Though the 2018 schedule for the Detroit Lions will not be officially released until Thursday night, there are reports suggesting that they will open the new campaign on national TV in primetime.
A recent report in the New York Post says that the Lions will be hosting the New York Jets on Monday Night Football to ring in the new year.
This report says Lions open season home vs. Jets on Monday Night Football https://t.co/eCfFzn9mGc
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) April 19, 2018
The NFL will formally be announcing the 2018 schedule for all 32 teams Thursday night from 8-10 p.m. ET on NFL Network. But seemingly as is a tradition in this day and age of social media, rumors are being leaked out here and there. The league recently released dates and times for its four international games — three in London and one in Mexico.
With regards to the rumor of the Lions starting the new season on Monday Night Football, it would mark the second time in five seasons that Detroit has opened the year in primetime on Monday night.
The Lions have had at least one MNF contest on their schedule going back to 2011, including three seasons with multiple MNF games (2012, ’15, ’17). They have collected a 5-5 record on Monday Night Football during that span. Since Monday Night Football became a thing in 1970, the Lions are 16-18-1 all-time in those primetime affairs (not including two Saturday games in 1976 and ’77 that were aired as part of the MNF telecast).
Should this hold true, it’ll be the second-ever meeting between the Lions and Jets on MNF. The first occasion happened way back in 1982, a 28-13 victory for New York in the Pontiac Silverdome.
It would bring in an interesting dynamic to the fold as well. New Lions head coach Matt Patricia is quite familiar with the Jets to a certain degree, having been a part of the New England Patriots’ coaching staff for the 14 years prior to arriving in Detroit.
The Lions’ schedule of opponents was revealed back in early January, a slate of 16 games that ranked as the second-toughest in the NFL. In addition to the Jets, Detroit will also be welcoming in Patricia’s former employer to Ford Field this season. The team also recently announced their preseason schedule as well.
Again, a friendly reminder that this is just a report and nothing is confirmed as of now. The league will be announcing the whole nine yards (pun intended) Thursday night, which you can see live on the NFL Network.
