The Detroit Lions concluded their 2020 season Sunday with a loss to Minnesota, and now the focus shifts to the general manager and head coaching searches, and then to a 2021 season that hopefully will bring better results on the football field.
Here's a look at who the Lions will square off against in 2021:
The Lions play the four teams in the NFC West and AFC North in next year's annual rotation of division matchups. They'll also play the teams that finished last in the NFC South (Atlanta) and NFC East (Philadelphia).
Although not finalized, the NFL could add a 17th game to the schedule next season. Those games are expected to be based on corresponding finishers in rotating divisions from the opposite conference. Assuming approval by the league's owners, the Lions would play the last place team in the AFC West in 2021 (Denver) at a TBD location.
View photos from Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings Week 17 game at Ford Field on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson (88) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions interim head coach Darrell Bevell before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive end Romeo Okwara (95) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions linebacker Jahlani Tavai (51) and Detroit Lions defensive end Everson Griffen (98) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) catches a touchdown pass during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) and Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive back Tracy Walker (21) records a sack during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson (28) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates with his teammates after a field goal during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow (77) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Williams (97) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive end Julian Okwara (99) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kevin Strong (92) sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Kevin Strong (92) and Detroit Lions linebacker Reggie Ragland (59) celebrate after a sack during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions tight end Jesse James (83) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9), Detroit Lions tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (72), and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow (77) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Williams (97) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrate after a field goal during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions kicker Matt Prater (5) is congratulated by teammates after kicking his 59th career 50+ yard field goal, the most in NFL history, during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) scores his second touchdown of the game during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Mohamed Sanu (12) celebrate after a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) Detroit Lions offensive lineman Jonah Jackson (73) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9), Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Oday Aboushi (76), and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow (77) during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson (28) and Detroit Lions fullback Jason Cabinda (45) celebrate after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. (Detroit Lions via AP).
Champions of the Game Fueled by Campbell's Chunky were seated in the end zone for the football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. Congrats again to all our champions! (Detroit Lions via AP).
Champions of the Game Fueled by Campbell's Chunky were seated in the end zone for the football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021 in Detroit, MI. Congrats again to all our champions! (Detroit Lions via AP).
Along with their usual home and away games against NFC North opponents – Green Bay, Chicago and Minnesota – the Lions will travel to Pittsburgh, Seattle, Cleveland, Los Angeles (Rams) and Atlanta.
The Lions will host Cincinnati, Baltimore, Arizona, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
We'll have to wait and see where the Denver game will be played, if the NFL does add a 17th game to the slate next year.
That schedule includes nine games against teams that qualified for the playoffs this season (Green Bay, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland). The official schedule with dates and times will be released sometime in the spring.
