On Thursday, the 2026 NFL schedule was released, and now we can all see when each Detroit Lions game is taking place after already knowing who they’d play.
Detroit, MI
Dan Campbell on Pass Rush: ‘We Need Just a Little Bit More’
The Detroit Lions’ pass rush is under heavy pressure to replace the impact left by Aidan Hutchinson. In losing the All-Pro caliber defender to a season-ending injury, the defense now has a massive void to fill in terms of rushing the passer.
Both starting defensive ends are out for the year, as Marcus Davenport suffered a torn triceps in Week 3.
In the immediate future, the Lions elected to replace him with a series of defenders rotating in as well as generating some pressure with different blitz packages. They also added defensive end Isaiah Thomas, who could potentially debut on Sunday after sitting out against Minnesota, off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
Against the VIkings, the Lions generated 15 pressures as a team. Alim McNeill led the way with three, while four different players had two. In evaluating the game Monday, coach Dan Campbell admitted that the team stands to improve when it comes to the pass rush.
“An area where we could be better is, there was some things where our coverage had to — we ask them to do a lot and they had to hold on a little bit,” Campbell said. “There were some things where we fabricated some rush, we got there a few times. But to answer your question, we need just a little bit more. There was a couple of them that did get long, a couple of these plays that you’d like to believe we can get somebody there just a little bit sooner. We’ll keep working with it, A.G.’s gonna keep coming up with a great plan, he’s a stud as a defensive coordinator, he maximizes everything we have and we’ll figure it out. But I was proud of the way they battled.”
Campbell gave credit to Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn and Dave Fipp for their efforts to prepare their respective units ahead of Sunday’s game. Glenn in particular was praised, as he was able to adjust to life without Hutchinson and scheme up new ways to get after the quarterback.
“I thought the coordinators did an outstanding job, all three of them,” Campbell said. “Man, they were on top of their game. I thought Ben had a great game plan, man he was on it the whole game. I thought Fipp developed a great plan, those guys were humming. And lastly, I thought A.G., I thought everything that we went in and this game said we had to do and the way we had to play, it wasn’t perfect but my God those guys competed and it gave us a chance and they executed at a high level.”
I wonder if Dan Campbell drank Boone’s Farm like I did at MSU — DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) October 21, 2024
“Last time I was called classless, I was drinking wine out of a bottle” pic.twitter.com/i6v6VNHuVI
‘Everything’s got to run through Detroit’
Sunday marked the first NFC North game Detroit has played this season, and as a result it allowed them to vault into first place. In knocking off the previously unbeaten Vikings, the Lions claimed the pole position as the season nears its halfway point.
While the competitiveness of the division points to things being far from settled, the win could wind up paying dividends for the Lions in their quest to set themselves up with a home playoff game.
“It meant a lot. I said this (Sunday), I didn’t want to call it a must-win, but our guys know how important it is. We’ve said it all the time, when you talk about the endgame, where you want to be at the end of the season, man, you’ve got to work backwards and what are the steps to get there?” Campbell said. “You’ve got to win the division. That’s where it starts. If that’s really what we’re saying, everything’s got to run through Detroit. And to do that you’ve got to win you division games, and then you get a home game in the playoffs, if not more. So it was big.”
Notes
Campbell was recently described as “classless” by former New Jersey Governor and Dallas Cowboys fan Chris Christie for the way he managed the Lions’ blowout Week 6 road win. The Lions’ coach responded to the comment on Monday, explaining that he wasn’t concerned with it.
“The last time someone called me classless, I was drinking wine out of a bottle,” Campbell said with a smile. “It’s all good, I’m not worried about it.”
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This week’s Thursday was a relatively crowded slate, with eleven games on the docket compared to the handful we usually see on this day. Though there was not much drama in terms of close games coming down to the wire, there were bunches of runs scored and plenty to talk about. Let’s get into it.
