The Detroit Lions have a pretty tough schedule this year, tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the 5th hardest strength of schedule at .525.
Here is an analysis of every game and what each of them will probably mean for us.
(The team I predict to win will be italicized and underlined.)
Week 1: Lions V.S. Bears; 1:00 PM
I see the Lions taking game 1 against the Bears. It’s a home game, and the Lions will most likely have most or all of their key players, and show what they are capable of doing this season.
Week 2: Lions @ Packers; 1:00 PM
The chances of Detroit winning at Green Bay are very slim. Especially with what happened last year, (the controversial two hands to the face calls on Trey Flowers + others), I see the Lions getting off to a fast start and then losing the lead in the 3rd or 4th quarter.
Week 3: Lions @ Cardinals; 4:25 PM
The Cardinals might be decent this year, with a seasoned Kyler Murray from his first season in the NFL. I think Detroit will underestimate them and get taken down on the road after a tough defeat at Green Bay.
Week 4: Lions V.S. Saints; 1:00 PM
Detroit will be the underdog here, but almost every year they pull off a surprise victory nobody expects out of them, and I think this game will be it for Detroit.
Week 5: BYE
This is a pretty unfortunate time to have a bye, coming off of a motivating win against New Orleans, (assuming they win that game), and because you’ll have to play 11 games in a row going into Wild Card Weekend if they make it with the new format.
Week 6: Lions @ Jaguars; 1:00 PM
Coming off of the bye, the Lions will be rested up and ready to take on the Jaguars. It’s a road game, but Detroit should be able to pull this off.
Week 7: Lions @ Falcons; 1:00 PM
This game should be one of the more entertaining all season. Two teams with around the same talent level and both probably having a similar record at this point in the season. However, Detroit will narrowly lose this one.
Week 8: Lions V.S. Colts; 1:00 PM
This will be a much-needed win for the Lions at this point in the season, bumping their record up to 4-3, but they’ll have lots of work to do if they want to make the playoffs.
Week 9: Lions @ Vikings; 1:00 PM
The travel will get the best of the Lions here, as well as their yearly injury problems. The Lions will take an L by 1.5-2 touchdowns, and then go home hoping to regain some confidence.
Week 10: Lions V.S. Redskins; 1:00 PM
Talk about a much-needed game, after playing four hard games in a row, probably with injuries, a win against the Redskins would be huge here. While a 5-4 record is not a playoff-caliber record, it sparks hope in Detroit.
Week 11: Lions @ Panthers; 1:00 PM
After a win against the Redskins at home, the Lions should be able to beat the Panthers, who are projected to be near the bottom of the NFL next season.
Week 12: Lions V.S. Texans; 12:30 PM
Thanksgiving. The Lions haven’t had a good track record lately when it comes to their yearly Thursday afternoon game, but I feel like this is a game where Stafford will carry the team on his back.
7-4 will make the fans happy, and give the team much-needed confidence going into the rest of the season.
Week 13: Lions @ Bears; 1:00 PM
In my opinion the Lions are a better team than Chicago, but this is a game where the Lions will be worn out. It’ll be a low-scoring game, but the Bears will win this matchup at home.
Week 14: Lions V.S. Packers; 1:00 PM
Detroit will be seeking revenge, and that is what they are going to get. With loud fans in their home stadium of Ford Field and many more watching from home, the Lions will feel resentful towards Green Bay from their loss from earlier in the season and win this game.
Week 15: Lions @ Titans; TBD
I have the Titans winning this game with a healthy roster, but if Derrick Henry is injured, the Lions should win this game. However, since Henry will likely be healthy, a win here is not probable.
Week 16: Lions V.S. Buccaneers; TBD
Tom Brady, Gronk, and Godwin will be too much for the Lions defense after getting “beaten and bruised” by Derrick Henry the game before.
Week 17: Lions V.S. Vikings; 1:00 PM
8-7, and the pressure is on. If they win, they might snag the 7th seed in the NFC, if not, they’re out of the playoffs for the 3rd straight season under Matt Patricia. They take this game.
Do they make the playoffs? That’s up to how other teams play in the conference since a division title will be very unlikely.
(All times Eastern.)
Photo Credit: Tom Fuller / USA Today Sports
