WEEK 1 @ GREEN BAY PACKERS
Over the last few years, the Lions have had no trouble beating the Packers on the hollowed fields of Lambeau Field, so this should be a great motivating win to start the season. However, this is no small task as Green Bay is expected to be a respectable playoff contender. Jordan Love is still their face of the franchise and proved that he is capable of leading this team to glory, but the supporting cast around him might indicate a bit of a down year. The good news is that the Packers still have Josh Jacobs, who ran for over 1300 rushing yards. The bad is that their depth at receiver is still lackluster. At least they drafted Matthew Golden in the first round, somebody that can complement the speedster Jayden Reed. Unfortunately, Christian Watson is expected to miss extended time with a knee injury and Romeo Doubs is a really inconsistent receiver. Dontayvion Wicks has also been really disappointing, and if he cannot have a big training camp, he might be a stunning roster cut. Both Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft cannot be the only security blankets Love will have to lean on, but thank goodness that their offensive line gave up the second fewest sacks in the league, so there should be more time for the receivers to get open.
The Packers defense is always a confusing one for me to analyze. Some days, they are above average. Other times, they get exhausted if they are on the field for too long. On paper, they should be decent. Rashan Gary is still an exceptional pass rusher, the rest of the defensive line has plenty of starpower such as Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark, Lukas Van Ness is slowly improving, and there are a few rotational guys that have stepped up as well. The linebacking room lost Eric Wilson in free agency, but they at least still have Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper. However, the secondary is one that I want to keep a close eye on this season now that Jaire Alexander is officially released. Xavier McKinney emerged as one of the top safeties in the league with eight interceptions and Carrington Valentine had his best season yet last year. They shouldn’t be horrible! The problem is that they are too inconsistent.
Last season, the Lions showed that they are on a higher tier of greatness than the Packers by sweeping them in the head-to-head series. This season, I expect Detroit to throw the first punch at Lambeau Field, but I know that we are going to get a tougher fight at Ford Field.
WEEK 2 vs. CHICAGO BEARS
I am excited for this matchup because Ben Johnson will be returning to Detroit to have a chance to beat his former team with a talented team that is finally hoping to turn things around this year. It sounds redundant since we have been saying that about the Bears for a few years, but this time has to be different. Caleb Williams is hoping to take a huge leap into his sophomore season, perhaps proving that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron really was a hack and should not have been the guy to guide him in his rookie year. Entering 2025, the pieces are more and less the same, but they are hoping to improve as well. D’Andre Swift is still a capable running back, DJ Moore is a number one option for any quarterback in the NFL, Cole Kmet is always a serviceable tight end, and Rome Odunze is hoping to make sure that his second year is a breakout one. However, I think that there are definitely a couple of additions that could make a difference. The fact that wide receiver Luther Burden fell to the second round was absolutely shocking because he is an incredible playmaker that can take off after the catch, so this is definitely somebody that Caleb would absolutely dream to have as a teammate. In the first round, the Bears drafted a stunner in tight end Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, but Ben Johnson knew that this guy would fit the Sam LaPorta mold perfectly. Loveland is also going to give Kmet something to think about in training camp, because if he develops in the right direction, then the starting job for tight end is definitely going to change hands at some point in the season. The biggest improvements that Chicago made with their offense revolved around their line. They traded for a four-time champion in All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, made another trade for Jonah Jackson, and signed the best free agent center in Drew Dalman. You pair those three with Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright, that is a solid line. Last year, it was a complete abomination as it gave up the most sacks in the entire NFL, so Johnson is hoping that they make a very quick turnaround.
