While the official NFL schedule hasn’t yet been released, the Detroit Lions reportedly know the dates of some of their games, including two Monday Night Football appearances, as well as a familiar opponent on Thanksgiving.
According to WFAN’s Mike Francesa, the Detroit Lions will face the New York Giants in Week 2 of the schedule and will be broadcast on Monday Night Football.
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The alleged Week 2 Monday Night Football matchup against the Giants will mark the fourth time in Detroit’s past five games that they’ll play on national television.
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The Lions faced the Giants on December 18 and were defeated by a 17-6 final. The game marked the first for quarterback Matthew Stafford playing with a finger injury, and it was the beginning of their slide to end the year. They were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16 last season and then finished the season with a home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football the following week.
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Of course, their ill-fated playoff matchup against Seattle was also nationally televised.
Allegedly, the Lions will also have another Monday Night Football matchup during the season against the Green Bay Packers, according to another source.
#Packers home schedule:
Wk 1 SEA
Wk 3 CIN
Wk 4 (TNF) CHI
Wk 7 NO
Wk 9 (MNF) DET
Wk 11 BAL
Wk 13 TB
wk 16 (Sat) MINN— Kyle Cousineau (@KCousineau09) April 20, 2017
According to Chicago Bears beat writer Brad Biggs, the Lions will be facing the Bears in Week 11 on November 19 and Week 15 on December 16, with the latter being played at Ford Field in Detroit.
#Bears November schedule:
Nov. 5 bye
Nov. 12 Packers
Nov. 19 Lions
Nov. 26 at Eagles— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 20, 2017
#Bears December schedule:
Dec. 3 49ers
Dec. 10 at Bengals
Dec. 16 at Lions
Dec. 24 Browns
Dec. 31 at VikingsThere it is. The full slate.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) April 20, 2017
Additionally, the Lions annual Thanksgiving matchup at Ford Field has been leaked. According to Minnesota Vikings RSEN writer Yinka Ayinde, the Lions will be facing the Vikings in Week 12.
#Vikings schedule so far…
Week 1: vs. Saints Home Monday Night
Week 8: vs Browns London
Week 9: Bye
Week 12: @Lions Thanksgiving
— Yinka Ayinde (@Saxyprince) April 20, 2017
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It would mark the second year in a row the Lions have hosted the Vikings on Thanksgiving. Last season’s exciting matchup featured yet another fourth quarter comeback for Matthew Stafford and the Lions, with Matt Prater kicking the game-winning field goal at the end of regulation.
Nov 24, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates with center Travis Swanson (64) and teammates after kicking the game winning field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. The Lions won 16-13. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY SportsThe last time the Lions faced the same opponent in back to back years on Thanksgiving was 1980, when they faced the Chicago Bears two years straight.
The NFL will officially be releasing the 2017 schedule for all teams tonight at 8:00 EST.
