The Lions start the 2011 season with three of four games on the road and end it playing the Packers at Lambeau Field on New Year’s Day. In-between they'll play their first Monday night game in 10 years when they host the Bears at Ford Field on Oct. 10.

If they have a good season, the finale against the Packers could be huge. Lions president Tom Lewand appreciates that and apparently so did the NFL schedule makers.

The Lions have no excuses when it comes to the schedule, not like they’ve ever used that excuse.

They open at Tampa Bay where last season they finally snapped that God-awful road losing streak. They play the Packers on Thanksgiving. And they get Christmas day off but playing on Christmas eve.

The only damper on the release of the NFL regular season schedule on Tuesday, is that the season is in jeopardy because of labor issues. Mediation resumed on Tuesday.

Roger Goodell said on TV on Tuesday night that they have every intention of playing every game on the schedule. Perhaps then they should have found a way to reach an agreement with the NFLPA instead of locking out the players.

Here’s a look at the full schedule. — At Tampa Bay Bucs, Sept. 11 — Kansas City Chiefs, Sept. 18 — At Minnesota Vikings, Sept. 25 — At Dallas Cowboys, Oct. 4 — Chicago Bears, Oct. 10, 8:30 p.m. — San Francisco 49ers, Oct. 16 — Atlanta Falcons, Oct. 23 — At Denver Broncos, Oct. 30, 4:05 p.m. — Bye week, Nov. 6 — At Chicago Bears, Nov. 13 — Carolina Panthers, Nov. 20 — Green Bay Packers, Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving) 12:30 p.m. — At New Orleans Saints, Dec. 4 — Minnesota Vikings, Dec. 11 — At Oakland Raiders, Dec. 18, 4:05 p.m. — San Diego Chargers, Dec. 24, 4:05 p.m. — At Green Bay Packers, Jan. 1

(All games at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)

(Follow me on Twitter @PaulaPasche.)