One of the things we dislike about the 2026 Detroit Lions schedule is their 12-day gauntlet from November 15-26, which includes three games for the Detroit Lions: an international game against the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, a difficult home test against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and their Thanksgiving game against the Chicago Bears.
While the Lions play this three-game stretch around Thanksgiving practically every year, the 2026 schedule adds another level of difficulty with Detroit’s international trip in the middle of it all. Many supporters expected the Lions to take a bye week in the middle of their overseas travel to allow them some respite.
But if you’re blaming the NFL schedule planners for not including a bye week, you’re directing your anger at the wrong folks. This week, the league conducted a conference call to explain the schedule-making process, and one of the major players in the schedule’s creation, vice president of broadcasting planning Mike North, stated that the Lions—particularly president Rod Wood—knew exactly what they were getting into when Detroit made a strong push to play in the Germany game.
“We knew the Germany game was going to be only two weeks before Thanksgiving, and it was important enough to Rod, the organization, our international people, and definitely your wide receiver [Amon-Ra St. Brown] that it made sense for the Lions to play in that Germany game,” North said.
In brief, the Lions joined the agreement knowing that with the game so near to Thanksgiving, the NFL was unlikely to grant Detroit a bye week leading up to the game because their holiday opponent, the Chicago Bears, would be working off a short week.
Instead, Wood prioritized ensuring that the Lions had a mini-bye after Thanksgiving by requesting that they not play back-to-back Thursday games, something they have done in the previous two Thanksgivings. The league approved the request.
They were genuinely hoping to see that 10-day vacation following Thanksgiving, rather than yet another Thursday to Thursday,” North remarked. “Credit to the team for volunteering. They knew what they were getting into, and I believe it broke the manner they had intended. “
The positive news for the Lions is that the majority of teams competing an international game this year will not have the benefit of a bye week the following week. As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes, just three of the 16 teams playing internationally will have the advantage of a post-international bye game: the Jaguars, the Saints, and Detroit’s Germany opponent, the Patriots. New England most likely received that bye week specifically because they do not play on Thanksgiving.
But if you’re still seeking for a reason to blame the NFL schedule makers, consider the Lions’ opponents after the Munich game. While Detroit knew they wouldn’t get a bye, they were most likely saddened to learn that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom they were playing that week, would be coming off their bye. So, while the Lions will be acclimating to life back in the United States, Tampa will be traveling to Detroit well-rested.
