Two of the Lions biggest road games in 2012 will come under the prime-time spotlight. The Lions play division foes, Chicago and Green Bay, in road games. The NFL schedule was released Tuesday night.

On Oct. 22 they’ll play their only Monday night game at Soldier Field against the Bears. Then on Dec. 9, they’ll play at Green Bay in a Sunday night contest.

Those two games almost literally jump off the schedule. Both should be dandies.

They are just two of four prime-time contests for the Lions who will play at the 49ers on Sunday, Sept. 16. They will host the Atlanta Falcons in a Saturday night game on Dec. 22. But that’s not all. Their fifth nationally televised game is on Thanksgiving against the Houston Texans.

It’ll be a rough start with four of the first six games on the road. That’s tough. They’ll be rewarded late in the year with four of the last six at home. But they’re going to have to hit the ground running.

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