati Bengals 4:25 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 6: Oct. 12: @Kansas City Chiefs -- SNF -- 8:20 p.m. --NBC
• Week 7: Oct. 20: vs. Tampa Bay -- MNF -- 7 p.m. -- ESPN
• Week 8: Bye Week
• Week 9: Nov. 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings -- 1 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 10: Nov. 9: @Washington Commanders -- 4:25 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 11: Nov. 16: @Philadelphia Eagles -- SNF-- 8:20 p.m. -- NBC
• Week 12: Nov. 23: vs. New York Giants -- 1 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 13: Nov. 27: vs. Green Bay (Thanksgiving) -- 1 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 14: Dec. 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys (TNF) -- 8:15 p.m. -- Amazon
• Week 15: Dec. 14: @Los Angeles Rams -- 4:25 p.m. -- FOX
• Week 16: Dec. 21: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers -- 4:25 p.m. -- CBS
• Week 17: Dec. 25: @Minnesota Vikings -- 4:30 p.m.-- Netflix
• Week 18: @Chicago Bears -- TBD

This season, the Lions will play two Monday Night Football games, two Sunday Night Football games, one Thursday Night Football game, a game on Christmas, and their annual Thanksgiving Day games.

Here’s a quick look back at the Lions’ 2024 schedule and outcomes:

• Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams (SNF) Won 26-20
• Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Loss 20-16
• Week 3: at Arizona Cardinals Won 20-13
• Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks (MNF) Won 42-29
• Week 5: BYE
• Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys Won 47-9
• Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings Won 31-29
• Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans Won 52-14
• Week 9: at Green Bay Packers Won 24-14
• Week 10: at Houston Texans (SNF) Won 26-23
• Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Won 52-6
• Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts Won 24-6
• Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving) Won 23-20
• Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers (TNF) Won 34-31
• Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills Loss 42-28
• Week 16: at Chicago Bears Won 34-17
• Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (MNF) Won 40-34
• Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings (TBD) Won 31-9
• Week 19: BYE
• Week 20: Washington Commanders (Divisional Round) Loss 45-31