The official 2026 NFL schedule is set to release on May 14 this year. However, there is already a confirmed home-game issue for the Detroit Lions caused by the NFL.

The 'Woodward Sports Network' podcast were not receptive about the Lions playing an international regular-season game. The game is scheduled to be held in Munich, Germany, on November 15. They believe it could disrupt the team's momentum.

“They do that every year, three games in 11 days. But they [the Lions] don't go to Germany,” host Terry Foster stated. “That's crazy. It's crazy work.”

Foster revealed on the podcast that there are rumors of the Lions having to play on November 22 without a bye week. It would occur just after the international matchup, followed by a game scheduled on Thanksgiving Day.

This would mean that the Lions would have to play 3 games in 11 days. They suggest something like this is possible, if history were to repeat itself.

In 2025, the Lions played against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 16, followed by the New York Giants on November 23, and the Green Bay Packers on November 27.

However, two of those games were held at Ford Field in Detroit. Therefore, it wasn’t as demanding as it would be if the Lions were not given a bye week, especially since a team is usually granted one after traveling overseas.

However, even the Lions’ president, Rod Wood, suggested in April that the team wouldn’t get a bye week.

 “It’s not any longer guaranteed that you’ll get the bye after the international game, and we’re in a little bit of an odd situation with the game likely in November and Thanksgiving,” Wood said.

“So I don’t know what our bye treatment will be, but I think it’s unlikely that we’ll get it the week right after the game.”

Therefore, this home-game decision might prove to be a major setback for the Lions.

International Game Could Prove To Be 'Too Much' For The Lions

Considering that Lions’ WR Amon-Ra St. Brown has deep roots in Germany and often displays the German flag on his helmet, the Lions would serve as the “host team” for the game to be held there.

The NFL also announced that the Lions would host the game in Germany, which would technically make it a home game for the Lions.

However, it is still an international matchup, with the Lions taking all the heat. However, Wood made a different request to the league rather than asking for a bye week.

“The one thing I did push for was to not have the Thursday-to-Thursday (games) after Thanksgiving,” Wood said.

Now, the only factor that might work in their favor would be if the team they play against on Thanksgiving Day does not have a bye week scheduled the previous week, just like the Lions.

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Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Rishab Nandi