There’s just one more week before the Detroit Lions wrap up training camp and head into the 2025 season. So here’s our chance to take what we’ve learned from free agency, the draft, the schedule release, OTAs, training camp, and the preseason and make a final record prediction. Here’s what we came up with:

Week 1 At Packers

Starting the season off at Green Bay is significant because it means the Lions won’t end the season in the freezing cold at Lambeau. This will be the first big test for the Packers’ new receiving corps, and we believe they will have a rough time against the Lions’ strong secondary, which is looking even better than it did last year.

Record: 1-0

Week 2 vs Bears

This is the game everyone wants to see. This will be the first time Ben Johnson returns to Ford Field since the loss against the Commanders in the divisional round. There may be some boos for sure. The Bears’ offense looked pretty good against the Bills’ second and third-string players the other night, but that won’t hide all the problems we’ve seen them have this summer. Lions win back-to-back.

Record: 2-0

Week 3 at Ravens

I would bet my life savings that the Lions have this game circled on their calendar. That 2023 beatdown just can’t go unavenged. It won’t be easy to stop Lamar Jackson, and they probably won’t, but the Lions still win this game after a shootout. 

Record: 3-0

Week 4 vs Browns

The Lions didn’t get Myles Garrett, but they get to play against him, so there’s that. Looks like it’s Joe Flacco for the Browns this season. This team is certainly an interesting one, but they’re not a good one.

Record: 4-0

Week 5 at Bengals

This should be a fun game with all the offensive weapons on the field, but at the end of the day, we have to go with the team that has the better defense, and that’s the Lions. On top of that, Joe Burrow was running for his life with that offensive line the other night. Aidan Hutchinson could eat in this game.

Record: 5-0

Week 6 at Chiefs

The Lions went into Arrowhead to start the 2023 season and beat the Chiefs, who had just won the Super Bowl the previous February. That’s a hard thing to do more than once, and we’ve got to go with our gut on this one. The Chiefs beat Detroit at home. I know, it sucks. 

Record: 5-1

Week 7 vs Buccaneers

The Lions just weren’t themselves in this game last year. It’s like they overthought the approach and wound up paying for it. This time they’ll have them in town for Monday night, and this time they’ll be themselves. It’s time for more revenge.

Record: 6-1

Week 9 vs Vikings

The Lions went undefeated in the NFC North last year, which was impressive, but it’s even harder to do twice. Even for the good teams. The Vikings always give the Lions some amount of trouble, and we think they’ll give them just enough to sneak out of Detroit with a win.

Record: 6-2

Week 10 at Commanders

The Lions who played that divisional round game in January were not the actual Lions. They were a shell of what that team was before the injuries. The Lions can beat this young team, and we think they’ve got this one circled on their calendars.

Record: 7-2

Week 11 at Eagles

We talked about it already, back in 2023, the Lions walked into the Super Bowl champs’ building and beat them. It happens again in 2025. The Lions beat the Eagles at the Linc.

Record: 8-2

Week 12 vs Giants

The Giants will be an up-and-coming team in 2025, so this could be a fun one. New York reminds me of that 2022 Lions team that snuck up on everybody. Sometimes the best teams get snuck up on, and if we have to give a sneaky win away, we’re giving it to New York. We still think Jaxson Dart is the QB1 from this year’s draft.

Record: 8-3

Week 13 vs Packers

Yeah, the Lions beat the Packers twice last year, but this is still a revenge game from the last time these two teams played on Thanksgiving in 2023. The Lions are pretty good at getting revenge. They get it again this time. This makes two wins over the Packers, and everyone is happy.

Record: 9-3

Week 14 vs Cowboys

It’s Lions vs. Cowboys again for what feels like the 28th year in a row. At least the Lions will get home-field advantage this time. Detroit got its revenge last year by dropping a 40 burger on Dallas, but it’s not done yet. It gets a primetime win at home this time.

Record: 10-3

Week 15 at Rams

The Lions have played the Rams three times since the Jared Goff/Matthew Stafford trade. The Lions have won the last two. I know the Stafford back stuff might make everyone think this team is done, but they’re still dangerous, and you can’t count them out. They get the win over the Lions and even the series. 

Record: 10-4

Week 16 vs Steelers

Having Aaron Rodgers does not at all make us think twice about this one for the Steelers. The Lions ended his time in Green Bay in 2022, and this year, they’ll end his career with a loss in Detroit.

Record: 11-4

Week 17 at Vikings

On Christmas Day (thanks, NFL, you jerks), the Lions will head to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in what could be an extremely important game for the NFC North and playoff seeding. We’ve got the Lions taking this one. You have to go with the quarterback who has experience in these games. 

Record 12-4

Week 18 at Bears

This will be a fun game. Ben Johnson welcomes his former mentor into the building for the last game of the year. You always have to watch games like this because these are the ones where the protégé goes all in and gets the win. We think that’s what happens here. Johnson gets his win over Campbell, and maybe this is the win Chicago needs to get into the playoffs. 

Final record: 12-5

Detroit Lions News

Outlet suggests the Lions send the Bengals a key starter and more for Trey Hendrickson, why trading for Hendrickson is the worst thing Detroit could do

Please, this stuff has to stop

Mike Payton