Despite the Bears defense finishing tenth in takeaways, this unit was average at best. They allowed the sixth most yards in football, ranked sixteenth in both passing and sacks, finished the fifth worst in rushing yards allowed, and placed thirteenth in points given up. I really don’t see Dennis Allen as an upgrade over Matt Eberflus, but he is at least a better coordinator than a head coach. The biggest moves that Chicago made with its defense in free agency is with the defensive line, just to make sure that the identity was not “Montez Sweat or bust.” By the way, he only had 5.5 sacks in 2024. Fortunately, he has a lot more help around him this time. Dayo Odeyingbo got himself a big contract of $48 million over three years, and even though I think they overpaid a tad too much for Grady Jarrett, he is at least a proven pass rusher that might have just needed a change of scenery. What I want to see, though, is the younger guys stepping up. This means that Chris Williams, Austin Booker, and Gervon Dexter are going to need to post bigger numbers. Otherwise, it won’t be long before Ryan Poles sends any one of them to another organization. In the linebacker room, they still have Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards as a rock-solid duo, but they also need to prove that whatever happened last year was just a fluke. The secondary is still an opportunistic unit with a lot of key playmakers. Jaylon Johnson is easily a top three cornerback, Jaquan Brisker is one of the most underappreciated safeties in football when he is on the field, Tyrique Stevenson still has plenty of room to grow, and Kyler Gordon will hope to have a bounce-back year as well. I’m not saying that this defense is going to be great, but if Ben Johnson can get the offense back on track, then there won’t be an overwhelming amount of pressure that they have to drag throughout the season.
Let’s be honest, the Bears should have won the last two matchups at Ford Field, so maybe this is the time they finally get it done with a competent head coach and a transcendent quarterback. I think that now that Johnson is on the other sideline, Chicago is going to be galvanized to beat the giant of the division, but the only way for Detroit to avoid such humiliation is if they do not get in their own way.
WEEK 3 @ BALTIMORE RAVENS
Unfortunately, this is the type of game that I can see the Lions losing. Remember two years ago when they got destroyed by this same Ravens team two years ago? Fast forward to September 22 on Monday Night Football, and neither of them have changed drastically. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason, and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.
Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, then this group will be even more lethal, especially since Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles. To top it off, I think that the safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.
I do not think that this is going to be a blowout, but I believe that because the Ravens are at home, they are going to make a few more plays to ensure victory. The biggest reason why is because I still have several question marks about the Lions defense, but more importantly, I want to see how Jared Goff is going to handle himself against a Ravens defense that has picked him off three times and not allowed him to throw a single touchdown pass.
WEEK 4 vs. CLEVELAND BROWNS
If the Lions truly start off 1-2, then this will be the perfect opportunity to bounce back: a home matchup against a Cleveland Browns team that finds ways to go lower and lower as an organization. This should be an easy win for Detroit for one simple reason: their opposition does not have a quarterback. Unfortunately, this is the type of game that I can see the Lions losing. Remember two years ago when they got destroyed by this same Ravens team two years ago? Fast forward to September 22 on Monday Night Football, and neither of them have changed drastically. Lamar Jackson is a two time MVP for a reason, and if it were not for a certain Josh Allen fellow, then there is no question that he would have won his third. Besides him, the rest of the team has a boatload of talent that should be a championship contender. Derrick Henry proved that not only is he still the King, but he is easily one of the top two running backs in all of football. What I’ve been more impressed with is how well the Ravens opened up the passing game. Zay Flowers has slowly but surely emerged as a number one option and Rashod Bateman has not done too bad as a number two. But now that DeAndre Hopkins has been added to the mix, Lamar will have more than just Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely to lean on as a security blanket. The biggest win of their offseason, in my opinion, was bringing back Ronnie Stanley. He turned more money down to stay with Baltimore, so as long as he stays healthy, he will be a huge investment that will pay off. The interior still gives me some concern, but with Lamar under center, it should not be too huge of a liability.
Hopefully this time, the defense will stay consistent all season long, rather than just wait until the second half of the season to show up. The pass rush has really come alive in the last two years, led by Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, but players like Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have really stepped into the fold in a positive way. The Ravens also drafted Mike Green in the second round, who led the FBS in sacks last year, so it will be interesting to see what type of role he can carve out in Zach Orr’s system. In the second level, there is nothing else to say about Roquan Smith besides the fact that he is the best middle linebacker in the league. Trenton Simpson really stepped up as the right-hand man and those two are why Baltimore allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. What really stepped up in the second half of the season, though, was their secondary. Marlon Humphrey still proved that he was one of the best cover corners in the league, but with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, they exploded and took off. No more Brandon Stephens or Tre’Davious White, but Ar’Darius Washington and Nate Wiggins are expected to have bigger roles in this defense, and I think that safety room will be better with Malaki Starks jumping on as a first round pick.
