Despite No Primetime Games for Lions, Silver Linings Emerge
A few things caught the attention of Lions supporters when the 2020 NFL schedule was released Thursday evening.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the Lions' schedule is the fact the National Football League did not deem the franchise worthy of any primetime appearances this upcoming season.
From 2011-19, Detroit had appeared in at least one Monday Night Football contest each season.
Only two franchises this year have the distinction of not playing any primetime games, as the Redskins are the other organization that won't be experiencing much national spotlight this season.
Despite the lack of attention on a national scale, there is a silver lining that could ease the burden of frustrated supporters that feel slighted by the upcoming schedule.
According to ESPN, two of the last three teams slighted have gone on to earn a berth in the NFL playoffs.
The 2017 Jaguars and 2019 Bills both secured playoff berths, despite a lack of appearances in primetime.
Another silver lining presents itself in the form of the league's ability to "flex" the schedule to present more appealing matchups to the country as the season progresses.
A contest that could be flexed into primetime is the Week 16 matchup against Tampa Bay -- which could end up being a Saturday night NFL Network game if both teams are playing at a high level by that time in the season.
If the Lions were not slotted to play on Thanksgiving, Matthew Stafford & Co. would not be featured at all on national television in 2020.
With that said, the hope is Detroit uses the slight as motivation to fuel a successful 2020 season.
