Detroit Lions Schedule Release: Game-by-game and final record predictions for the Lions after their full schedule has dropped
A full way-too-early game-by-game prediction on what the Lions can do in 2026
It’s here! The Detroit Lions’ schedule has fully dropped, and we now know how this season is going to lay out. With that in mind, we have to go ahead and do a way-too-early win/loss prediction on this thing. Here’s what we got.
Week 1: Lions vs Saints
Dan Campbell vs his former team and Kellen Moore vs his former team. The Saints are kind of a question mark at this point. Especially on offense. Defensively, they’ll be without future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: At Bills on Thursday Night Football
This is a big one for the Lions. Every time they play the Bills, they have a massive shootout loss. This is the first time the Lions have had a chance to play this Bills team at full strength, and this is arguably the best defense they’ve ever put up against this team.
The big thing is that the energy in Buffalo is going to be pretty electric. This is the first home game in their brand new stadium. Still, I have the Lions taking this one.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: Lions vs Jets
Aaron Glenn’s homecoming in Detroit. The Jets have quietly had a very good offseason, and I expect them to be a much tougher out than you might think. Still, the Lions have more of the already established talent, and I think the Jets are better as the season goes on. But not at this point. Lions win.
Record: 3-0
Week 4: Lions at Panthers on Sunday Night Football
This one always made sense for a primetime matchup. The Panthers are a super fun up-and-coming team that kind of reminds me of that 2023 Lions team. They just have it, and they’re heading in the right direction. I don’t know if they make it to the NFC Championship game this year, but I think they’re able to knock the Lions off in their building in primetime and will get the league talking.
Record: 3-1
Week 5: Lions at Cardinals
Drew Petzing is going up against his former team in Arizona. Look, I can’t think of another team that screams “tanking” more than the Cardinals. That’s why I’m taking the Lions to win this one.
Record: 4-1
Week 6: Bye
Sadly, the Lions are going to have to have an early bye week. That’s not the best thing a team that has dealt with a lot of injuries in the past two seasons wants to hear, but that’s life. At least the Lions have kind of an easier start to the season to get them ready for what looks like a less easier finish.
Week 7: Lions vs Packers
The first matchup of the year between these NFC North foes, and the biggest question is whether Micah Parsons plays in this game? Right now, I don’t know. So for that reason. I have the Lions winning this game. Plus, it’s at home.
Record: 5-1
Week 8: Lions vs Vikings
Back-to-back home games and back-to-back NFC North battles. It’s a lot. Look, the Lions can’t win them all. So I’m going with Brian Flores and company to give the Lions some trouble the first time out. Vikings win.
Record: 5-2
Week 9: Lions at Dolphins
Not quite as bad as the Cardinals, but the Dolphins are in a bit of a rebuild themselves. They are bringing in a new quarterback in Malik Willis, and they do have De’Von Achane, but this team has pretty much dropped everyone they had on defense. The Lions win again.
Record 6-2
Week 10: Lions vs Patriots in Germany
The Lions are going against the reigning AFC champions on a big international stage, and while this is not a natural home game, it’s going to be like one since the Lions have become big in Germany. Expect Amon-Ra St. Brown to have a possible career game in this one, and the Lions win.
Record: 7-2
Week 11: Lions vs Buccaneers
The Lions have been going up against the Buccaneers a ton. This is the fifth matchup since the 2023 season. The Lions kind of have this team’s number at this point. They’ve won three of the four previous matchups. But I think the Bucs grab this one. There will be an Alex Anzalone revenge game.
Record: 7-3
Week 12: Lions vs Bears on Thanksgiving
It’s a big deal to have this game a little later in the season when things are really going to start mattering in the playoff push. Dan Campbell vs Ben Johnson at Ford Field for round two, and the same team that won last year is going to take this one again. Lions win.
Record: 8-3
Week 13: Lions at Falcons
Jahmyr Gibbs vs Bijan Robinson. The two running backs who should be the highest paid at their position are squaring up in this game. This could be an all-timer on the fantasy football front. But I’m taking the Lions because I don’t really trust the Falcons beyond Robinson.
Record: 9-3
Week 14: Lions vs Titans
Every year, there has to be at least one “how the hell did that bad team beat that good team?” game. This is that game. The Lions get caught sleeping, and the young Titans pull one over on them. They make a lot of sense for a team that can sneak up on everyone and is a playoff team, too. That’s just how these things tend to work.
Record: 9-4
Week 15: Lions at Vikings on Sunday Night Football
The Lions are going to be all over prime time at the end of the season, so I’m sorry if you were hoping for a bunch of 1:00 games. The Lions are heading to Minnesota late in the season for a game that is going to be important to the grand scheme of the NFC North. At the end of the day, the Vikings are in a weird place, and I think the Lions take advantage of that.
Record: 10-4
Week 16: Lions vs Giants on Monday Night Football
That Giants defensive line is going to be tough for every team that plays against them this year, but I am sure about nothing else on this Giants team. Especially their offense. The Lions are a much deeper team and are likely to have a lot more to play for than the Giants at this point in the season. So I’m going with the Lions in this one.
Record: 11-4
Week 17: Lions at Bears on America’s Game of the Week
The Lions head to Chicago late in the season, which means cold weather and maybe some snow. I’m not saying the Lions can’t play in cold weather, but they’ve noticably not been the same in these situations, because of that. I have to go with the team who is.
Record: 11-5
Week 18: Lions vs Packers
The Lions will once again end the season against the Packers. It makes sense that the league wants to end the season with divisional games because they hope that these games are going to be for the division title. If that’s the case, the Lions win their third NFC North title under Dan Campbell in this one.
Record: 12-5
Detroit Lions News