Lions face division rival Bears in NFL opener

If all goes according to plan, the Detroit Lions will open the NFL season at home on Sept. 13 against the NFC North Division rival Chicago Bears.

It marks the first time since 1982 that the Lions will open at home against the Bears. The two are slated to kick off the season at Ford Field at 1 p.m.

After last season’s 3-12-1 finish, the Lions do not have a prime time playing slot this season with the exception of their annual U.S. Thanksgiving Day home game against the Houston Texans, which is set for Nov. 26 at 12:30 p.m.

Detroit’s other home dates feature an Oct. 4 match with the New Orleans Saints at 1 p.m. before the club’s bye week. Detroit will also host the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 1, the Washington Redskins on Nov. 15, the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 13 and the Minnesota Vikings, to close out the regular season, on Jan. 3. All of those games are set for 1 p.m. Depending on the standings, Detroit’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be a prime time game as it is currently part of the NFL’S flexible schedule. It could be played Dec. 26 or 27, with the starting time still to be determined.

Detroit’s first road game will be in Green Bay on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. and they travel to Arizona on Sept. 27 for a third straight year with a 4:25 p.m. start. After their bye week, the Lions head to Jacksonville on Oct. 18 and Atlanta on Oct. 25 before road games at Minnesota on Nov. 8, Carolina on Nov. 22 and Chicago on Dec. 6. All of those games are set for 1 p.m. starts. The Lions’ final regular-season road game is also subject to the NFL’S flexible schedule with Detroit’s match at Tennessee set for either Dec. 19 or Dec. 20, with a time to be determined.