I do not think that this is going to be a blowout, but I believe that because the Ravens are at home, they are going to make a few more plays to ensure victory. The biggest reason why is because I still have several question marks about the Lions defense, but more importantly, I want to see how Jared Goff is going to handle himself against a Ravens defense that has picked him off three times and not allowed him to throw a single touchdown pass.
If Detroit somehow does not find a way to win this game, then the rest of the NFC North is going to be hysterically elated because they feel that this is the chance for them to take the crown. Make sure you handle your business and do not turn this into a contest, or else this team is going to have serious question marks surrounding them for the rest of the season.
WEEK 5 @ CINCINNATI BENGALS
The history between these two franchises is incredibly one sided. In thirteen matchups against Cincinnati, the Lions have only beaten them three times and have not won a road game since 1992, when Barry Sanders was still the only player keeping that organization relevant. However, this is not going to be a cakewalk for either team. As long as the Bengals offense is fully healthy, this team will be a playoff contender. Even though they missed the playoffs, Joe Burrow threw forty-three touchdowns to just nine interceptions and Ja’Marr Chase was the Triple Crown winner. How many teams can they say they have playmakers like those two? Not to mention that Tee Higgins signed a contract extension to make him the highest paid number two option in football, so Cincinnati’s “Big Three” will be in the Jungle for years to come. But let’s not dismiss some of their other playmakers. Chase Brown stood out with 1000 yards from scrimmage in his sophomore year and is poised for a breakout season, Mike Gesicki signed a small extension to remain the security blanket, and Andrei Iosivas is a stud on the rise as he continues to develop upwards. Hopefully, Jermaine Burton shakes off a dismal rookie season, because the talent he showed in college was truly too good to waste. Yet, the one weak link that always leaves me cautious about this team is their offensive line. Cutting Alex Cappa was a start, but I don’t know if it truly fixed everything. They allowed forty-eight sacks the season before, so even though they have a boatload of talent on the offensive side of the ball, it might be another wasted season if Burrow cannot stay in the pocket.
We all know what is going to hold the Bengals back from making the playoffs and that is their defense. Sure, they let go of Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden. But that side of the ball still has so many flaws and weaknesses. For starters, not only is Trey Hendrickson holding out for a new deal, but so is their first round pick Shemar Stewart! Cincinnati already lost Sam Hubbard due to retirement, so if they lose two of the only guys that will keep this defense relevant, then that is just going to give the secondary even more trouble. Cam Taylor-Britt is probably the only notable player on that unit, but he is another player that has been inconsistent throughout his career. Geno Stone has not been the difference maker the Bengals were expecting, even with a late turnaround. Even their run defense was a massive flaw, although Logan Wilson finished 2024 with over 100 tackles. Maybe Oren Burks can stabilize things since he is a solid rotational piece, but you can only ask but so much.
This is going to be a shootout with both offenses trading points back and forth but this is going to come down to which quarterback will not screw up at the worst possible time. In this particular game, I am trusting that Joe Burrow will be the one to pull the win out for his team in the clutch, especially in his home building.
WEEK 6 @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
It is crazy to think that Jared Goff is one of the only quarterbacks that has not lost a game to Patrick Mahomes in his career. The last time these two guys squared up was in the opening week of the 2023, when Kansas City hung down its Super Bowl Banner, and then proceeded to lose 21-20 on their home field. Granted, they did not have Travis Kelce or Chris Jones in that game, so this will be a huge challenge for the Lions on Sunday Night Football. As much as we want to laugh at the national media for saying that Patrick Mahomes is the GOAT if he wins a third straight Super Bowl, I can understand what started this discussion. The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most dominant dynasties in the league and their quarterback has been the biggest reason why. As long as they have him healthy, they are the class of the AFC. Fortunately for them, the core is still intact. Isaiah Pacheco is one of the angriest running backs in the league and does a better job of getting yards after contact than most other players at his position. They are even bringing Kareem Hunt back, who did a tremendous job in emergency duty when Pacheco got hurt. The passing game will still focus on Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, but Kansas City made sure to keep around Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster as reliable supporting options. There is also tight end Noah Gray, who is arguably the best backup player at his position, with the exception of Isaiah Likely. Yet, that was not the biggest issue with this offense. Surprisingly, it was the offensive line. To fix their drastic need at left tackle, not only did they sign Jaylon Moore in free agency, but drafted Josh Simmons with their first round pick. Joe Thuney unfortunately got traded to Chicago, but the good news was that Kansas City kept Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey. It appears that Mike Caliendo will be the starting left guard and he proved to be a serviceable placeholder, so let’s hope that it will not be a liability once again.
