NFL schedule release 2025: Detroit Lions will NOT play in season opener

The first game of the 2025 NFL schedule has been released. We always knew that the Philadelphia Eagles would open the season on Thursday night at home—as the league’s Super Bowl champions. However, their opponent hadn’t been revealed until Monday morning.

On Monday, it was announced the Eagles will open the season against the Dallas Cowboys.

There was a good chance the Detroit Lions could have gotten the season opener again. The Lions are set to face the Eagles on the road this year, and with both teams considered among the best in the NFC, it would have been a high-stakes matchup. In fact, about 40 percent of Lions fans we polled were hoping for the Lions to open the season on the road against the Eagles Thursday night.

In 2023, the Lions were the team chosen to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL season opener. Detroit spoiled the Super Bowl champs’ season debut by defeating them 21-20.

This is the first known game to be announced for the 2025 season. The NFL is expected to leak several other matchups throughout the week. Here’s when you can expect more schedule announcements over the next few days:

Monday, May 12

FOX will announce select games

Prime Video will announce select games

Tuesday, May 13

7 a.m. ET - 11 a.m. ET — ABC — ESPN will announce select games on “Good Morning America”

8 a.m. ET - 10 a.m. ET — NFL Network will announce the full international games slate on “Good Morning Football”

Wednesday, May 14

7 a.m. ET - 11 a.m. ET — CBS — CBS will announce select games on “CBS Morning”

Netflix will announce select games (no time given)

And the full NFL schedule will be released at 8 p.m ET on Wednesday.

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