The Detroit Lions are heading to Munich, Germany in 2026, but the timing couldn't be much worse. While international games are always exciting, the NFL's schedule release on May 14 has already revealed a tricky stretch for the Lions that could leave fans feeling uneasy.

Here's the issue: the Munich game is set for November 15, just 11 days before Detroit's traditional Thanksgiving Day matchup. Lions team president Rod Wood has already hinted the team likely won't receive a bye week after the international trip, meaning three games in 11 days. That's a brutal gauntlet for any team, but especially one traveling across the Atlantic.

Normally, teams get a bye after playing overseas to recover from jet lag and travel fatigue. But with Thanksgiving just around the corner, the NFL faces a scheduling dilemma. Giving the Lions a Week 11 bye would mean their Thanksgiving opponent—who would have only three days' rest—faces a major disadvantage. The league is unlikely to approve that imbalance.

There's still a glimmer of hope, though. If Detroit's Thanksgiving opponent also gets a Week 11 bye, both teams would be on equal footing, and the Lions could finally get that well-deserved rest after their European adventure. It's a long shot, but not impossible.

Beyond the Germany game, the Lions have a "Thursday Night Football" trip to Buffalo in Week 2 and plenty of other primetime and Thanksgiving matchups to look forward to. On the latest PODcast, the team discussed whether Detroit is getting the short end of the stick, where they'd prefer their bye to land, and graded the defense's offseason moves position by position.

For Lions fans, this international trip is a double-edged sword: a chance to see their team on a global stage, but with a schedule that could test even the toughest roster. Here's hoping the NFL finds a way to make it work for both sides.