Over the past few seasons, Steve Spagnuolo has slowly but surely turned this defense into one of the best units in all of football. The biggest reason why is because of their front seven, which opens up the blitz and features several key playmakers. Chris Jones is still playing at an elite level, George Karlaftis deserves a huge payday for how tremendous he has been since he arrived, Mike Danna has developed into a bluechip edge rusher, and I cannot wait to see how Felix Anudike-Uzomah does in what should be a breakout year. Their linebacker room is stacked with Drue Tranquill and Nick Bolton plugging up the middle, with Leo Chenal and Jack Cochrane on time when you need the call. The secondary is stacked with younger talent like Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Jaden Hicks, Bryan Cook, and Chamarri Conner. With Kristian Fulton the newest addition, this is a group that can most definitely keep this team in Super Bowl contention.
I know that it is going to be hypocritical of me to say that the Lions cannot beat the Ravens but can beat the Chiefs, but the difference is that Goff has come up huge against one team and has not done enough against the other. I would personally love it if he is the best player in both matchups, so if that is the case, then Detroit has a strong chance of winning.
WEEK 7 vs. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Right before the bye week, the Lions will get to play in another primetime game, this time against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night at Ford Field. These matchups have been extremely fun to watch over the last few years, and after losing to this team in week two, Detroit is hoping for revenge. However, the Bucs are not a team they want to underestimate. It began with Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has done more than his job to make them a respected foe. He might have his third different offensive coordinator in his three years with the team, but I think that as long as the pieces are still there and the system does not change, then it should not be too big of an issue. Bucky Irving emerged as one of the more promising rookie running backs in the league, so any time the passing game does get held in check, then he and Rachaad White can pick up the slack. Say it is the other way around, then you have Mike Evans to worry about, somebody that is essentially guaranteed to total a thousand yards in a season. Chris Godwin is coming back, Jalen McMillan showed tremendous promise as a rookie, and Tampa drafted Emeka Egbuka to round out the receiving room. Their offensive line is also a well-rounded unit that showed improvement towards the second half of the season, but based on Mayfield’s style of play, it is a unit that might give up more sacks than you would like.
My only real concern with the Buccaneers is their defense, which should not be the case with Todd Bowles as the head coach. If you ask me, it is an average unit with a few key stars, but not much else. They have a beast in Vita Vea anchoring the pass rush, Lavonte David still playing at a high level at middle linebacker, and one of the best safeties in the league in Antoine Winfield Jr. However, they allowed the fourth most passing yards out of any other team and their secondary only totaled seven interceptions. I understand that Tampa drafted two corners with their mid-round picks and signed Haason Reddick in free agency, but I don’t believe that those additions moved the needle with this group. Although they have guys they can show up in spurts, Tampa does not have a lot of players that are difference makers, and that is critical if they want to make a deep playoff run.
The last thing I am going to expect is for Detroit to be a below 500 team before the week off with this much talent and a respected coaching staff. With the bright lights shining down and the faithful fans cheering them on, the Lions are going to make sure that everybody is smiling before they go to sleep.
WEEK 8: BYE WEEK
WEEK 9 vs. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Since 2021, when they got their first victory of the season against a Vikings team coached by Mike Zimmer, the Lions have always had the upper hand in Ford Field. Just look at what happened last year, when two fourteen win teams went head-to-head in the regular season finale, and Detroit hammered their opponent 31-9 for the number one seed and the NFC East lead. The storylines surrounding this game are more or less the same. But if Sam Darnold can have that much success with Minnesota last year, then I do not see how JJ McCarthy cannot perform well with essentially the same supporting cast. Let’s start with Justin Jefferson, who is still to this day the best receiver in football. If he gets doubled, then McCarthy will have Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor, along with a trusted security blanket in TJ Hockenson. In the backfield, Aaron Jones does not seem to have lost a step and is still one of the best flexible backs in the league. Their offensive line retooled in the offseason, letting go of their biggest liabilities and replacing them with potential gems. They signed Ryan Kelly and Will Fries in free agency and then drafted Donovan Jackson in the first round, pairing them with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.
Their defense under Brian Flores was one of the more promising units to watch. They led the league in takeaways, allowed the fifth fewest points, tied for fourth in sacks, and gave up the second fewest rushing yards. The only category that this defense did not excel in was their pass defense, but those previous statistics I mentioned prove that this is a “bend but do not break” group. Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel thrived in their first seasons with the team by totaling double-digit sacks, and then they beefed up the trenches with the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Just imagine what happens if Dallas Turner breaks out in his sophomore season. Patrick Jones II unfortunately departed in free agency, but their linebacker corps is still intact with Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman hoping to stabilize things with their run defense. The secondary is where it gets interesting because while they have a deep safety group and a number one corner in Byron Murphy, I do not like that their replacement for Stephon Gilmore was Isaiah Rodgers. Not to mention that their backups are Jeff Okudah and Ambry Thomas. I think that we are going to get more or less the same production from this defense as last year, but it is their quarterback that will be the ultimate X factor.
Divisional matchups are always the hardest to win, but I feel pretty confident that Detroit can handle their business at home. They have been the more dominant team over the past four seasons against Minnesota, so the only way I can believe an upset will take place is if I see it myself.
WEEK 10 @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
For the Commanders, this is just a rematch of the Divisional Round last year. For the Lions, however, this is a revenge match against the team that sent them home in the playoffs. Only this time, both teams will meet each other at Northwest Stadium on a Sunday afternoon stage. Get your popcorn ready because this is going to be a fun spectacle to watch. The biggest reason why Washington is getting all the hype is because their quarterback has emerged as a superstar that lifted them to the conference championship game, so he is hoping that they get further this time around and have a happier ending. The supporting cast around him did not change drastically from last year. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler have been a solid running back tandem, Terry McLaurin is easily one of the more underappreciated receivers in football, they just acquired Deebo Samuel as an extra option, and Zach Ertz returned to being the reliable security blanket that everybody wants in their offense. Washington also made sure to address its offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil, so let’s hope that he is not one of the more penalized tackles in the league this time around. However, it is a group that allowed the seventh most sacks, so it is not like Washington is going to have an unbelievable offense that cannot be stopped. Fortunately, they drafted Josh Connerly Jr. as a future starter at right tackle, so the Commanders made sure to address the two most important positions on that front.
Their defense is a very unique one run by Dan Quinn. They do not have too many household names, but it is a group that is opportunistic and one you do not want to turn the ball over against. Jonathan Allen is gone, but they still have a franchise cornerstone in Da’Ron Payne along with a quality starter in Dorance Armstrong to lead the pass rush. The Commanders are also expecting Jer’Zhawn Newton to take the next step at defensive tackle and even signed Javon Kinlaw to give him a bigger role. Bobby Wagner is still playing at a high level and Frankie Luvu has been more than an exceptional complement to have in the linebacker room, but the secondary is one that I am hoping shows signs of improvement. Hopefully, Marshon Lattimore can have a full and healthy season to remind us why he is still one of the best corners in football. Mike Sainristil will be in the slot and Jonathan Jones is expected to be another outside defender, which is not the most ideal situation, but you at least have proven starters. However, one player that I have high hopes for is safety Quan Martin. He totaled eighty-seven tackles last year and showed up huge in the playoffs, the type of player that Dan Quinn loves to have on a daily basis.
I doubt that the Lions are going to turn the ball over five times nor do I believe that the Commanders are going to blow this team out of the water. If this were in Detroit, I think that they would get their revenge, and I would be happy if they pulled off this upset on the road. However, Washington proved that they have the pieces to take down a team like the Lions, especially if they have Jayden Daniels playing at the level he is at early in his career.
