I raise that question because today (May 12th) is the day that the National Football League (NFL) releases its regular season schedule for the 2022 season.

And now that the Detroit Lions' Super Bowl is finished, the NFL Draft, we can now look ahead to who, when, and where your gridiron heroes will play this coming fall.

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WHAT WE DO KNOW

We know that the Lions will play their NFC North rivals twice each this season (Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Minnesota Vikings).  Once in Ford Field, and once in Green Bay, Minnesota, and Chicago.

They'll also play each team from the AFC East once (Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and the New York Jets).  Two of them at home, and two are away.

And the Lions will each team in the NFC East once, too (Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders).  Again, two home and two away.

They also play the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks at home, and will visit the Carolina Panthers.  The Lions will have nine home games this year.  They had only eight last year.  The imbalance was created when the NFL went to a 17-game regular season in 2021.

The league rotates the interconference and intraconference games each year.  It's part of a four-year rotation cycle where each team plays every other team at least once every four years.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

Well, we just don't know WHEN they'll play each of these teams.  The regular season will start the Sunday after Labor Day,  and will end on New Year's Day (it's on a Sunday in 2023).

WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL?

Because the NFL is number 1 in popularity in the United States in terms of the pro sports leagues.  And it's not even close.  Just look at the TV ratings and attendance figures.  It passed Major League Baseball as the top sports league more than a generation ago.  The league has marketed itself so well that it's annual Draft is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar.  And the Super Bowl is the biggest one day event in the United States, it's actually become an unofficial national holiday.

Anything involved with the letters NFL, in that order, means big time popularity.  And universal appeal, too.  When I work at Jackson Field for the Lansing Lugnuts during the baseball season, I'm just as likely to see NFL jerseys as I am baseball uniforms (and jerseys from every NFL team, too).

Despite its issues, The NFL is king.  And it's not changing anytime soon.  So, baseball lovers, DEAL WITH IT!!!!

The Detroit Lions Throughout The Years With Collector Items

Love 'em, or hate 'em, they're still the good old Detroit Lions. Take a look back in time with some collector's items from over the years and see how the Detroit Lions have evolved over the years.

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