With three of their first four games away from home and two of the last three on the road, the Detroit Lions will have plenty of home games in the midst of their 2010 schedule.

The National Football League has announced game times and dates for the upcoming season. Detroit will play five out of seven games after its bye at home, with plenty of road contests early and late.

The season starts Sept. 12 at Chicago, followed by the home opener Sept. 19 against Philadelphia. The next two weeks are road games against playoff teams, at Minnesota and at Green Bay. A home game with St. Louis and a road trip to play the New York Giants take the Lions to their bye week on Oct. 24.

Starting Oct. 31, the Lions will play five home games in a seven-game span. It starts with two home games, against Washington and the New York Jets. After consecutive road games at Buffalo and at Dallas, the Lions play host to New England in the annual Thanksgiving Day game at home. Home games with Chicago and Green Bay follow.

Detroit plays two road games in a row in late December, at Tampa Bay and at Miami, before wrapping up the season Jan. 2 at home against Minnesota.

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The team has high hopes for Smith, but it remains to be seen how he will come back from the injury.

Smith said his leg is feeling good and that he thinks his rehab is right on schedule. The only thing he can’t do yet is run.

The Lions still don’t know exactly when Smith will be able to get back out on the field, so his situation remains up in the air.

It is likely that team will look to draft a running back next month or try to sign a veteran free agent.

The Lions had been looking for another quarterback to serve as a backup to starter Matthew Stafford.

There had been talk that the Lions might decide to use a draft pick to bring someone else in, but Hill popped up on the radar screen.

Hill is certainly a very solid backup, having seen significant time with the Minnesota Vikings and 49ers.

He was at one time considered to be the potential franchise quarterback in San Francisco, so he should serve well in a backup role.

There won’t be any questions about whether or not the Detroit Lions will post another winless season this time around.

The Lions won twice in 2009, after posting a dreadful 0-16 mark in 2008. How will they do in 2010? Who knows, but at least we know the eight home games and the eight road games that will make up Detroit’s 2010 slate. The National Football League will announce dates and times at a later date.

Per tradition, Detroit will play host to a Thanksgiving game at Ford Field, against either the New York Jets (who reached the AFC championship game) or the New England Patriots (the AFC East champion).

The toughest part of Detroit’s slate will be at home, as five of the eight teams visiting Detroit this season qualified for the 2009 playoffs. Detroit also plays host to playoff teams Philadelphia, Green Bay, and NFC runner-up Minnesota. The other three home games are against Chicago, Washington and St. Louis.

The road schedule is marked by games against playoff teams Minnesota, Green Bay and Dallas. Detroit also will visit Chicago, the New York Giants, Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Miami. Of the eight road games, six are against teams that won seven or more games last season.

The Lions’ 2010 schedule is ranked tied for 12th, based on opponents’ 2009 win percentage.

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