Detroit Lions face off with Los Angeles Chargers in 2025 NFL Hall of Fame Game preseason opener
- Chas Post
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 1
The Detroit Lions are slated to face the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 NFL Hall of Fame Game on Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium! It will be the ceremonial start of the 2026 NFL season as the preseason kicks off inside of the historic stadium.
Fresh off the best season in franchise history, the Lions are hoping to compete for a Super Bowl in 2026 and the upcoming campaign will officially open in Canton. Detroit led the league with 33.1 points per game and finished with an NFC-best 15-2 record in 2025.
"We're out to finish what we started. That has to be the attitude and mindset across the board," Lions head coach Dan Campbell detailed in a press conference. "Every day in practice, and no matter who we play or what people think, we're going. It's a mindset."
After allowing an NFL-best 17.7 points per game in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach, the Chargers will attempt to keep the momentum going this season. Los Angeles went 11-6 and was second in the division before falling in the Wild Card round last year.
"Everybody that was here last year knows the system and plan better than they did. There's a confidence," Harbaugh said in a training camp press conference. "Any time you do something for the second time then you have the experience of doing it the first time."
The Lions are 1.5-point favorites over the Chargers with the over/under projected at 32.5 total points per FanDuel Sportsbook. Detroit will make their fourth ever appearance in the event and their first since 1991, while Los Angeles takes their third trip to Canton.
In addition to hosting the annual preseason opener, the weekend includes Fan Fest and Pat McAfee Show live broadcast on Thursday, Walk of Fame with over 100 NFL icons on Friday, and finally culminating in the 2025 Hall of Fame enshrinement on Saturday!
The 2025 NFL Hall of Fame induction class consists of former San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, as well as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eric Allen, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.
2025 NFL Hall of Fame inductees
Eric Allen (6-time Pro Bowl cornerback)
Jared Allen (5-time Pro Bowl defensive end)
Antonio Gates (8-time Pro Bowl tight end)
Sterling Sharpe (5-time Pro Bowl wide receiver)
2026 NFL Super Bowl odds
1. Baltimore Ravens (+650)
2. Buffalo Bills (+700)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (+750)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (+800)
5. Detroit Lions (+1100)
6. Los Angeles Rams (+1700)
7. Washington Commanders (+1900)
8. San Francisco 49ers (+2000)
9. Minnesota Vikings (+2100)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (+2200)
11. Green Bay Packers (+2200)
12. Houston Texans (+2500)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (+2500)
14. Denver Broncos (+2800)
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+2900)
16. Arizona Cardinals (+4200)
17. Chicago Bears (+4400)
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (+4400)
19. Dallas Cowboys (+4600)
20. Seattle Seahawks (+5500)
21. Atlanta Falcons (+7000)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (+7500)
23. New England Patriots (+8000)
24. Indianapolis Colts (+8500)
25. Miami Dolphins (+9500)
26. Carolina Panthers (+12000)
27. Las Vegas Raiders (+12000)
28. Tennessee Titans (+20000)
29. Cleveland Browns (+24000)
30. New York Giants (+25000)
31. New York Jets (+28000)
32. New Orleans Saints (+40000)
Comments