Allen Park, Mich. –The Detroit Lions announced today their 2018 regular season schedule that features three nationally-televised games, including Week 1 vs. the New York Jets on ESPN's Monday Night Football at Ford Field.
The season opener vs. the Jets marks only the second all-time meeting between the Lions and Jets on Monday Night (12/6/82). Detroit will open at home for the second-consecutive season and appear on MNF in Week 1 for the second time since 2014 (9/8/14 vs. NYG).
In Week 3, NBC's Sunday Night Football returns to Detroit as the Lions welcome the New England Patriots to Ford Field on September 23. The SNF clash against New England marks the Lions' first-ever prime time game against New England and the first nationally-televised regular season contest between the two clubs since 2010 when they met on Thanksgiving Day.
Detroit's 79th Thanksgiving Day Classic takes place Thursday, November 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET as the Lions host the Chicago Bears. Detroit and Chicago last met on Thanksgiving in 2014 when the Lions defeated the Bears, 34-17, at Ford Field. Detroit is 37-39-2 all-time on Thanksgiving Day, including wins in four of the past five seasons. The Thanksgiving Day series between the Lions and Bears dates all the way back to Detroit's inaugural game played November 29, 1934. This year represents the 17th time Detroit will host Chicago on Thanksgiving, ranking as the second-most meetings of any opponent in the Lions Thanksgiving Day history. In 16 previous games between the two clubs, the series is tied 8-8-0.
CBS will air the Lions' 79th Thanksgiving Day game to a national audience.
For the eighth-consecutive season, the Lions will play at least two nationally-televised games. Since 2011, the Lions have played in 27 nationally-televised games (10 Monday Night Football, six Sunday Night Football, seven Thanksgiving Day, one Thursday Night Football, one Saturday Night Football and two International Series).
Detroit concludes the 2018 regular season with a road contest against the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. Detroit hosted Green Bay in last year's season finale, and the teams have met seven times in the final game of the season since 1993.
The Lions' Bye Week occurs Week 6 (Sunday, October 14) of the NFL season.
FLEX SCHEDULING
"Flexible scheduling" will be used in Weeks 11-17. Additionally, in Weeks 5-10, flexible scheduling may be used in no more than two weeks. In Weeks 5-16, the NFL schedule lists the games tentatively set for Sunday Night Football on NBC. Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved to Sunday night, in which case the tentatively scheduled Sunday night game would be moved to an afternoon start time. A flexible scheduling move would be announced at least 12 days before the game.
Flexibility for Saturday games in Weeks 15 and 16 is also part of the 2018 schedule. In Week 15, there will be two games played on Saturday on NFL Network, with the game times of 4:30 PM ET and 8:20 PM ET to be determined. In Week 16, two of four possible match ups will be scheduled for Saturday. Start times and Saturday games for Week 15 and 16 will be announced no later than following Week 8, with the non-Saturday games to be played on Sunday.
For Week 17, the Sunday night game will be announced no later than six days prior to December 30. The schedule does not list a Sunday night game in Week 17, but an afternoon game with playoff implications will be moved to that time slot. Flexible scheduling ensures quality matchups in all Sunday time slots in those weeks and gives "surprise" teams a chance to play their way into primetime. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to games airing on Thursday or Monday nights.
2018 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
The Detroit Lions 2018 preseason schedule includes a nationally-televised game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday, August 24 (Preseason Week 3) on CBS starting at 8 p.m. ET. The Lions open with a road contest at the Oakland Raiders in Preseason Week 1 (August 9-13) before hosting the New York Giants in Preseason Week 2 (August 16-20). Detroit closes out the preseason schedule with a home game against the Cleveland Browns in Preseason Week 4 (August 30-31) at Ford Field.
2018 DETROIT LIONS SEASON AND SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Detroit Lions season tickets are available now with savings of up to 40% over individual game ticket pricing (Detroitlions.com/tickets or by calling 313.262.2222)
Single-game tickets for 2018 Detroit Lions regular season games at Ford Field will go on sale Wednesday, July 25 at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets will be available at Detroitlions.com/tickets or by calling 313.262.2222. Fans will also be able to purchase tickets for Lions 2018 home games in person at the Ford Field Ticket Office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Additionally, single-game and full season suites for 2018 are available now; for more information, fans can call 313.262.2121 or e-mail Premium.Suites@lions.nfl.net.
