Here’s a look at the entire Detroit Lions 2023 regular season schedule, with a prediction for each game.
After winning eight of their last 10 games last season, and finishing above .500 for the first time since 2017, the Detroit Lions are on the rise and the prohibitive favorites to win the NFC North in 2023.
The Lions had no scheduled prime time games last year, though they played Week 18 Sunday Night Football in what turned out to be Aaron Rodgers’ last game with the Green Bay Packers. That lack of primetime games will not continue this year.
We already knew who the Lions will play in 2023, we just didn’t know when they’d play them or when the bye week will be until the league’s full schedule announcement Thursday night.
Via ESPN’s Adam Schefter, here are some new things to note about this year’s schedule as a whole.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1655674005263622197?s=20
Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions 2023 regular season schedule, followed by a prediction for each game
- Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 4: at Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
- Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Monday Night Football)
- Week 9: Bye
- Week 10: at Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
- Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers (Thanksgiving)
- Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
- Week 14: at Chicago Bears
- Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings
- Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys (Saturday night)
- Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Detroit Lions 2023 regular season schedule: Game-by-game predictions
Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs (Thursday Night Football, Sept. 7)
The Lions will make their first trip to Arrowhead Stadium since 2003, to face the defending Super Bowl champions on the big stage of the 2023 season opener. It will obviously be a massive test, against one of the best teams in the NFL in one of the league’s toughest road environments.
Why the Lions for the Thursday night opener? On “The Dan Patrick Show” Thursday, NFL vice president of broadcasting Onnie Bose was clear about it.
"We really like that narrative around that team. As you well know, the culture that they’re building there, the way they finished that season — eight wins out of their last nine or 10 games. Last time we saw them on national television was the last game, game 272 of the regular season, and they were beating the Packers in Lambeau to keep Aaron Rodgers out of the playoffs. We really like that,” “There’s a lot of energy there, and we feel really good about starting the season with that energy against the Super Bowl champs.”"
There are no “moral victories”, but having the Chiefs not beat you by two or three scores might be marked as one for the Lions. I just can’t quite get to predicting a big upset here, but if you have to play the Chiefs Week 1 is as good a time as any. Get it out of the way, and move on.
Prediction: Chiefs 30, Lions 21 (0-1)
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, Sept. 17)
A loss to the Seahawks early last season wound up being a pivotal game for the final NFC Wild Card spot as the Lions had their closing run to finish the season. So there’s a revenge angle here, particularly as the Lions look to forget about an awful defensive showing against Seattle last year.
This should be an exciting back and forth early-season game between two playoff-caliber teams. But the Seahawks leave Ford Field with a narrow win for the second straight year.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Lions 26 (0-2)
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, Sept. 24)
The Falcons could be sneaky good this year, with a real effort to make their defense better in the offseason in particular. But it’s hard to get around the notion that Arthur Smith is ill-equipped to be a head coach, and with decisions he makes he’ll tamp down the ceiling for the team.
I’m going to be beating a dead horse, over and over again here. But the Falcons are a team the Lions should solidly beat if they’re as good it looks like they should be, and they have the better head coach too. A solid mark in the win column here, to get things rolling in the right direction for Detroit.
Prediction: Lions 25, Falcons 14 (1-2)
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football, Sept. 28)
Playing on Thursday night for the second time in four games, the Lions are the first team subjected to the new “can play twice on Thursday Night Football” thing.
The Packers are entering the Jordan Love Era, with a lot of unknown due to his sitting behind Aaron Rodgers. Over the last couple seasons, the Lions were competitive against the Packers with Rodgers under center and they swept Green Bay last year.
The Lions can set a tone for the rest of the season, and send a message to the rest of the NFC North, by beating the Packers on the Thursday night stage at Lambeau Field.
Prediction: Lions 24, Packers 13 (2-2)
Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers (Sunday, Oct. 8)
The Lions were undressed by the Panthers ground game last Christmas Eve, especially early in the game, and it wound up being a critical loss for them in terms of making the playoffs.
The Panthers have changed head coaches (Frank Reich) and quarterbacks (Bryce Young) this year. What that will mean for their record is to be determined, but more broadly they are a solid team top-to-bottom.
I said solid, not necessarily really good. The Lions take this one at home over a Panthers team that is incredibly beatable, to extend their win streak to three.
Prediction: Lions 24, Panthers 17 (3-2)
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, Oct. 15)
The post-Tom Brady Buccaneers are very vulnerable, with Baker Mayfield stepping in under center. On the road to the late-summer/early fall humidity in Florida is always a tough challenge for teams that aren’t use to it, but the Lions are simply the better team here and the Buccaneers are just not equipped to beat them.
Four in a row for the Lions as they take full advantage of a soft part in the schedule.
Prediction: Lions 20, Buccaneers 14 (4-2)
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens (Oct. 22)
The last time the Lions played the Ravens, Week 3 of the 2021 season at Ford Field, it took a late-game defensive breakdown and a 66-yard field goal by Justin Tucker for Baltimore to escape with a win.
The Lions are clearly a far better team now then they were back then, that’s not breaking any news. But the Ravens might be a little better too, if their offseason additions around Lamar Jackson work out. On the road, outdoors against a good team that plays like as physically as the Ravens do is never an easy bargain.
The Lions are largely up to the task of trying to pull a road upset here, as Jameson Williams makes his season debut. But they ultimately fall a little short.
Prediction: Ravens 26, Lions 20 (4-3)
Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Oct. 30, Monday Night Football)
Another prime time game for the Lions, this time on a Monday night, Halloween Eve and at home.
The Raiders have changed quarterbacks, from Derek Carr to Jimmy Garoppolo, and they may be a bit better this year in a broad sense. But they are beatable until further notice.
If the Lions are going to meet expectations in 2023 this is the kind of game, at home as mentioned and regardless of the prime time stage, that you have to, to borrow from legendary Raiders owner Al Davis, “Just win, baby.”
Five wins in six games. Who even remembers the 0-2 start now?
Prediction: Lions 27, Raiders 17 (5-3)
Week 9: Bye
Rather than having a short week coming off a Monday night game, the Lions get a bye.
Week 10: at Los Angeles Chargers (Nov. 12)
West Coast trips can be difficult regardless of opponent, and the Lions get a double challenge here. The Chargers have a top-tier quarterback in Justin Herbert, and a new offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore) that should be able to fully unleash him. And there are plenty of weapons around Herbert, and a talented Chargers’ defense on the other side of the ball.
This game has the potential to be very high-scoring and fun to watch. But the Lions fall just short in another tough road game.
Prediction: Chargers 34, Lions 28 (5-4)
Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears (Nov. 19)
The first matchup against the Bears for the 2023 season comes the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and the Lions will be at home heading into a short week as a residual benefit. The Bears are on a better track, but that may not translate to a lot more wins as they try to take a step forward this year.
It might be easy to overlook the Bears, ahead of a short week and the big Thanksgiving Day game. But we know Dan Campbell will not allow that to happen, and the Lions take care of business against an inferior team. A nice win to get back on track here.
Prediction: Lions 34, Bears 17 (6-4)
Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers (Thanksgiving, Nov. 23)
The Lions haven’t played the Packers on Thanksgiving since 2013, but this will be the 22nd time the two have played on the holiday–the most between any two teams on Thanksgiving.
Any progress Jordan Love has made, or lack thereof, should be more evident at this point than it was back in Week 4. Who the Lions are will also be clear by now, as the critical stretch run of the season launchs here.
If the Lions are going to lose a division game this season, this could be the most likely one….
Prediction: Lions 23, Packers 20 (7-4)
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints (Dec. 3)
The Saints, even with Derek Carr under center as a theoretical upgrade, feel like the type of team that will ultimately land with 6-9 wins this season. Top to bottom, the Lions should be shown as the superior team by this point in the season.
The Saints will be plenty ready to go at home in a racous road environment. But the Lions ultimately take charge late, and go back to Detroit with a smooth-looking victory over Jamaal Williams’ new team.
Prediction: Lions 29, Saints 14 (8-4)
Week 14: at Chicago Bears (Dec. 10)
The Lions’ second time facing the Bears in a four-week span, this time on the road with rough weather possibly (likely) a factor at Soldier Field in December.
But this, as is the common theme throughout this list of predictions, is a game the Lions win if they are the team we think they are this year. The Bears are competitive for most of this game, but they can’t quite get it done and the Lions seal the deal late with some timely plays.
Prediction: Lions 31, Bears 21 (9-4)
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos (TBD)
The Broncos can only be better offensively in Russell Wilson’s second season, and with Sean Payton in place they have a credible head coach.
The challenge here for the Lions might be an intangible one, rooted on the sideline. Head coach Dan Campbell has been open about his close relationship with Payton, going back to his time as a player when Payton was an assistant coach and continuing through his time on Payton’s staff in New Orleans.
Not that “MC-DC” won’t be solely focused on beating his mentor, or distracted in any way in preparing his team. But players may be extra motivated to beat their head coach’s mentor and friend–to the point of doing things that aren’t smart on the field.
Losing to the Broncos at home would certainly be a pretty surprising setback for the Lions. But there is one like this every year, for nearly every team, and here’s Detroit’s for 2023 at a less than ideal time.
Prediction: Broncos 23, Lions 17 (9-5)
Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings (Christmas Eve, Dec. 24)
It’ll be a Christmas eve NFC North battle, and a very late first game of the season for the Lions against the division rival Vikings.
U.S. Bank Stadium is a very tough road environment. But that really has not phased the Lions the last two seasons, with two narrow losses they truly found a way to give to the Vikings in both cases.
If the Lions can avoid critical mistakes, and Dan Campbell keeps his foot on the gas pedal when/if it’s warranted, a critical win over the Vikings on the road can be had to make it a Merry Christmas in the Motor City.
Prediction: Lions 24, Vikings 20 (10-5)
Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys (Saturday, Dec. 30)
The Lions had the Cowboys on the ropes on the road last year, as they carried a lead into halftime before being outscored 21-0 in the second half. But five turnovers, four in the second half, were too much to overcome.
Another trip to Arlington comes here, and the Cowboys are still one of the more sheerly talented teams in the NFC and really the entire league. The Lions go home with a loss in their fourth prime time game of the season, however narrowly.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Lions 21 (10-6)
Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings (TBD)
The Lions finish the season at home, playing the Vikings for the second time in three weeks in a unique schedule quirk. This game could be for the division title/playoff positioning, or it may mean something for one team and not the other. It’s unlikely to mean nothing for both teams.
Are the Lions playing for something in Week 18? Sealing up their first division title since 1993 with a win? A win to boost their playoff seed/dictate a Wild Card matchup? I say they are. A season sweep of the Vikings locks up the NFC North title (if it’s in doubt) and a home playoff game is coming to Detroit.
Prediction: Lions 24, Vikings 20 (11-6)