Whereas the Detroit Lions are coming into the 2025 NFL season with a historically-challenging highway schedule, they do have an underlying benefit: they lead the league in web relaxation differential. In keeping with ESPN’s Brian Burke, the Lions boast a +13-day web relaxation edge over their opponents. Because of this, cumulatively, Detroit could have 13 extra days of relaxation than the groups they face all through the season. That quantity is tied for the second-most web relaxation distinction in opposition to opponents going into every recreation because the league’s realignment in 2002.
This favorable relaxation differential is essentially attributed to the variety of Thursday video games the Lions are scheduled to have, together with three Thursday video games inside a five-week span: the normal Thanksgiving Day recreation in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 13, a Thursday Night time Soccer matchup in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, and a Christmas Day recreation on the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. These Thursday video games present the group with prolonged relaxation durations following every contest, contributing to their total relaxation benefit.
Such a bonus could be essential in a grueling 17-game schedule, doubtlessly aiding in each participant restoration and recreation preparation. This favorable relaxation differential is especially noteworthy given the gauntlet of a schedule Detroit is up in opposition to. The Lions are set to face a formidable lineup, together with matchups in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings—all groups that made the playoffs in 2024. In whole, 12 of their 17 video games are in opposition to groups with profitable information from the earlier season.
On one other optimistic be aware, the Lions will profit from minimal journey in 2025. Detroit is slated to cowl solely 11,411 miles all through the season, the fourth-lowest whole amongst all NFL groups. Most of their video games are located within the Jap and Central time zones, with just one recreation scheduled outdoors of this area—a visit to Los Angeles to play the Rams in mid-December. This restricted journey may assist mitigate among the fatigue related to the remaining drawback.
So whereas the Lions’ 2025 schedule poses a take a look at when it comes to power of opponent and a troublesome slate of video games on the highway, their advantageous relaxation differential, lowered journey calls for, and a Week 8 bye might assist supply a reprieve and offset a few of these challenges.
