Lions 2017 preseason schedule released

As promised, the NFL released the preseason schedule for all 32 teams on Monday evening. The four-game schedule starts at the beginning of August and rolls into early September.

There aren’t that many surprises for the Detroit Lions. As previously reported, the all important “dress rehearsal” third game will be a home contest against the reigning Super Bowl champions: the New England Patriots.

Additionally, the Lions will end their preseason as they typically do: against the Buffalo Bills. It’s an odd tradition that goes all the way back to 2002.

It also comes as little surprise that the Lions will open on the road. Lions president Rod Wood told reporters a few weeks ago that he had requested NFL schedule-makers to start the Lions on the road so that he could ensure construction on Ford Field’s renovations would be done on time for the first football games of the season. That game will be against the Colts, the team they opened the 2016 regular season against.

After their Week 1 game, they will host their first game at the renovated Ford Field against the New York Jets.

Specific dates for the games have yet to be announced, but the NFL did announce which games would be nationally televised. The Lions will not have any televised games.

Here’s a look at the preseason schedule in full:

Week 1 (Aug. 10-14) at Colts
Week 2 (Aug. 17-21) vs. Jets
Week 3 (Aug. 24-27): vs. Patriots
Week 4 (Aug. 31 - Sept 1): at Bills

For the full NFL preseason schedule, click here.