Lions Should Be Featured Heavily in Primetime in 2023
Last year, the Detroit Lions were only featured in primetime on one occasion, a Sunday Night Football contest against the Green Bay Packers.
Outside of playing on Thanksgiving, Detroit played the remainder of games starting at 1 p.m.
When the team struggles, opportunities to play in front of a nationally televised audience are scarce.
Following a 9-8 season and the team now being considered one of the top teams in the NFC, many more primetime games are expected in 2023.
"I assume we'll be in more games than just Thanksgiving. There's going to be more opportunities for prime-time games too, because there's going to be three simulcast games on Monday Night Football, with ABC and ESPN, so that's two more," team president Rod Wood said at the annual league meetings. "There's the Amazon game the day after Thanksgiving, which obviously we wouldn't play in, but it creates another prime-time game for another team. So there is more inventory, which should enhance our opportunity, as well as the outlook of the team."
With eight home games at Ford Field, the hope is the team can be featured in front of a nationally televised audience while playing at home in front of fans that have embraced the players, front office and coaching staff.
"The exposure is great. I'd rather have as many of them at home as possible," said Wood. "I mean, the road primetime games are a challenge for travel. But, if you earn the right to play in prime time, it's because of good things."
