For the first time since 2016, the end of the regular season is not the end of the season for the Detroit Lions this year. A Wild Card Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, and former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, is coming.
But with the end of a regular season comes knowing each team's opponents for the next season. Not when, as that will come in May with the 2024 schedule release. But all 17 of the Lions' opponents are now known, along whether they'll play them on the road or at home.
The Lions and the rest of the NFC North will each play each of the other teams in the NFC West and the AFC South next season in the yearly rotation of cross-divisional matchups. The Lions will of course have two games against each of their division rivals. Detroit will play the first place teams from the NFC East, NFC South and AFC East next season.
The 2024 season is the NFC's turn to have nine home games in the 17-game schedule. However, the Lions are due to give up a home game for an international game next season and this season's success practically guarantees it will happen.
Detroit Lions 2024 opponents, home and away
Via the team website, here's a look at the Lions' home and road opponents for the 2024 season.
Home: Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills.
The Lions will host the Seahawks for the third straight year next season. The Rams, and presumably Stafford, will make another trip to Ford Field for a regular season game.
Away: Packers, Bears, Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.
The road schedule looks favorable for the Lions again, with two potential weather games (at Green Bay, at Chicago). If both of those road games are scheduled before roughly Halloween, the Lions would likely completely avoid rough winter weather.
The Lions will play eight games against teams that made the playoffs this year. Two against the Packers of course, along with the 49ers, Cowboys, Rams, Texans, Buccaneers and Bills.