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Detroit Lions 2018 Schedule Release: Top 5 Games

By Steven Mullenax

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 06: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots talks with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia before their game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium on December 6, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The NFL has now released the Detroit Lions 2018 regular season schedule. We’ll reveal the entire list of games and pick our top five matchups.

We’ve known the Detroit Lions list of opponents in the upcoming 2018 regular season for quite some time. But now, the NFL has released the official schedule including date, channels and times.

Below, we’ll cover the Lions preseason and regular season schedule. We’ll also reveal our list of the top five matchups we are looking forward to in 2018.

Lions 2018 Preseason Schedule

Week 1: Detroit Lions @ Oakland Raiders – August, 9-13
Week 2: New York Giants @ Detroit Lions – August 16-20
Week 3: Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – August 23-26
Week 4: Cleveland Browns @ Detroit Lions – August 30-31

As we mentioned before, we knew the Lions would face the AFC East as well as their normal NFC North foes in 2018. Here’s the entire opponents list.

Lions 2018 Regular Season Opponents

Home: New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

Away: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

Finally, we present Detroit’s official 2018 regular season schedule as recently released by the NFL and the top five matchups we are looking most forward to seeing.

Lions 2018 Regular Season Schedule

Week 1: Sept. 10 vs. New York Jets (Mon), 7:10 p.m.(ESPN)
Week 2: Sept. 16 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Week 3: Sept. 23 vs. New England Patriots, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Week 4: Sept. 30 at Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 5: Oct. 7 vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Oct. 21 at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 8: Oct. 28 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 9: Nov. 4 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 10: Nov. 11 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 11: Nov. 18 vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 12: Nov. 22 vs. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving), 12:30 p.m. (CBS)
Week 13: Dec. 2 vs. Los Angeles Rams, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 14: Dec. 9 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Week 15: Dec. 16 at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 16: Dec. 23 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Week 17: Dec. 30 at Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Source: NFL.com

Highlighting our Top Five Matchups

#5 -Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys, Week 4

The last time these two met, it was in a 42-21 loss for the Lions the day after Christmas in 2016. But the fact Dallas defeated Detroit 24-20 in the Wildcard round of the playoffs two years earlier still stings.

#4 – Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions, Week 8

Speaking of stinging playoff losses, the last time the Lions faced off against the Seahawks it was in a 26-6 defeat to Seattle in the postseason of 2016. With the Legion of Boom disbanded, the Seahawks aren’t the same squad. It’s a perfect time for the Lions to exact some revenge.

#3 – Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings, Week 9

The Lions and the Vikings split their season series last year, but both games were close. Minnesota emerged as the divisional champions and were one game away from the Super Bowl. With Kirk Cousins under center, it will be interesting to see if the Vikings grasp on the NFC North actually improves.

#2 – New York Jets @ Detroit Lions, Week 1

Not only will this game kickoff Monday Night Football for the regular season, but it will also be the debut for new head coach Matt Patricia. The Lions want to start off their season and Patricia’s career in Detroit with a win at home. The pressure will be high.

Next: Detroit Lions - Debunking the running back myth

#1 – Detroit Lions @ New England Patriots, Week 3

This one is easy. The teacher and the student face off for the first time, as Bill Belichick will welcome home his former protégé, Patricia, back to Foxborough. Honestly, the storylines write themselves in this epic matchup.

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