With the 2023 regular season being officially over, we now have a good idea of who the Detroit Lions will face in 2024: all 17 of their opponents. While the exact dates of these games will not be determined until April or May, the nine home opponents and eight away opponents have already been determined.
The Lions’ opponents were chosen in the following manner. Every year, divisions alternate who they will face—one from the NFC and one from the AFC. This season, the NFC North will face every team from the NFC West and every team from the AFC South. You may recall that in 2023, the Lions swept both divisions they faced (AFC West and NFC South). That will be much more difficult next year, as the NFC West has a tough 49ers and Rams club, while the AFC West features the Texans and Colts.
In addition to those cross-divisional matchups, the Lions will meet the winners of the NFC South, AFC East, and NFC East divisions. This is known as the “first-place schedule,” which the Lions must follow after winning their division. In summary, three games from each team’s schedule are paired up with another team that finished in the same place in their respective division to promote parity. So first-place teams square off against first-place teams, and last-place teams face off against last-place teams. Naturally, the Lions’ schedule will appear more challenging than usual because they are playing a “first-place schedule” rather than their ordinary third or fourth-place schedule.
Furthermore, in a 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC alternate having the extra home game. This season, the NFC has an extra home game, meaning Ford Field will host nine games (unless Detroit hosts an overseas game).
So, now that you’ve seen how the sausage is made, here’s your first look at the Lions’ 2024 opponents.
Home
- Packers
- Vikings
- Bears
- Rams
- Seahawks
- Jaguars
- Titans
- Bills
- Buccaneers
Away
- Packers
- Vikings
- Bears
- Cardinals
- Texans
- Colts
- 49ers
- Cowboys
