Last week it was reported that the 2024 schedules for the Detroit Lions and the rest of the league would be released on Wednesday, May 15, which means we are just days away from knowing the exact dates and times for each of the Lions' 2024 contests.
As we await the full schedule later this week, we do know who the Lions will be facing on their upcoming slate. In case you forgot, here's a reminder:
Home opponents: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away opponents: Packers, Vikings, Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys.
Of the Lions' 14 opponents, which ones have the best shot to square off against Detroit in prime time? Here's a look at five teams.
Lions potential primetime games
1. Chicago Bears
The Bears have the potential to be one of the most exciting teams in the NFL this year after the additions of Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen. And, Chicago sports an up-and-coming defense that made big strides in 2023.
Adding to the intrigue of this game, the Bears will be one of the teams in the NFC North trying to knock the Lions off. One of the two matchups between Detroit and Chicago has prime time written all over it.
2. San Francisco 49ers (away)
The 49ers and Lions had one of the more memorable NFC Championship games in recent memory, but unfortunately Detroit was on the wrong end of it after blowing a sizeable lead in the second half.
A rematch between these two elite NFC teams, both of whom will be vying for a Super Bowl in 2024, should get a primetime spot.
3. Green Bay Packers
If we go off last year's results instead of hype, the Packers enter the 2024 campaign as the biggest threat to the Lions' division crown after making a surprising run to the playoffs before knocking off the Dallas Cowboys.
Jordan Love is ascending and Green Bay added Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney in free agency. The Packers should be good on both sides of the ball and when you combine all that with the history between these division rivals, one of the two contests would make for a great primetime showdown.
4. Dallas Cowboys (away)
All you need to do is turn on ESPN for five minutes on any given day to know just how much the Cowboys are talked about. With how popular Dallas is, and with the fact that the Cowboys are expected to be good once again in 2024, this one has all the makings of a game played on the national stage.
5. Houston Texans (away)
The Texans began a rebuild in 2023, and it was one of the quickest rebuilds in NFL history, with Houston winning the AFC South and then a playoff game.
The man most responsible for that was quarterback C.J. Stroud, who took the NFL by storm during his rookie campaign. Stroud has a chance to show that was no fluke and cement himself as one of the league's true superstar players in 2024.
All that and we haven't even mentioned all of the moves the Texans made to shore up their roster so they can go for it while Stroud is still on his rookie deal. Not only did they beef up their defense with Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair, they also traded for Stefon Diggs.
6. Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford has played his old mates twice since going to the Rams, once in Los Angeles and once in Detroit, the latter of which occurred in last year's playoffs. It wouldn't be at all shocking to see his next return to Ford Field occur in prime time in 2024.