Lions Start 2006 Preseason Home vs. Denver

Allen Park, Mich. -The Detroit Lions will open their 2006 preseason at Ford Field against the AFC West defending champion Denver Broncos during the NFL's Preseason Week 1 (August 10-14). Along with the Broncos, the Lions will host the Buffalo Bills (August 31-September 2) and travel to Cleveland (August 17-21) and Oakland (August 24-28) for preseason games.

For the third consecutive year, WKBD-TV UPN 50 in Detroit will serve as the Lions preseason television partner, along with a network of statewide television stations.

This year will mark the first preseason match-up between the Lions and the Broncos since 1991, when the Lions claimed a 14-3 victory in the Hall of Fame Game played in Canton, Ohio. In the preseason, the Lions have a record of 1-2 in three games against the Broncos, meeting at Denver in 1967 and twice in Canton for the Hall of Fame Game (1976 and '91).

During Preseason Week 2 (August 17-21), the Lions take to the road to face the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium for the fifth renewal of the Great Lakes Classic. Since the introduction of the annual preseason rivalry in 2002, the Browns own a 3-1 record over Detroit. Overall, the Lions are 20-16-1 against the Browns during the preseason.

Detroit will remain on the road for Preseason Week 3 (August 24-28) as the Lions travel out west to face the Oakland Raiders at McAfee Coliseum. The Lions and Raiders have met four previous times in the preseason, with the Raiders owning a 3-1 record in the exhibitions series. The last time the two teams met in preseason action was in 2000 when the Raiders claimed a 23-17 victory in Oakland.

The Lions will play host to the Buffalo Bills in Preseason Week 4 (August 31-September 2) at Ford Field for the final tune-up prior to the start of the 2006 season. Detroit is 15-9-1 in 25 preseason meetings with Buffalo, including a 21-7 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium last year. This will be the fifth consecutive preseason the two teams have closed out each other's exhibition schedule since 2002.

Specific dates and times and individual game ticket information for Lions preseason home games will be announced at a later time.

PRESEASON DATES OPPONENT STADIUM NETWORK
Week 1 August 10-14 DENVER BRONCOS Ford Field WKBD-TV UPN 50
Week 2 August 17-21 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns Stadium WKBD-TV UPN 50
Week 3 August 24-28 at Oakland Raiders McAfee Coliseum WKBD-TV UPN 50
Week 4 August 31-September 2 BUFFALO BILLS Ford Field WKBD-TV UPN 50