Detroit Lions’ Week 16 game vs. Buccaneers flexed to nationally-televised Saturday stage

It turns out the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game won’t be the only nationally-televised game for the team this season.

On Monday morning, the NFL announced three Week 16 games have been flexed to Saturday instead of Sunday. The Lions’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will lead off a tripleheader on Saturday, December 26 at 1 p.m. ET. That contest will be nationally televised exclusively on NFL Network, though it will be aired locally on WDIV in Detroit (NBC).

In addition to the Lions game, the NFL will also feature the 49ers vs. Cardinals at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, followed by an AFC nightcap between the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.

With the Lions currently 4-7 and barrelling towards a top-10 pick in the draft and the Buccaneers in the midst of a playoff run at 7-5, this doesn’t appear to be a favorable stage for the Lions. That being said, the last time the Lions faced Tom Brady in a nationally-televised game it went pretty well.