Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills (Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m. ET)
The Bills had a bit of a roster reset this offseason, most notably trading wide receiver Stefon Diggs. But they still have a ton of talent, led by one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen.
A 2022 Thanksgiving Day game against the Bills, albeit a close loss, showed the Lions they could compete with good teams as they had an 8-2 run to close that season. The rematch, now that they're a fully-formed good team and a Super Bowl contender, should be a great game in a late Sunday afternoon nationally-televised window.
Prediction: Bills 27, Lions 24
Week 16: at Chicago Bears (Dec. 22, 1 p.m. ET)
The aforementioned "road and outdoors" version of Jared Goff is in play here again, except this will most surely be a cold weather game in Chicago. Goff's track record against the Bears is also pretty dismal, across both teams he has played for, and arguably his two worst games last season came against them.
This game feels really ripe for a Lions' letdown.....but good teams avoid these kind of letdowns, even if the game is ugly/lackluster for the most important player on their offense.
Prediction: Lions 20, Bears 14
Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers (Dec. 30, 8:15 p.m. ET-Monday Night Football)
The rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game was another no-brainer for the league to put in prime time, and the Lions get another Monday night game. Being this late in the season, the stakes for NFC playoff seeding are set up to be very high for both teams.
The 49ers are the reigning kings of the NFC until someone knocks them off in the playoffs. The Lions could send a message for a possible playoff rematch by coming in and finishing the job this time.....
Prediction: 49ers 26, Lions 20
Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings (Jan. 5, 2025-TBD)
The biggest question might be how meaningful this game is for each team. But Dan Campbell is not one to rest starters, as shown in last year's regular season finale with a very small percentage chance for a better playoff seed even with a win. So shy of a blow out one way or the other, and maybe not even then based on more evidence from last season, Lions' starters will play this whole game no matter what is or isn't at stake.
The Vikings could need a win in the regular season finale for their own playoff candidacy. Failing that, playing some kind of spoiler for the Lions if that's in play should keep them engaged.
Prediction: Lions 24, Vikings 20
The Lions are scheduled for five prime time games, two Sunday night, two Monday night and one Thursday night, and nine nationally televised games counting Thanksgiving and three late-afternoon Sunday games (at Cowboys, at Packers, vs. Bills). But let's get to the bottom line here.