{"id":79843,"date":"2025-05-26T09:03:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T09:03:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/79843\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T09:03:23","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T09:03:23","slug":"dates-times-home-games-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/79843\/","title":{"rendered":"Dates, times, home games and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"play\"<\/p>\n

Antonio Gates on transition from basketball to football, Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

Pro Football Hall of Famer, Detroiter Antonio Gates on his transition from basketball to football<\/p>\n

The Detroit Lions<\/a> will close the preseason with two Saturday afternoon games at Ford Field.<\/p>\n

The Lions announced dates and times for their preseason schedule on May 20<\/a>, including home games against the Miami Dolphins<\/a> and Houston Texans<\/a> that were previously unknown.<\/p>\n

They open exhibition play against the Los Angeles Chargers<\/a> and Jim Harbaugh in the Hall of Fame game<\/a> at 8 p.m. July 31 at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, then visit the Atlanta Falcons<\/a> at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 in Week 1 of the preseason.<\/p>\n

The Lions close the preseason with home games against the Dolphins on Aug. 16 and Texans on Aug. 23. Both games are 1 p.m. starts.<\/p>\n

THE QB WHO MIGHT PLAY: Lions’ Hendon Hooker ‘a puppy,’ already showing improvement in battle for backup QB job<\/a><\/p>\n

The Lions have just four 1 p.m. Sunday starts on their regular season schedule<\/a> as they’ve become a major draw for television networks that carry the NFL. They play five primetime times<\/a> on Thursday, Sunday or Monday night and have holiday games on Thanksgiving and Christmas.<\/p>\n

One of the best teams in the NFL, the Lions have held their key starters out of most preseason action in recent years, opting instead to give them reps in joint practices.<\/p>\n

Lions coach Dan Campbell said in March he hoped to do two sets of joint workouts this summer.<\/p>\n

Hall of Fame Game, Thursday, July 31: Los Angeles Chargers, 8 p.m., NBCWeek 1, Friday, Aug. 8: at Atlanta Falcons, 7 p.m., Lions TV NetworkWeek 2, Saturday, Aug. 16: vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., Lions TV NetworkWeek 3, Saturday, Aug. 23: vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m., Lions TV NetworkWeek 1, Sunday, Sept. 7:\u00a0at\u00a0Green Bay Packers<\/a>, 4:25 p.m., CBSWeek 2,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Sept. 14:\u00a0vs\u00a0Chicago Bears<\/a>, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 3, Monday, Sept. 22:\u00a0at\u00a0Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, 8:15 p.m., ESPN\/ABCWeek 4,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Sept. 28:\u00a0vs\u00a0Cleveland Browns<\/a>, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 5,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Oct. 5:\u00a0at\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 6,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Oct. 12:\u00a0at Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, 8:20 p.m., NBCWeek 7, Monday, Oct. 20:\u00a0vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7 p.m., ESPN\/ABCWeek 8:\u00a0ByeWeek 9,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Nov. 2:\u00a0vs\u00a0Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 10,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Nov. 9:\u00a0at\u00a0Washington Commanders<\/a>, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 11,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Nov. 16:\u00a0at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m., NBCWeek 12,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Nov. 23:\u00a0vs New York Giants<\/a>, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 13, Thursday, Nov. 27:\u00a0vs Green Bay Packers<\/a>, 1 p.m., FoxWeek 14,\u00a0Thursday,\u00a0Dec. 4:\u00a0vs\u00a0Dallas Cowboys<\/a>, 8:15 p.m., PrimeWeek 15, Sunday, Dec. 14:\u00a0at\u00a0Los Angeles Rams<\/a>, 4:25 p.m., FoxWeek 16,\u00a0Sunday,\u00a0Dec. 21:\u00a0vs\u00a0Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>, 4:25 p.m., CBSWeek 17,\u00a0Thursday,\u00a0Dec. 25:\u00a0at Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, 4:30 p.m., NetflixWeek 18, Saturday\/Sunday, Jan. 3-4:\u00a0at Chicago Bears<\/a>, TBD<\/p>\n

Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions<\/a>: An Illustrated Timeline.”\u00a0Order your copy here<\/a>. Contact him at\u00a0dbirkett@freepress.com<\/a>. Follow him on Bluesky<\/a>, X\u00a0<\/a>and Instagram\u00a0<\/a>at @davebirkett.<\/p>\n