Lions scheduled for primetime against Broncos

The Detroit Lions have been flexed into a primetime slot once again.

A Week 15 matchup with the Denver Broncos, which was previously scheduled as to be announced, has been tabbed for the Saturday night primetime slot. The Lions and Broncos will kick off at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16 in a game televised nationally on NFL Network.

It will be the second time this year that the Lions have hosted a primetime game at Ford Field.

It will be the first of two remaining primetime games for the Lions, with the other slated for Dec. 30 at Dallas nationally televised on ESPN.

The Lions are 3-0 in primetime games this season. They knocked off the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the season opener Sept. 7. They defeated Green Bay in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football and later beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 8.

The game will likely carry implications for Detroit’s playoff hopes, as the team currently sits in first place in the NFC North with an 8-3 record.

The matchup with Denver will also mark the first time that coach Dan Campbell has faced off against his mentor Sean Payton, who leads the Broncos. Campbell served as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach under Payton for five seasons in New Orleans prior to becoming the Lions’ leader.

Denver currently sits in second place in the AFC West with a 6-5 record. Entering their Week 13 matchup with the Houston Texans, the Broncos have won four games in a row.

The Lions will square off with the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, with the game slated for 1 p.m. Sunday.

This article was produced by the staff at Sports Illustrated/All Lions. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions.