Soothsaying the Detroit Lions schedule at the start of the season

Detroit Lions home stretch

The final four games have divisional opponents the Minnesota Vikings, in Minneapolis, and a final week seventeen game at home against the Packers. In between, we play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home and have an away game at Mile High Stadium in Denver against the Broncos. Taken in quarters, this quarter of the schedule features games necessary to win the division or finish off a successful bid for the playoffs.

We’re going to pick the Lions to lose in Minneapolis because it’s a tough road game. We are also going to pick them to lose in Denver but we believe that if relatively healthy we will win games like the other two. Wins against Tampa Bay and Green Bay should secure a spot in the postseason and allow the Detroit Lions to finish 10-6 and flip their results from a season ago.

We also realize that injuries do happen and that a few spots, like along the offensive line, for example, an injury to a tackle or any starter other than left guard Kenny Wiggins might cripple the line. The unit hasn’t played well against the defensive lines in the division like when it surrendered nine sacks against the Minnesota Vikings last year.

The linebackers are not deep, either. If linebacker Jarrad Davis misses more time than expected, the Detroit Lions will have trouble matching his speed and production at multiple spots even with rookie Jahlani Tavai there to help. Likewise, the receiver drop-off after starters Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Jr., and Danny Amendola is pretty steep.

Could the Detroit Lions lose more games? Sure. Could they win more games? Also a possibility. We don’t believe that this prediction represents either their ceiling nor is it indicative of their floor which we believe is around six games.

In short, the season has a lot of directions that it can take but the Detroit Lions should be competitive and be in contention for a playoff berth and if they excel they could challenge for the division title, too.