DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – The Detroit Lions went 15-2 last year and were the darlings of the league as they had a franchise-record for victories while rewarding the NFL with some of its most watched games.

The reward for that came this week when the NFL released its 2025 schedule with the Lions facing one of its hardest schedules in memory.

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Detroit News sports columnist Bob Wojnowski called the schedule “brutal.”

“Twelve national TV games. Trips to KC, Philly, Balt. Games on Thanksgiving and Xmas. Elite teams draw elite schedules. Could you live with 11-6 record for Lions?” Wojnowski posted on X.

Fifteen of the Detroit Lions’ 17 games will be against teams that are currently ranked by Vegas oddsmakers to be in the top 17 (excluding the Lions) to win the Super Bowl. The NFL has 32 teams. Detroit will play seven of the top nine teams (excluding the Lions) favored to win the Super Bowl.

The toughest part of the schedule is playing on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, the two teams that played in last season’s Super Bowl, as well as a road game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens were 12-5 last year and are led by two-time league MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“Schedule is a little crazy, but crazy comes with being good,” said Dan Miller, Fox 2 TV’s sports director, on X.