Lions 2025 NFL Schedule Released for Jared Goff, Detroit's Super Bowl Push

The 2025 season is all about taking the next step for the Detroit Lions.

Detroit has been on the short list of the NFL's best teams the last two seasons with an NFC Championship Game appearance during the 2023 campaign and a 15-2 record in 2024. However, it has failed to reach the Super Bowl despite the recent run of dominance.

Full schedule information available on the team's official website

It will look to do so this season while also fighting for a third straight NFC North title.

While there are some changes, including the departure of former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become the head coach of the Chicago Bears, much of the core is still together for head coach Dan Campbell.

Here is a look at the schedule Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Aidan Hutchinson and Co. will face in that pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy.

Analysis

The one downside to finishing in first place in the NFL is how difficult the schedule is the following season.

And Detroit has quite the difficult slate.

Playing in the NFC North alone means a number of daunting contests, as the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers were also playoff teams last season. Even the Bears seem to be in a much better position with Johnson as head coach and a stronger roster around Caleb Williams for the quarterback's second season.

Elsewhere, games against the NFC East mean showdowns with the reigning-champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders team they defeated in the NFC Championship Game.

Throw in matchups against presumed contenders in the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers from the AFC North, and the schedule is quite imposing even before considering the first-place portion of it with games against playoff teams from a season ago in the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As if that wasn't enough, the Lions also face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that will surely be promoted as a potential Super Bowl preview.

Every team Detroit plays on the road except for the Bears finished with a winning record last season, so there aren't many breaks in a loaded slate.

Pivotal Matchups

One reason the Lions were able to win the NFC North last season was their perfect record against the other three teams.

If they are able to replicate that again this season, the overall difficulty of the schedule won't matter as much because they will be in the driver's seat for a division crown and the playoff spot that comes with it. Those games against the Packers and Vikings in particular stand out as ones that could ultimately decide the division.

And while AFC matchups against Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are surely exciting for fans, the ones against the Eagles and Commanders are more important for Detroit's overall goals.

After all, it figures to once again be among the top contenders in the NFC, so those head-to-head battles will go a long way toward determining the No. 1 seed and the team that gets the first-round bye.

That No. 1 seed would also mean home-field advantage in the playoffs, which is the best way for the Lions to finally get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl.

Which is exactly what they plan to do this season.