The NFL has released the 2024 regular season schedule, and the Detroit Lions will begin the year at home on national television hosting the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football.

What a way to start the year with a rematch of the NFC Wild Card game. Detroit will end the season hosting the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field.

Detroit's schedule initially includes five prime-time games – Week 1 vs. Los Angeles (Sunday night), Week 4 vs. Seattle (Monday night), Week 10 at Houston (Sunday night), Week 14 at Green Bay (Thursday night) and Week 17 at San Francisco (Monday night).

The Lions enter the 2024 season with the 11th toughest schedule in the league based on last year's opponent win percentage (.509).

The schedule includes eight games against teams that qualified for the playoffs last season: Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas and Green Bay (2).

This year's schedule formula breaks down as follows:

• 6 home & away division games (Chicago, Minnesota & Green Bay)
• 4 games vs. opponents outside division, same conference (NFC West)
• 4 games vs. opponents outside division, opposite conference (AFC South)
• 2 games vs. opponents in same conference based on prior year standings (Tampa Bay & Dallas)
• 1 game vs. opponent outside conference based on prior year standings (Buffalo)

Here's a complete breakdown of the entire regular-season schedule:

Week 1, Sept. 8, vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday., 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

A rematch of last year's NFC Wild Card matchup that was the Lions' first home playoff game in 30 years and first playoff win in 32 seasons as they beat the Rams 24-23 in a nail-biter. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will no-doubt encounter another loud crowd at Ford Field.

Week 2, Sept. 15, vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The NFC Divisional Round playoff game between these two last year became an instant classic and propelled Detroit to the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs will certainly be looking for a little payback in Detroit in this one. The Lions also won the Week 6 regular season matchup between these two. Can Detroit make it three straight against the Bucs? It's a tough couple games to start the year against playoff opponents but at least they're both at Ford Field.

Week 3, Sept. 22, at Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

These two teams played in five straight years from 2017-21 with the Lions going 4-0-1 vs. the Cardinals over that span. Detroit hits the road for the first time out west as they get their first look at former Ohio State star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who Arizona drafted No. 4 overall in last month's NFL Draft. It's an improving Arizona roster but the Cardinals allowed the second most points in the NFL last season.

Week 4, Sept. 30, vs. Seattle Seahawks, Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)

A second nationally televised game for the Lions in the first month of the season. This one again at Ford Field on Monday Night Football. Detroit hasn't been able to figure out how to beat Seattle of late as the Lions look to break the streak of losses to the Seahawks in each of the last three seasons and their last six straight against Seattle dating back to 2015.

Week 5, Bye week

Most players and coaches prefer this to be more in the middle of the season, but it's an early chance for the Lions to rest and get healthy heading into a tough stretch of games in the middle of the season.

Week 6, Oct. 13, at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

The Lions' Week 17 loss to the Cowboys last season is a game many feel was taken away from them. Had Detroit not had the two-point conversion reversed, maybe they hold on to beat Dallas and the NFC Championship Game is played in Detroit with a different outcome. Don't think HC Dan Campbell and the Lions have forgotten that fact. Dallas plays well at home, but Detroit played toe-to-toe with them a year ago and will be looking for a little revenge.

Week 7, Oct. 20, at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The first chance the Lions get at a division opponent is on the road in Minnesota Week 7. The big question is whether Detroit will see rookie J.J. McCarthy or veteran Sam Darnold at quarterback. The Vikings have some new players on defense and are expected to be in the hunt in the NFC North if they can find consistent quarterback play.

Week 8, Oct. 27, vs. Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Detroit gets their first crack at an AFC opponent in 2024 with the Titans coming to Ford Field for the first time since 2016. Quarterback Will Levis is headed into Year 2 and looking to improve Tennessee's 28th ranked total offense and 26th ranked scoring offense from last season.

Week 9, Nov. 3, at Green Bay Packers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

Most people expect the Lions and Packers to battle it out for the NFC North title this season. We'll have a pretty good idea where both teams stand not only in the North but in the big picture in the NFC by this point in the season. Detroit will be looking for a third straight victory at Lambeau Field.

Week 10, Nov. 10, at Houston Texans, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

What a great matchup on a national stage against two teams that became great stories in their respective conferences last season. Detroit gets their first look at reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. Houston made some big additions in the offseason (WR Stefon Diggs & DE Danielle Hunter) and are one of the favorites in the AFC heading into the season.

Week 11, Nov. 17, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

The last time the Jaguars beat the Lions was in 2008. The Lions have won the last four matchups between these two clubs and will look to make it five straight in their first game back at Ford Field after two straight weeks on the road in Green Bay and Houston. The Jaguars just missed the playoffs last season at 9-8 but look much better on paper after some key additions in free agency and the NFL Draft.

Week 12, Nov. 24, at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Detroit is back on the road facing their third straight AFC opponent and fourth in the last five contests. Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. He's electric and has a couple receivers in Michael Pittman and Adonai Mitchell who can make plays down the field.

Week 13, Nov. 28, vs. Chicago Bears, Thursday, 12:30 p.m. (CBS)

Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Day tradition dates back to Nov. 29, 1934, when the Lions played host to the Chicago Bears. This will be the 20th matchup all time between the Lions and Bears on Thanksgiving. Detroit's looking to break a seven-year losing streak on Thanksgiving as they get their first look at No. 1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams and what's expected to be one of the league's best receiving trios in D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.

Week 14, Dec. 5, vs. Green Bay Packers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. (PRIME)

Detroit won't get their mini bye week following Thanksgiving this year as they are right back in action the following Thursday at home on Amazon Prime's Thursday Night Football game. Back-to-back division contests in Weeks 13 and 14 will go a long way to sorting things out in the NFC North for the home stretch with only a month left in the season.

Week 15, Dec. 15, vs. Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)

After a 10-day break having played in back-to-back Thursday games, Detroit ends a three-game home stretch by welcoming in AFC East champion Buffalo. It's a Bills team that features one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen and an offense that averaged 130 rushing yards per contest last season. Defensively, Buffalo was No. 4 in points allowed last season. It's a tough matchup in Detroit to begin the last month of the regular season.

Week 16, Dec. 22, at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Lions and Bears face off for the second time in three weeks. This one has the potential to be affected by weather as a late-December game in Chicago. Detroit lost a sloppy, turnover-riddled contest in Chicago last December that saw Detroit gain just 267 total yards of offense in a 28-13 loss. They'll be looking for different results this year.

Week 17, Dec. 30 at San Francisco 49ers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Detroit's magical run to last year's NFC Championship Game ended in heartbreak after they played the worst 30 minutes of football they played all season in the second half of an eventual 34-31 loss to the 49ers. Campbell won't have any difficulty finding a little extra motivation for this one. This Week 17 matchup between two expected NFC heavy hitters could have serious playoff implications.

Week 18, TBD, vs. Minnesota Vikings, TBD (TBD)

For the second consecutive season the Lions finish out their season at home against the Vikings. Quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown hooked up for 144 yards and a touchdown in the regular-season finale a year ago as Detroit won 30-20 and Goff and St. Brown put an exclamation point on Pro Bowl seasons and Detroit's first division title in 30 years.