The Detroit Lions' 2026 schedule was released Thursday.
Here are five key criticisms regarding the schedule's structure.
Late-Season Divisional Road Games
Three of the final four games are away divisional matchups, including games in Chicago and Green Bay in late December/early January.
Early Bye Week
The bye occurs in Week 6, the second-earliest among NFL teams, and precedes a game in Germany.
Dense Scheduling Around Thanksgiving
After a Week 8 road game, the team travels to Germany, then plays at home, followed by a Thanksgiving game—three games in 12 days with international travel.
Limited Primetime Home Games
Only one of four primetime games is at home (Week 16 vs. New York Giants).
Thanksgiving Opponent Repetition
Since 2007, the Lions have hosted an NFC North team on Thanksgiving 13 times, which the author considers less compelling than previous matchups.