Why Week 6-Week 10 will make or break 2023 season for the Detroit Lions

After having three of their first five games at home, the Detroit Lions will have a tough stretch from Week 6-Week 10.

The Detroit Lions will open the 2023 season on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Sept. 7. Following that game, the Lions will have three of their next four games at home with a road trip to Green Bay for Thursday night in Week 4 mixed in. Looking at those games and the opponents, the Lions could be 4-1 or 3-2 heading into the next stretch of their schedule.

Week 6-Week 10 for the Lions features three road games and a home game, with the bye week mixed in.

The stretch kicks off with a road game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.

On the surface, that should be an easy game for the Lions with Tom Brady retired. But the Buccaneers still have plenty of talent around, and even with the downgrade to Baker Mayfield/Kyle Trask they won’t be a pushover.

Week 7 has the Lions on the road again, against the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is healthy and has his big new contract. They signed Odell Beckham Jr. and drafted Zay Flowers in the first round giving Jackson some new weapons on offense. The Ravens always have a tough defense, and 2023 will be no different.

Week 8 brings the Lions back home for a matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football. This is the “easiest” game of this stretch. It will be the first home prime time game at Ford Field since 2018 against the Jets, which saw the Lions get embarrassed to start the Matt Patricia era.

Week 6-Week 10 could make or break Detroit Lions 2023 season

Week 9 is the bye week, and a much deserved break for the Lions before their final challenge of a critical stetch.

The final game in this pivotal stretch is another road game, against the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. The Chargers are filled with talent on both sides of the ball, though that talent is often sabotaged by failings in coaching.

Week 6-10 could make or break the 2023 season for the Lions. They could easily go 1-3 during that stretch, and find themselves below .500 after nine games. But if they can steal one of those road games and go 2-2, the stage will be better set for a successful season.