As we look at a finalized version of the Detroit Lions' 2025 schedule, it's obvious that the NFL really believes in Detroit's chances at running through the best of the best. They have a ridiculous road schedule to begin the year, and an overall difficult schedule against other likely above .500 teams.
Rivalries will always take center stage when it comes to these schedule releases, though, and the Lions' rivals are pretty easy to spot this season. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and Green Bay Packers are easy bets for best games of the year for the Lions, and fans will surely be glued to their seats when the team faces all of these opponents this year.
However, the Bears games will have a little more behind them. Ben Johnson, Chicago's new head coach, is the Lions' former offensive coordinator. Going to an NFC North team, and one that's on the up and up, is going to make the Lions' Week 18 matchup against them all the sweeter.
Lions rewarded shot to finish season off with a bang against Ben Johnson
For Week 18, Detroit will be on the road against the Bears to wrap up their season just one week removed from their Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Vikings. It's a big way to end the Lions' season, and hopefully it'll be a way for them to end on a good note before - ideally - a postseason run.
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Chicago is going to be helped with this being a home game, but Lions fans travel very well. It's likely they'll be able to take over Soldier Field pretty easily, especially depending on whether the game comes at a pivotal moments for the Bears in their attempt to make the postseason or avoid elimination from contention.
All of Detroit's NFC North battles this upcoming season are primed to be good. Minnesota has a lot to prove behind J.J. McCarthy, the Bears have to show their offseason moves were enough to push them into becoming a playoff team, and the Packers need to see another leap from Jordan Love to keep pace with the ever-blazing Lions.
But, as of now and even during this Week 18 game most likely, Detroit will be the favorite. That's got to rub Bears head coach Johnson the wrong way just a bit.