The Detroit Lions have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL this fall, and that’s just fine by coach Dan Campbell.
Campbell said before the Lions’ third practice of organized team activities that he welcomes the Lions’ grueling 2025 schedule as a way to prepare the team for the playoffs.
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The Lions went a franchise-record 15-2 last season and lost their playoff opener to the Washington Commanders.
“I love the schedule we have this year because this is the type of schedule that builds you for the postseason,” Campbell said. “Like, man, you better be on it. And we’re going to get tested early and often and all year long, and it’s fricking awesome. It’s really how you want it. So we’ll be ready to go when the time’s right.”
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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches practice during rookie mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, May 9, 2025.
The Lions are tied with the Chicago Bears for the second-toughest strength of schedule, based on last year’s win percentage.
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They play 11 games against 2025 playoff teams, including home-and-away series with division rivals the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Lions, like all NFC teams, play nine road and eight home games this fall, and all of their road games are against playoff contenders and in national television windows.
The Lions visit the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, along with the Packers, Bears and Vikings.
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“It’s awesome, man,” Campbell said. “I mean, to me, by the end of the year we ought to be just scarred up. We should be scarred up and ready to go, hardened for battle and ready for the playoffs. And there’ll be nothing easy about it. You still, just to get through our own division is going to be brutal, but it’s the right kind of brutal.”
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Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell: Detroit Lions schedule ‘the right kind of brutal’