When the 2024 NFL schedule gets revealed this week, expect to see the Detroit Lions featured several times in prime-time or national broadcasts. As the NFL expands into more days, time slots and broadcasting ventures, Detroit will be a popular option to draw in significant viewership for the networks.
The Lions always get at least one, of course. The annual Thanksgiving game in the early national time slot is a time-honored tradition. Now that the Lions are national darlings coming off a trip to the NFC Championship game, they’ll be featured a lot more.
Here are six Detroit matchups that the nation deserves to see in prime time or as an exclusive national audience.
At Houston Texans
Much like the Lions, the Texans also surged far beyond expectations in 2023. With dynamic rookie QB C.J. Stroud and energetic head coach Demeco Ryans, the Texans are one of the AFC’s brightest contenders. A Monday Night Football date with the Lions in Week 2 would be a great time for this matchup of rising contenders.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers look to be the most viable contender to the Lions’ NFC North supremacy. It’s an easy sell for viewers around the country, too. The home date in Detroit would be a nice kickoff to a weekly slate in December.
At San Francisco 49ers
The rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game is another matchup with great national appeal. Sunday Night Football in Week 4 would be a good time to feature this heavyweight bout.
Minnesota Vikings
Welcoming former Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy back to the area as the rookie QB of the Vikings later in the season, once we’re sure he will be Minnesota’s starter, makes sense. Doing it on Thanksgiving, with the Ohio State-Michigan matchup two days later (albeit in Columbus), would be a fun tie-in for the broadcast networks.
At Dallas Cowboys
One of 2023’s highest-rated games was Detroit’s late-season trip to Dallas. Slating the rematch early in the season on a Monday night–let’s say Week 6–would be another must-watch prime-time event.
At Chicago Bears
The Bears have two top-10 rookies, notably celebrity QB Caleb Williams, that attract some national appeal to Chicago. They’ll get an extra prime-time game or two out of it, and drawing in the Lions for a potential snowy-weather game in Week 17–with potential playoff implications–is a good way to showcase Chicago. Subject to flex if the young Bears aren’t ready for prime-time, of course…