The Detroit Lions have made a breakthrough.

No, we don’t have any guarantee quarterback Matthew Stafford will stay on the field for more than half of the 2011 season.

But the Lions, who have spent most of the last decade in the cellar of the NFC North/Central, are going prime time. Sort of. The Lions have been selected to host the New England Patriots on Saturday, Aug. 27 in a preseason game that will be nationally broadcast on CBS.

As Tom “Killer” Kowalski of MLive.com points out, the Lions have not been on prime time in the regular season in nine consecutive years. Of course, this appearance is contingent upon there being a preseason.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz has said he will be “jacked as hell” if the Lions get a prime time game during the regular season. The NFL is expected to release the regular season slate later this month.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune