Which team did the Detroit Lions face in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason?

The Detroit Lions faced the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason.

The game was scheduled for Thursday, August 13, making it one of the opening contests of the first full preseason week. Cincinnati hosted the matchup at Paycor Stadium.

The Bengals won 16–14. Because it was a preseason game, the result did not count in either club's regular-season standings, but the contest still provided evaluation opportunities for rookies, reserve players, and athletes competing for roster positions.

Detroit and Cincinnati are both members of the NFL, but they play in different conferences: the Lions are in the NFC North, while the Bengals are in the AFC North. Their preseason meeting therefore offered an interconference test before the regular season.