WEEK 11 @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Many thought that this was going to be the NFC Championship, but even if the Lions were not injured on both sides of the ball, I still think the Eagles would have won. Now I won’t be like a bunch of national media pundits and say that Philadelphia is starting a dynasty, but they are the most feared team in the NFC. Jalen Hurts finally got the respect he deserved by winning a championship and the game’s MVP, because when Philadelphia’s best player Saquon Barkley was held in check, it was the quarterback that rose up to the moment and redeemed himself from two years ago. Thankfully, the offense from that season will be back. Saquon is still at the peak prime of his career, the Eagles have one of the best receiving duos featuring AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, but one of the best news of the offseason was that they found a way to keep tight end Dallas Goedert for the foreseeable future. The offensive line has four of its five starters returning, so this offense should still be dominant on paper. The last thing Philadelphia wants, however, is a repeat of what happened two years ago. They might have finished with a winning season and a playoff appearance, but they collapsed after a 10-1 start and got demolished in the Wild Card with two different coordinators than the ones they had in their first Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs.
Thankfully, Vic Fangio will still be in charge of the defense, which means you should not experience a setback any time soon. Even though they lost a ton of pieces in the offseason, Philly is deciding to focus on its youth to keep their repeat chances alive. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be the two key pieces to their defensive line, with assistance from Nolan Smith and perhaps Jalyx Hunt coming around the edge. In the second level, Zack Baun will be the quarterback of the unit as he is coming off of a breakout season, with the confidence that he will come out stronger this year. With help from Nakobe Dean and rookie Jihaad Campbell, I don’t expect that run defense to get worse. The secondary is where it gets really interesting because even though they are still young, both Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean formed into a lethal cornerback tandem. Reed Blankenship has evolved into a legitimate starting safety and Sydney Brown is hoping to reach that level, so there is depth in that group as well. I don’t think that defense will be as dominant as it was the year before, especially since there will be a lot more inexperienced guys being thrusted into starting positions, but then I remember what happened in 2023. When they lost to Kansas City, the Eagles had the best defense in football. One year later, they were one of the worst. It was the biggest reason why Philadelphia fell apart after such a strong start, so my fear is that it could happen again, especially since it will be a younger unit.
Beating the Eagles is already a tall task, but to do it on the road on Sunday Night Football is even tougher. This is going to require all hands on deck for the Lions, not just one particular group. One small setback or mistake could hand Philadelphia all of the momentum in the world.
WEEK 12 vs. NEW YORK GIANTS
This is the point in the season where I think the Lions will stack as many wins as possible to make sure that not only their playoff hopes stay alive, but to ensure that they repeat as champions of the NFC North. They get to play the Giants at home, which is a team that is just in dire straits right now. They signed Russell Wilson, then traded up for Jaxson Dart in the first round. They have a promising running back in Tyrone Tracy, but drafted Cam Skattebo. Malik Nabers is a stud at wide receiver, but the next best options are Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson, both inconsistent in their respective positions. At least Andrew Thomas is coming back to stabilize the offensive line, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position, who knows how many times that group will be set up to fail? One more horrid start and John Mara is cleaning house.
Hopefully, the defense emerges out of the shadows and gives us promising flashes throughout the season. Their pass rush is stacked with the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Dexter Lawrence. They added Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris to solidify that front, but the run defense has been underwhelming with Bobby Okereke and Micah McFadden leading the way. What I am really going to pay attention to is their secondary because the Giants made sure to overhaul it in the offseason. They brought in Paulson Adebo to be their number one corner, signed the best safety in free agency in Jevon Holland to man the deep end, and are hoping for breakout seasons from Andru Phillips and Tyler Nubin. Yet, the biggest disappointment in that group has been Deonte Banks, who has not lived up to the first round pedigree he had as he allowed six touchdowns just last season.
Just like the Cleveland game, this should be one where the Lions win handedly. Otherwise, somebody in the NFC North is going to make this a very interesting race down the stretch. We will just have to find out who it is when that time arrives.
