Another day, another opportunity to include an entry in our superlative series on the Detroit Lions’ 2026 schedule. For the rest of this week, we’re breaking down a different angle of Detroit’s schedule every day, with each of us on staff offering our unique perspective on what the schedule makers have put together for the Lions.
Here’s a look at our previous entries so far:
Today’s superlative has us looking at the game—an opponent—who will reveal just how good the Lions are as a football team this
year.
Biggest “measuring-stick” game
Ryan Mathews: Week 2 @ Buffalo Bills
It won’t take long for Detroit to be tested this season. The Bills will christen Highmark Stadium, the team’s new home, in Week 2, and the Lions get to be their first guest. Buffalo shook things up this offseason by replacing long-time head coach Sean McDermott with Joe Brady—previously the team’s offensive coordinator—, but the roster remains one of the best in the AFC.
Kelvin Sheppard’s defense gets an opportunity against one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, and Drew Petzing’s offense will face one helluva stress test in a rowdy environment.
Morgan Cannon: Week 7 vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 7 against the Packers at Ford Field. Coming off the bye week in Week 6, you better believe Dan Campbell will have his team ready to go against a team that beat them in both matchups in 2025.
Jeremy Reisman: Week 7 vs. Packers
Detroit’s first quintet of games are relatively easy on paper, so a 4-1 start is very much on the table. But things get real in a hurry, and I believe the Packers’ game right out of the bye week will be a litmus test, measuring stick, tone-setter, or whatever other similar superlative you want to throw in there. If they win that game and move to 5-1(ish), we’ll know this team could make a deep push.
Al Karsten: Week 7 vs. Packers
The Packers faltered down the stretch last season, much like the Lions, after injuries piled up (especially to impact players), but Matt LaFleur’s team still kicked Detroit’s teeth in to open the year and built multiple double-digit leads during an impressive Thanksgiving win.
Despite offseason coaching staff turnover, Green Bay remains one of the Lions’ biggest obstacles. Detroit’s matchup with the Packers at Ford Field—coming off the bye week and following a relatively manageable opening stretch—will serve as a major barometer for where this team stands entering the heart of the season. After getting embarrassed by Minnesota coming out of the bye last year, the Lions will be looking for a much different response this time around.
John Whiticar: Week 7 vs. Packers
The first divisional matchup will give us a taste of how Detroit stacks up in the NFC North. Perhaps more importantly, it is a game that Detroit needs to win: it’s at home, coming off a bye, with the Vikings the following week.
Erik Schlitt: Week 8 vs. Minnesota Vikings
Arguably, the Lions’ worst two performances in 2025 came against the Vikings, so this game will be a great measure of whether the Lions’ offseason decision-making has paid off or if they still have work to do. Detroit’s offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, should have the Lions offense rolling at this point in the season, but can he outduel Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores?
Brandon Knapp: Week 10 vs. New England Patriots
This is the start of a tough three-game stretch for Detroit and the toughest of them all. If they’re able to defeat the Patriots, it’s a good sign that this team could return to the NFC Championship game. A loss isn’t the end of the world, but if it’s by 14+ points, then that might lead people to question if 2026 is the year they can win it all.
