2018 Detroit Lions Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

As the Detroit Lions look to get back to the postseason after narrowly missing out one season ago, they now know the path they must take to get there.  

While it was already known Detroit would face—along with their usual NFC North foes—the NFC West, the AFC East, the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys, the order was not known. The suspense ended on Thursday as the NFL announced the schedules for all 32 teams.

Here is a look at the complete schedule for the Lions in the 2018 regular season, per NFL.com.

Lions' 2018 Schedule

Week 1: vs. New York Jets on Sept. 10 at 7:10 p.m. ET on ESPN

Week 2: at San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 16 at 4:05 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 3: vs. New England Patriots on Sept. 23 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers on Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 6: BYE

Week 7: at Miami Dolphins on Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 10: at Chicago Bears on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 11: vs. Carolina Panthers on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears on Nov. 22 at 12:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 14: at Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 9 at 4:25 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 15: at Buffalo Bills on Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Week 17: at Green Bay Packers on Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. ET on Fox

Analysis

Following back-to-back 9-7 performances, Detroit will have its work cut out for itself in Matt Patricia's first season as coach.

Getting off to a good start has been the key the past two years. The Lions dug themselves a hole in 2015 by starting 1-7, but they have won each of their openers the past two seasons, entering their bye week with a record no worse than .500 both times. And each time, they won three out of four games coming out of the bye.

Signing running back LeGarrette Blount could prove to be huge. Not only has he run for 1,927 yards the past two seasons, but his teams—the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles—have won the Super Bowl the last two years. Lions fans are hoping the 6'0, 250-pound back can help a third team in three seasons hoist the Lombardi Trophy. 

Having Matthew Stafford under center gives Detroit a chance to compete every week. 

It will be interesting to see how the Lions play under Patricia's command, but with Jim Bob Cooter remaining on the staff as offensive coordinator, No. 9 and the offense should not skip a beat.

Pivotal Matchups

The Lions missed the playoffs last year despite going 5-1 in the NFC North. Repeating that divisional success this season will be no easy feat.

For starters, the Minnesota Vikings were just one game away from the Super Bowl last year—and then they went out and signed Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins. In the same breath, the Green Bay Packers should bounce back in 2018 with a healthy Aaron Rodgers and the newly signed Jimmy Graham.

Of course, there will be plenty of intrigue when Detroit hosts the New England Patriots in prime time in Week 3. It will mark the first time that Patricia will face Bill Belichick since leaving his role as the Patriots defensive coordinator to take over in the Motor City. It also provides a gauge for Stafford and Co. to see just how close they are to the game's elite.

The Lions surprisingly only went 4-4 at home last season. Along with the Patriots and the usual NFC foes, the Carolina Panthers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks and the New York Jets will visit Ford Field as well.

In total, Detroit will play six games against teams that made the playoffs a season ago. That doesn't include Green Bay—which was without Rodgers for nine games in 2017—or Dallas, who played six games without star running back Ezekiel Elliott last year.