Detroit Lions fans have an extra reason to celebrate the holidays this year. In addition to their traditional Thanksgiving Day game — a fixture since 1934 — the team is also scheduled to play on Christmas Day.
According to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz, the Lions will take on their NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 17 on December 25. The high-stakes matchup will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, marking the platform’s second year hosting NFL games after its Christmas Day debut last season.
The game could be crucial, as both teams were top contenders in the NFC last season. Their rivalry climaxed in Week 18 with a winner-take-all game at Ford Field, where the Lions dominated 31-9, although they were later knocked out of the playoffs by the Washington Commanders.
That January win was the fifth straight for the Lions over the Vikings, with their last loss in the series dating back to September 2022.
This Christmas Day showdown is one of several early leaks ahead of the full 2025 NFL schedule release, set for Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and NFL Network. It’s also reported that Detroit will kick off the season against another division rival — the Green Bay Packers — at Lambeau Field in Week 1.
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