Detroit Lions: Opponents on 2019 schedule are set

The Detroit Lions’ Week 17 game was meaningless but results elsewhere rounded out the team’s list of opponents for their 2019 schedule.

The Detroit Lions went into Week 17 locked in to a last place finish in the NFC North. There was nothing other than their final place in the 2019 NFL Draft order that hinged on their regular season finale against the Green Bay Packers but there were other results that had an impact on the Lions heading into 2019.

Most of the Lions’ 2019 opponents have been set for some time as the NFL uses a rotation that sees each division play the other divisions in their conference every three years and each of the divisions in the other conference every four years. In 2019 the NFC North will be matched up with the NFC East and AFC West.

This means the four NFC North teams will have eight common opponents from those divisions. Add in six division games and 14 out of 16 opponents on the schedule are set without regard to what happens on the field the year before.

Those last two games on the schedule, however, are based on the previous year’s final standings. These two games are not common with the other teams in the division. As the fourth place finishers in the NFC North, the Lions see the two fourth place finishers from the NFC divisions not already on their schedule added to the mix.

Exactly who would finish last in the NFC South and NFC West was not yet determined heading into week 17 but those opponents set now that the regular season has concluded. The Lions’ list of home and road opponents will be as follows for the 2019 season.

Home games: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Away games: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals tried to make things interesting by hanging tough with the playoff-bound Seattle Seahawks. A game-winning field goal gave the Seahawks the win and the Cardinals the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and also a place on the Lions’ 2019 schedule. Had the Cardinals pulled off the upset the San Francisco 49ers would have been the last place finisher in the NFC West instead. Count that a win for the Lions as the 49ers should be improved next season with Jimmy Garoppolo returning from injury.

For now all we know is what teams the Lions will play next season. The full schedule with weekly matchups and game dates and times will be released next spring in the lead up to the draft.