WEEK 13 vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Maybe it is the Green Bay Packers, who once stunned the Lions on Thanksgiving afternoon a couple of years ago and managed to make a playoff appearance on their own. Fast forward to November 27 of 2025 and the Packers have a chance to repeat history. I do not see this series being a sweep like it was last year because I think both teams are too well coached and talented to let that happen. If Detroit wins in Lambeau, then I think the Packers can shock some people at Ford Field, and vice versa.
WEEK 14 vs. DALLAS COWBOYS
One week later, the Lions will hope to bounce back with a Thursday night showdown against the Dallas Cowboys. Last year, Detroit dismantled “America’s Team” at AT&T Stadium 47-9. From their perspective, they are hoping to make sure that they do not take their foot off the gas, while the Cowboys are trying to prove that this is a different team from years past. However, I just do not see it. So many of their fans think that they will be a lot better than advertised, but I seriously cannot see how. Dak Prescott is coming back, that is always a great sign. CeeDee Lamb is one of the best receivers in the league, that definitely helps. Micah Parsons, given that he gets his contract extension, is absolutely one of the more unstoppable defensive players in the league. But what do these three have around them? Rico Dowdle left in free agency, which means the only running backs are Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. One of them has not been the same since a season ending injury he suffered a few years ago and another was proved to be nothing more than a system back for the Eagles. The passing game was already reliable with Jake Ferguson and Jalen Tolbert, but acquiring George Pickens was definitely a high-risk and high-reward move. He is extremely talented, but the biggest red flag is that he had character and maturity issues in Pittsburgh, so I really do not know if this was the best change of scenery. The potential is there and I think he and CeeDee form a strong duo on paper, but I need to see how they gel together before I can come to a final conclusion. Fortunately, the offensive line is never an aspect I have to worry about. They drafted Tyler Booker in the first round to replace the recently retired Zach Martin and complement Tyler Smith, their tackles Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele are hoping to improve in 2025, and Cooper Beebe had a strong rookie season at center. With Dak under center, I doubt they will be a top ten offense, but they should be a productive unit against certain opponents. But when it comes to top tier teams, they do not always show up, so that needs to change if they truly want this year to be different.
With Matt Eberflus as the new defensive coordinator, I already know what I am going to get. There will be some games where they make tremendous strides, but then others where they are on their heels way too often. Yes they have Micah and Osa Odighizuwa on the defensive line, they brought back Dante Fowler, Marshawn Kneeland is on the rise, and Sam Williams is returning from injury to step in for DeMarvion Overshown. Yet, I am not exactly confident that Kenneth Murray or Jack Sanborn are going to fix a run defense that was below average last year. Trevon Diggs struggled to return from injury and DaRon Bland is essentially the same type of player, so I don’t have the highest faith in those two as the starting corners despite the fact that they have exceptional hands. I don’t need to worry about the safety room because it already has a ton of depth, but when Dallas cannot generate any pressure, then they better make a ton of plays.
We are entering December, which means the Lions cannot afford to lose any more games for the rest of the year. This is the chance for them to prove that this is finally the year that they are going on a deep playoff run and it needs to start with a home win over Dallas.
WEEK 15 @ LOS ANGELES RAMS
In this particular matchup, I would pick the Rams because the Lions have not won a road game against this team since 1993. However, Jared Goff has won his last two matchups against Matthew Stafford, the previous franchise savior. Either way, we are getting a grudge match that is going down to the wire. LA has always been a consistent playoff contender under Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. Their offense has always been their bread and butter, regardless of the different pieces they had over the years. Kyren Williams is a touchdown machine just like a certain man named Todd Gurley. The Rams have one of the best young receivers in the league in Puka Nacua, and while the Cooper Kupp era unfortunately had to come to an end, it is not terrible getting Davante Adams as a consolation prize. I personally thought it was a bummer that Demarcus Robinson departed in free agency, but knowing Sean McVay, there are going to be at least a couple guys that will carve out bigger roles. My guesses are Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell. Unfortunately, Tyler Higbee is not the same tight end that he once was, but I think both Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have a strong chance of stealing the starting spot at some point in the season. Their offensive line gave up the sixth fewest sacks in the league, so if you are a team that does not have a scary pass rush, then it might take a while before you actually get to the quarterback.
