Detroit Lions 2027 Opponents & Mock Schedule
The Detroit Lions' 2027 opponents include home games against Bears, Packers, Vikings, Chiefs, Chargers, Cardinals, 49ers, Commanders, and road games against Bears, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, Rams, Seahawks, Saints, Bengals, determined by the NFL's rotation formula plus their 2026 finishing position. 14 of 17 matchups are confirmed as of October 15, 2026.
2027 opponents (14 of 17 confirmed)
Home opponents (8)
| Opponent | How it’s set | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Green Bay Packers | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Minnesota Vikings | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Interconference rotation | Confirmed |
| Los Angeles Chargers | Interconference rotation | Confirmed |
| Arizona Cardinals | Conference rotation | Confirmed |
| San Francisco 49ers | Conference rotation | Confirmed |
| Washington Commanders | Same-place finisher, NFC East | Projected |
Road opponents (9)
| Opponent | How it’s set | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Green Bay Packers | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Minnesota Vikings | Division (twice a year) | Confirmed |
| Denver Broncos | Interconference rotation | Confirmed |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Interconference rotation | Confirmed |
| Los Angeles Rams | Conference rotation | Confirmed |
| Seattle Seahawks | Conference rotation | Confirmed |
| New Orleans Saints | Same-place finisher, NFC South | Projected |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 17th game (place-based) | Projected |
Projected opponents update as the 2026 standings change and become final when the regular season ends in January.
No 2027 game dates are announced yet. Follow them on the 2027 NFL Schedule Release Live Tracker.
2026 rest and travel: the Detroit Lions travel 19,100 round-trip miles in 2026, 16th most of the 32 teams. Week-by-week miles, rest days, and short weeks
Who Lions fans should root for this week
Which Lions games can still be flexed
The Lions’ record in cold and hot weather since 1999
Strength of schedule
Based on opponents' final 2025 records, the Lions' 2027 opponents combined for a 52.2% win rate — the 11th-hardest projected schedule.
Build the Lions’ 2027 schedule yourself
Place all 17 Lions games and the bye into an 18-week season using real broadcast windows and NFL scheduling rules — then export a shareable graphic.
Open the Lions builder →Detroit Lions 2027 schedule FAQ
Who do the Lions play in 2027?
The Lions play 17 games in 2027: home games against Bears, Packers, Vikings, Chiefs, Chargers, Cardinals, 49ers, Commanders, and road games against Bears, Packers, Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, Rams, Seahawks, Saints, Bengals. 14 matchups are locked by the scheduling formula; the other 3 depend on final 2026 standings.
How many home games do the Lions have in 2027?
The Lions have 8 home games and 9 road games in 2027. NFC teams host eight games in 2027 because the AFC hosts the 17th interconference game this year.
When will the Lions' 2027 schedule be released?
The full 2027 schedule — dates, weeks, and broadcast windows — is expected to be released in May 2027, consistent with recent years. The opponent list is known much earlier: most of it is set by formula, and the rest locks when the 2026 season ends in January.
How is the Lions' 2027 schedule determined?
Six games are home-and-away against NFC North rivals. Eight come from rotations: four against one division in the same conference and four against one division in the other conference. The final three are place-based — two same-place games and a 17th interconference game — set by where the Lions finish in 2026.
What is the Lions' 2027 strength of schedule?
Based on opponents' final 2025 records, the Lions' 2027 opponents combined for a 52.2% win rate — the 11th-hardest projected schedule.
Practice facility gradesHow Lions players graded their locker room, training room, training staff, weight room, and strength coaches in 2025 and 2026.
Lions rushigamis and catchigamis: 121 new lines since 2000
Lines no NFL player had put up since at least 1999, credited to the Detroit Lions: 5 rushing and 116 receiving since 2000.
Latest rushigamis
- Dec 4, 2025 · Jahmyr Gibbs · 43 yds, 3 TD
- Nov 20, 2022 · Jamaal Williams · 64 yds, 3 TD
- Oct 20, 2002 · James Stewart · 172 yds, 2 TD
Latest catchigamis
- Oct 11, 2026 · Jameson Williams · 2 rec, 47 yds, 2 TD
- Sep 17, 2026 · Amon-Ra St. Brown · 9 rec, 142 yds, 2 TD
- Sep 13, 2026 · Amon-Ra St. Brown · 10 rec, 67 yds, 2 TD
Related reading
- 21 NFL Matchups That Have Played Monday Night in Only One City
21 NFL matchups have met 3+ times on Monday night, every game in one city. See all 21, host records, and the 2026 games that end or extend a run.
- The Cardinals and Lions Have Met 32 Times Since 1967. Never Once in Primetime.
Arizona and Detroit have played 32 regular-season games since 1967, in five cities, across seven decades. Every one kicked off on a Sunday afternoon. The full game list, the near misses, and when the streak could end.
- 47 NFL Matchups Have Never Been Played Outside a Sunday Afternoon
Through the 2025 season, 47 NFL matchups have been played only on Sunday afternoons — never on Monday night, Sunday night, Thursday night, a holiday, Saturday, or abroad. See the full list, led by Cardinals–Lions at 32 games.
- Thanksgiving Football Since 1966: Every Game, Every Host, and the One Franchise That's Never Played
Every NFL Thanksgiving game since 1966 — 146 played plus the 2026 tripleheader. Detroit and Dallas's real records, every host, the shutouts and streaks, and the one franchise that has never played on the holiday.
- Lions Home & Road Records: Three Stadiums and a Thanksgiving Problem
The Lions are 242-221-3 at home and 152-304-9 on the road since 1966 — the NFL's worst road record. Tiger Stadium to Ford Field, the Thanksgiving splits, and the 2024 road redemption.
- The Best Lions Podcasts & YouTube Channels in 2026: A Fan's Guide
A fan's guide to the people covering the Detroit Lions in 2026 — the SB Nation institution, two daily shows, and a live-streaming crew that skips the hot takes. Grouped by what you're in the mood for, not ranked.
- Lions–Packers: Thanksgiving's Most Frequent Guest Meets Its Permanent Host
Detroit has hosted a Thanksgiving game every year for six decades. Green Bay has been the visitor more often than any other team this century — and the holiday quietly doubles this rivalry's national exposure.
- When Does the 2027 NFL Schedule Come Out? Release Date History and What to Expect
The full 2027 NFL schedule will almost certainly drop in the second week of May 2027 — here's the release-date history since 2018 and the pattern behind it.
- NFL Opponents 2027: Every Team's Confirmed Matchups, Division by Division
224 of the 272 games in the 2027 NFL season are already locked — here's how the rotation sets them, division by division, with a link to every team's full opponent list.
- Why the Lions and Cowboys Always Host on Thanksgiving
Detroit has hosted on Thanksgiving since 1934 and Dallas since 1966 — the history behind the two locked host slots every schedule maker builds around.
Quizzes
- Thanksgiving Opponents Quiz: Name Every Team Detroit and Dallas Have Faced
Two boards, one input. Name every franchise Detroit and Dallas have played on Thanksgiving since 1966 — a right answer fills every board it belongs to.
- Christmas Day Census: Name Every Franchise That's Played on Dec. 25
28 franchises have played on Christmas Day since 1966 — regular season and playoffs. Name them all; each guess reveals a team's game count and years. Three wrong teams and you're out.
NFC North rivals
Data updated: October 15, 2026