Detroit Lions

There is really no nice way to say this. Ever since the start of the Super Bowl era after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger (and even some years prior to it), the Detroit Lions have probably been the worst team in the NFL, despite winning 4 championships prior to 1960. The team has only qualified for the postseason 12 times since 1970 and has only won one playoff game since 1957! That sole victory came in 1991 when the Lions beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-6 in the Divisional Playoffs. The Lions of 2008 also infamously recorded what was at the time the worst NFL season of all time, going 0-16 (a “feat” since equalled by the hapless Cleveland Browns of 2017). It is a unique record in that it cannot ever really be broken (at least in terms of the sobering .000 win percentage). The 1990s were a relative period of success for the Lions, as the team did qualify for the playoffs via the Wild Card five times (none successful) after their 1991 run to the NFC Championship. The team has only been back to the playoffs three times since 2000, losing all three encounters. 2022 saw the Lions unlucky to just miss out on the postseason amidst a strong NFC Conference after posting a winning 9-8 record. With the team playing extremely well in 2023 so far, though, loyal Detroit fans are praying that this could be their year to earn a much-awaited victory beyond the regular season. 

How can I get cheap tickets to Detroit Lions football games?

Despite being really, really bad for the vast majority of their history, the Detroit Lions still somehow pull in huge numbers of loyal fans to Ford Field (which to be fair, is a spectacular facility!) who show up with a fatalistic if secretly hopeful mindset typical of the resilient people of this city. While this generates plenty of atmosphere at Lions games, it can also make tickets hard to get your hands on, particularly for key regular season deciders, postseason playoff games, or rivalry matchups (see below), which tend to sell out well in advance. To land the cheapest tickets to Detroit Lions football games, check our TicketX listings and the game schedule on this page. You can use our trusty TicketX seating chart to compare prices and locations and buy tickets with the lowest commission fees from TicketX with a single click! 

Detroit Lions football rivalries

The Detroit Lions have three intense divisional rivalries with the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings, all of whom the Lions, unsurprisingly, have losing records against. Their rivalry with the Chicago Bears is particularly fierce given the deep multi-sport rivalry between the two cities of Detroit and Chicago (Pistons-Bulls, Red Wings-Blackhawks, Tigers-White Sox). The Lions also have a long-standing rivalry against the Cleveland Browns. 

Are Detroit Lions football games exciting?

Detroit Lions football games are an absolute blast, with Ford Field located next to lots of cool bars and restaurants as well as an official tailgating area at Pride Plaza. Many fans also choose to host their own unofficial tailgating parties in the hours leading up to kickoff, eating, drinking, and catching up with friends. Inside the stadium, you can really feel the passion in the roar of the crowd, with Detroit’s game day atmosphere ranked at number one in the NFL by Sports Illustrated in 2024. Purchase your Detroit Lions tickets from TicketX today and join the party!