Their defense has a boatload of playmakers, but I still feel like there is a lot of room for improvement. Braden Fiske and Jared Verse made instant impacts in their rookie seasons, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young showed the young guys how it was done. Their biggest loss was letting Christian Rozeboom walk away in free agency because they do not really have anybody else that could replace him. Hopefully, the secondary could ease things for the time being. Derion Kendrick is coming back from injury and Darious Williams is back, but this group proved that there were plenty of guys that successfully adopted the “next man up” mentality. Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough thrived in the safety positions, while Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant might have found a new home. It is not the most explosive defense, but they are hungry for blood, a group that is not afraid to get nasty when things get difficult.
Last year, the Rams proved that they can beat more than a few teams that have championship aspirations. However, they lost to Detroit over the last couple of seasons, so they have more to prove in this matchups. Like many other games, the Lions cannot afford to make that one mistake to turn the momentum around, or else the best they can hope for is a spot as a road Wild Card team.
WEEK 16 vs. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Unfortunately, the Lions do not get to play at home on Christmas, but they are hoping to celebrate early if they beat a former friend in Aaron Rodgers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I remember when these two teams played each other in Pittsburgh four years ago and it ended with a tie with Jared Goff and Mason Rudolph as the two starting quarterbacks. Even though I do not think we are going to get the same outcome, I will not be surprised if this goes to overtime. Najee Harris is gone, but Jaylen Warren has always been a huge focal point of this offense, and I think rookie Kaleb Johnson could mold in well with Arthur Smith’s system. George Pickens got traded, yet DK Metcalf is always a receiver that any quarterback would love to have. Hopefully, he shows more consistency in his play because he is incredibly athletic and physical, but you do not see it as often as you would hope. Pat Freiermuth is always a serviceable security blanket, Calvin Austin shows plenty of flashes with his speed, and Roman Wilson is trying to bounce back after an injury-riddled rookie year. However, the offensive line brings up a lot of concerns as they allowed the ninth most sacks in the NFL. Dan Moore Jr. left in free agency, which will make Troy Fautanu and Broderick Jones the two startling tackles for the season, so let’s see if that is a move that will pay off over time.
Whether the Steelers make the playoffs or not, I seriously doubt that defense is going to regress. That is if TJ Watt clears up whatever issues he might have with the front office. Otherwise, they are screwed. As much as I love guys like Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward, they will not have a pass rush without the former Defensive Player of the Year. We can only hope that rookie Derrick Harmon can have an instant impact on that line because that would be absolutely critical. The linebacking room is a deep one per usual, and I think it will get even stronger with Jack Sawyer as a late draft addition, but I hope they do not wear down like they did last year before. As for the secondary, it is also a well respected group that just got stronger. Darius Slay might not be the corner that he was in his prime but he can still play at a high level and complement a shutdown beast in Joey Porter Jr. The same goes with safety Juan Thornhill to help out Minkah Fitzpatrick. They will be the biggest reason why this Steelers team is competitive, but if their offense is near the bottom of the dumpster, then it is going to be an exhausted group as the season progresses.
Because this game is at Ford Field, I do not see how the Lions cannot be favored to win. It is going to be a low-scoring matchup, in my opinion, but I trust the cohesiveness and chemistry that Detroit’s offense has to pay off in the waning moments more than a Steelers that has yet to figure out what they have with Aaro Rodgers.
WEEK 17 @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS
The Lions will get to play on the most festive holiday of the year, but it will be on the road against Minnesota. This is the type of matchup that Detroit has not lost in the last couple of years so unless JJ McCarthy turns into the best quarterback the team has ever had, then I think the Lions will make a few more plays down the stretch to hold on for victory.
WEEK 18 @ CHICAGO BEARS
If the Bears somehow beat the Lions on the road, then there is no question that this series is going to split at Soldier Field. As a result of this victory, Detroit should clinch the NFC North once again, but where they are seeded in the playoff picture will be very interesting to find out.
FINAL RECORD PREDICTION: 11-6
