Chargers vs. Lions Face Off Tonight in 2025 NFL Hall of Fame Game — Start Time, Live Stream & Must-Watch Storylines

The NFL is officially back tonight as the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers open the 2025 preseason in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock and NFL+—the first live football since the Eagles lifted the Lombardi five months ago. Why this game matters • Extra reps: The Lions and Chargers are the only clubs that will play four preseason contests, giving roster-bubble players a bonus audition in front of coaches and scouts nationwide. • Hall of Fame spotlight: The matchup headlines Enshrinement Week, which will honor Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Gates, Jared Allen and Eric Allen on Saturday, drawing extra eyes to Canton. • Coaching debuts: Detroit’s new coordinators—OC John Morton and DC Kelvin Sheppard—get their first live test after Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn left for head-coaching jobs. Key storylines to watch 1. Herbert vs. Harbaugh’s new weapons Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants Justin Herbert’s supporting cast to “get up to his level.” First-round running back Omarion Hampton and second-round receiver Tre Harris will see extended snaps as veterans sit, offering a glimpse of L.A.’s retooled offense. 2. Lions youth movement up front Four-time Pro Bowler Frank Ragnow abruptly retired in June, leaving rookie Tate Ratledge and veteran Graham Glasgow battling at center. Their first live reps come against a Chargers front that tied for fifth in sacks last year, making the pivot spot Detroit’s top camp question. 3. Aidan Hutchinson’s return from injury The hometown pass-rusher broke his leg last December but is cleared for camp. Even a cameo series will reassure Lions fans that their Defensive Player of the Year candidate is on track for Week 1. 4. Bubble battles on defense L.A.’s seventh-round DB Trikweze Bridges and UDFA quarterback DJ Uiagalelei headline the Chargers’ “last-five-in” competition, while Detroit’s undrafted wideout Jackson Meeks tries to replicate Isaiah Williams’ surprise roster spot from a year ago. 5. How to watch and odds NBC’s national telecast begins at 7 p.m. ET with Football Night in America; streaming is available on Peacock and NFL+ (mobile only). Early betting lines favor Detroit by 1.5 points, with the total at 34, reflecting the typical low-scoring nature of preseason openers. Training-camp ripple effect Tonight’s game sets the tone for league-wide camp battles. Every team officially reports by August 3, but the Lions and Chargers have already been in pads for a week, giving them a developmental head start. For Detroit, smoothing out the offensive-line shuffle and syncing Morton’s scheme with Jared Goff could be the difference in a division that now features innovative play-callers in Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago. For L.A., Harbaugh’s smash-mouth blueprint hinges on proving his rookie skill players can complement Herbert before Week 1. SEO takeaway Fans searching for “NFL preseason 2025,” “Hall of Fame Game time,” “Chargers vs Lions how to watch,” or “NFL training-camp battles” will find answers here—plus context on rookie debuts, coaching changes and roster spots at stake as the league’s 106th season kicks off in Canton.