The Detroit Lions are not playing football tonight.
If you are frantically checking your local listings for a kickoff time on Sunday, January 18, 2026, you've probably realized by now that the screen is showing other teams. It’s tough. After the way the 2023 and 2024 seasons went, the expectation in Michigan—and honestly, across the league—was that Dan Campbell’s squad would be a permanent fixture in the January divisional round.
Instead, the Lions finished their 2025-2026 regular season with a 9-8 record. While that’s a winning season in most books, it wasn’t enough to crack the NFC North hierarchy or the wildcard spots this time around.
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Why You Can't Find the Lions Tonight
People keep asking what channel is Detroit Lions on tonight because the NFL playoff schedule is currently in full swing. Today is Divisional Sunday. It’s the kind of high-stakes weekend where the Lions usually thrive. But this year, the bracket is filled with names like the Bears, Rams, Texans, and Patriots.
The Lions officially hit the offseason after their Week 18 victory over the Chicago Bears on January 4, 2026. They went out on a high note with a 19-16 win at Soldier Field, but the math just didn’t work out. They finished fourth in a brutally competitive NFC North.
If you're looking for football to watch right now, here is what’s actually on your TV today, Sunday, Jan. 18:
- 3:00 PM ET: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (ABC/ESPN)
- 6:30 PM ET: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (NBC/Peacock)
Basically, if you see Honolulu Blue on your screen tonight, it’s probably a highlight reel from Jared Goff’s 52-21 explosion against the Bears back in September.
What Happened to the 2025 Detroit Lions?
It’s kinda wild how fast things change in the NFL. Entering the 2025 season, the Lions were heavy favorites. But football is a game of attrition. The team felt the sting of losing key coaching staff members like Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, who finally took head coaching gigs elsewhere.
The defense struggled to find its rhythm early, and while the offense still put up massive numbers—including that 44-point thrashing of the Cowboys in December—the consistency just wasn't there. They suffered a heartbreaking four-game losing streak late in the year, dropping games to the Vikings, Eagles, and Packers.
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Honestly, the NFC North has become a gauntlet. When you have the Bears and Vikings both surging at the same time, a 9-8 record leaves you on the outside looking in.
Looking Toward the 2026 Schedule
While you won't find them on a channel tonight, the 2026 outlook is actually pretty juicy. Because the Lions finished fourth in the division, they get a "fourth-place schedule" next year. In NFL terms, that means they’ll face other teams that finished at the bottom of their respective divisions.
We already know who they’ll be playing. Home games at Ford Field will include the usual suspects (Packers, Bears, Vikings) plus the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants.
Road trips are set for Buffalo, Miami, Atlanta, Carolina, and Arizona. Facing a slate of teams that are also rebuilding or struggling is exactly how you bounce back into the postseason.
How to Watch the Rest of the Playoffs
If you’ve still got the itch for live sports even though Detroit is sidelined, the broadcast rights for the remainder of the 2026 playoffs are split across the major networks.
- NBC and Peacock: They have the Rams-Bears game tonight and will also host Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026.
- FOX: They’ll handle the NFC Championship game next Sunday, January 25.
- CBS and Paramount+: They have the rights to the AFC Championship game.
You can still use your digital antenna to catch these on local stations like WJBK (FOX 2) or WDIV (Local 4) if you’re in the Detroit area.
The Lions aren't on the field tonight, but the rebuild of the "New Detroit" hasn't stopped. The front office is already pivoting to the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. For now, Lions fans have to do the one thing they’ve mastered over the decades: wait until next year.
To stay ready for the 2026 season, keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine results in late February. This is where the Lions will likely look for defensive secondary depth to ensure they aren't sitting at home during the divisional round next January. You can also track the upcoming free agency period starting in March to see how the team utilizes their projected cap space to replace departing veterans.