Today’s Headlines
Mets’ Power Bats Propel Them Past Detroit
The New York Mets completed a much-needed three game series sweep over the Detroit Tigers at home on Thursday with a 9-4 win behind a strong pitching performance from Nolan McLean (7.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 K, 6 H, 3 BB) and a power explosion that saw five home runs leave the park off of Met bats. The day started off in Detroit’s favor, with newcomer Gage Workman taking McLean deep in the top of the first inning for a three-run homer to put the visiting team ahead 3-0. Rookie A.J. Ewing answered in the bottom of the third inning with a homer of his own, the first of his career, to put the Mets’ first run of the day on the board. Momentum continued to swing in the Mets favor in the bottom of the fourth, when Brett Baty smacked a two-run homer that just barely cleared the fence, tying the game at 3-3. The Mets would go up for good in the fifth after Juan Soto singled in a run to put the team up 4-3, and Mark Vientos added a two-run homer of his own before the inning ended. Soto and Marcus Semien would tack on homers before this one was through, and Citi Field was left in good spirits heading into a weekend Subway Series against the Yankees. Detroit, on the other hand, has been in a bit of a free fall since Tarik Skubal hit the IL, and will look to right the ship with a home series against Toronto.
Phillies Win a Low-Scoring Affair in Fenway
Stop me if you’ve heard this one already this week — Kyle Schwarber hit a home run in yesterday’s game, his 7th over the last seven games. Schwarber’s league-leading 18th home run helped propel the Phillies to a 3-1 win over the Red Sox, despite 5.1 scoreless innings from their former friend Ranger Suarez, who pitched quite well for Boston in this one. Jesús Luzardo was able to match Suarez, though, keeping Boston off the scoreboard over 6 scoreless innings of his own. The 0-0 deadlock wasn’t broken until the top of the 8th inning, when Kyle Schwarber got a hold of a pitch off of Boston reliever Tyler Samaniego for a 417-ft. two-run blast that put the Phillies up for good.
Philadelphia will now travel to Pittsburgh to take on their in-state rivals, while Boston has the unenviable task of traveling to Atlanta for a three-game series.
White Sox Win Fifth Straight and Move Above .500
Don’t look now, but the Chicago White Sox are above .500 for the first time this season after completing a three-game series sweep over the Kansas City Royals, extending their overall winning streak to five games. Anthony Kay (6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 6 H, 2 BB) improved to 3-1 on the year with a fine pitching performance, and the young bats continued to stay hot with two knocks from 2B Chase Meidroth, who improved his season average to a highly respectable .281. Chicago also got some help from veteran Randal Grichuk in this one in the form of a two-run homer, and the South Siders suddenly have reason for optimism.
By The Numbers
0 Per Elias Sports Bureau, no player in New York Mets‘ franchise history had started their big league career by recording a triple and a home run as their first two hits, prior to A.J. Ewing accomplishing the feat this week.
3 Per Elias Sports Bureau, the sweep that the Mets just finished off against the Detroit Tigers was only the third time in Mets’ franchise history that the team completed a three-game series sweep despite trailing by multiple runs in each of the three games.
19 Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Emmett Sheehan induced 19 swing and misses in yesterday’s win over the San Francisco Giants, the most of any pitcher on the day.
442 Athletics 1B Nick Kurtz drilled the most impressive long ball of the day yesterday at a massive 442 feet.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Grandson of the Wind Whips Around the Bases
I always love an inside the park homer, and this season seems to be bringing more than usual so far, partly due to some questionable defensive plays in the outfield. It’s easy to criticize from the couch, but I think even Teoscar Hernández would admit that he should have played this ball a bit better especially considering that it’s in his own home park. Either way, enjoy watching San Francisco’s Jung-Hoo Lee (nicknamed ‘Grandson of the Wind’ due to being the son of KBO legend Lee Jong-beom, who was originally ‘Son of the Wind’) fly around the bases here on his inside the park homer during the Giant’s 5-2 loss to the Dodgers yesterday.
Will Smith…The Leadoff Hitter?
With Shohei Ohtani being given a rest on the day after another masterful pitching performance, Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith got his first career start in the leadoff role last night and he did not disappoint, taking Giants starter Landen Roupp deep in his very first at-bat.
What Can’t McGonigle Do?
As the Detroit Tigers‘ phenom rookie Kevin McGonigle continues to impress at the plate and on the base-paths, don’t forget about what the kid can do with the glove. He absolutely robbed the Mets’ Bo Bichette of a base hit yesterday with one of the more impressive catches you’ll see all year.
May the Force Be With You
With teams all around the league celebrating Star Wars lately, the Mets got in on the action on Thursday with a first pitch that involved Mr. Met dressed as The Mandalorian, throwing Grogu to Mrs. Met. And that was a sentence that I never anticipated typing this season.
