Detroit Lions 2024 schedule: Game-by-game predictions, final record prediction

Week 5: Bye

A bye week this early is not ideal, with 13 straight weeks to follow it.

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys (Oct. 13, 4:25 p.m. ET)

The controversial finish to last year's game, when Lions' left tackle Taylor Decker was ruled ineligible after catching the game-winning two-point conversion, seemed to set this game up for a prime time spot. Both teams now drive viewership like few other teams do, with the Lions joining the Cowboys in that boat, and the league never misses those opportunities. But alas, this will be a late Sunday afternoon game that it feels like FOX protected from being poached to prime time.

The Cowboys have had a notably inactive offseason, defining the term "all-in" in a way only Jerry Jones would. But they are still a pretty good team, and beating them on the road will not be easy.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Lions 24

Week 7: at Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 20, 1 p.m. ET)

The Vikings will either have Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy under center, which will naturally give what should be a much-improved Lions' defense an advantage. Minnesota's defense should be ok, but it does have holes.

Division games always have an extra layer of familiarity/difficulty. But on the "win the ones you're supposed to" angle, the Lions put a mark in the win column here.

Prediction: Lions 26, Vikings 20

Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans (Oct. 27, 1 p.m. ET)

The Titans look like a sneaky team that could rise up this year. But beating their competition in the AFC South and coming in to Detroit and leaving with a win over a legit Super Bowl contender are two very different things. The Lions should have little trouble here, at home against a clearly inferior team. This is an ideal game to have between two divisional road games.

Prediction: Lions, 27, Titans 17

Week 9: at Green Bay Packers (Nov. 3, 4:25 p.m. ET)

A trip to Lambeau Field is always a challenge, even if Lions fans travel well. The Packers are also a playoff team from last year, they gave the eventual NFC champion 49ers a test in a Divisional Round loss and they may be a better team now.

The outdoors and road version of Jared Goff is in play here, even if it may not be a coldest of cold weather games in Green Bay. The Lions may have to overcome their quarterback riding a tightrope between good and bad plays all day long.

Prediction: Packers 27, Lions 23