Baseball Has a New No. 1 Prospect
With Pittsburgh’s Konnor Griffin (formerly No. 1) recently graduating from the prospect list, we now have a new No. 1 ranked prospect in the game. Congratulations to Milwaukee’s Jesús Made, a freakishly athletic shortstop who has all the tools to become the game’s next superstar.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Seattle Mariners placed C Cal Raleigh on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain, which can typically linger longer than those minimum ten days.
⚾ Colorado Rockies placed RHP Jimmy Herget on the 15-day IL (right shoulder impingement) retroactive to May 13.
⚾ Lots of unknowns here still, but keep an eye on a developing story involving Los Angeles Dodgers‘ reliever Edwin Díaz, who has been linked to cockfighting events in Puerto Rico based on photos found on social media by USA Today investigative reporters.
Articles You Should Read
“George Kirby is Unrecognizable” — Nate Schwartz, Pitcher List
“You’re Probably Underrating Dylan Lee” — Ben Clemens, FanGraphs
“Buy, Sell, or Hold These Three Struggling Starters?” — Corbin Young, FanGraphs
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Starting Pitcher Roundup
Hitter Performances
Waiver Wire Picks
Starting Pitcher Streamers
Here are three things that I love when looking at the 2026 schedule for the Lions.
1 p.m. ET start times get an uptick
I don’t know about you, but while I do love primetime games, my favorite time for the Lions to play is at 1 p.m. ET. Once the game is over, you still have a handful of games to watch in the 4 p.m. window. You can have them on in the background and eat dinner, and do a few things to prepare for Monday. After that, you have “Sunday Night Football” to end the weekend.
This season, the Lions have eight games that start at 1 p.m., compared to the five they had last year. That is the perk of having a weak schedule, playing teams that not many people want to see.
Only one “Monday Night Football” appearance
While I love primetime games, I don’t care for “Monday Night Football,” at least when the Lions are scheduled for it. It’s an extra day I have to wait to watch my team play, and they’re on a short rest for the following game.
I get the big appeal for “Monday Night Football,” don’t get me wrong. It gets more pregame coverage, more eyes than the Sunday night game, and has a special broadcast. The Lions’ only “Monday Night Football” game is Week 16 against the New York Giants, and thankfully it’s at Ford Field rather than in New Jersey.
Weak first half could give cushion for later in the season
While the Lions are supposed to have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL this season, anything can still happen in the league. Looking at the first half of the season (Weeks 1-9), the schedule is front-loaded with lower-tier opponents, so that when the second half comes around, the team might have some wiggle room if they go on a losing streak.
The first half opponents’ combined record from 2025 is 57-78-1. Their toughest game in the first nine weeks is on the road against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 on” Thursday Night Football.“ Outside of that, they play the New Orleans Saints to start the 2026 campaign. Afterwards, they have a matchup with former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets, then against the Arizona Cardinals, who currently have question marks at the quarterback position. Both of those teams finished last season with a paltry 3-14 record.
The back half is where things get tough, as the Lions’ opponents combined record from 2025 is 77-85-1. They start the second half in Germany against defending AFC Champion New England Patriots, who finished 14-3. They take on the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears (11-5 last year) twice in the back half. Detroit also renews its rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who finished 8-9.
While the second half schedule is still below .500, it’s got some tougher matchups and schedule issues with it. From travelling overseas to playing three divisional road games in four weeks, if the Lions don’t start hot, the back half of the season could be punishing. I believe the Lions will start with a strong record before they face some bumps in the middle of the season, and they finish out with an above .500 record and a return to the playoffs.
Detroit Public Schools Community District hosting 5th annual alumni event
DETROIT – Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) will host their fifth annual alumni event.
On May 16, the foundation will host their Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala.
The Gala honors distinguished DPSCD alumni who have made a major impact in our community and beyond.
The night is a celebration of Detroit’s success stories and a fundraiser to create new opportunities for the next generation of students.
Organizers say there will be a major live announcement aimed at helping Detroit High School students build brighter futures.
Kerrie Mitchell, the president and CEO of the DPSCD Foundation, joined Local 4 Live to talk more about the gala, the foundation’s mission and what the announcement could mean for students across the city.
You can watch the full interview in the video at the beginning of this article.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
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