The 2019 Detroit Lions are ready to take the field with a squad that could be a playoff party-crasher in going worst-to-first in the NFC North. Or they could remain behind the divisional foes and picking in the top 10 once again come April.
Fans seem divided on the team’s prospects. It turns out, so are we here at Lions Wire. Editors Jeff Risdon and Erik Schlitt went through each game independently and predicted the outcomes for all 16 contests.
What they arrived at are very divergent paths…
Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 PM, EST
Risdon: This is the easiest game on the Lions schedule. Arizona is led by rookie coach Kliff Kingsbury, who could not coax a winning record with future NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. It’s flyweight QB Kyler Murray’s debut, too. Both starting CBs are out, and the best player on the defense is likely 36-year-old newcomer Terrell Suggs. Their special teams don’t look much improved from last year’s dismal unit, too. The Cardinals have improved, but not enough to threaten the Lions unless the Lions help them out with dumb penalties and turnovers.
WIN 1-0
Schlitt: The Lions can’t afford to get out of the gate slowly this season. While Arizona’s combination of coach Kyle Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray seems like the perfect marriage, it’s a lot to ask of them to have all the answers this early in their tenure. The Lions match up very well against the Cardinals and their defense should shine, but I’m expecting a Matthew Stafford to T.J. Hockenson connection to have people talking on Monday. WIN 1-0
Week 2: vs Los Angeles Chargers, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The home opener brings a stiff challenge with Philip Rivers, a diverse set of receiving targets and maybe even RB Melvin Gordon (he’s currently holding out). Even without Derwin James on defense, the Chargers have a playmaking defense that can rush the passer and cover on the outside. Tough to see Matthew Stafford finding a lot of success in this one, even at home in front of the Ford Field faithful.
LOSS 1-1
Schlitt: Phillip Rivers is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the league but with All-Pro safety Derwin James ruled out and likely no Melvin Gordon, the Chargers are vulnerable. I expect the Lions to be ready to go in the home opener, take advantage and upset a true contender — similar to what happened when the Patriots came to Ford Field last season. WIN 2-0
Week 3: at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The Eagles are loaded, but interestingly enough I do think the Lions match up well to attack them. Downhill running and taking shots via play-action — the Darrell Bevell offense in a nutshell — can work. This is a potential T.J. Hockenson breakout game. But the Eagles have enough firepower on offense with Zach Ertz, Desean Jackson, solid depth and a great offensive line. I expect the Lions to play well and threaten in Philly, but the Eagles prevail.
LOSS 1-2
Schlitt: The Eagles offensive line vs the Lions defensive line will be worth the price of admission in this game. Philadelphia is a tough environment to play in and this one should be closer than most will expect, but this could be a game where the Lions falter. LOSS 2-1
Week 4: vs Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The speed and precision of the Chiefs offense is a terrible matchup for just about everyone, and the Lions are no exceptions. Patrick Mahomes is the reigning MVP for good reason. The Lions should score some points, but getting into a shootout with the Chiefs is taking a knife to a gunfight.
LOSS 1-3
Schlitt: As good as the Lions defense is capable of being, it will be difficult to corral the juggernaut that is the Chiefs offense. Stranger things have happened but the Lions offense is built to create matchups and exploit weaknesses, not win shootouts, which this one could very well end up being. LOSS 2-2
Week 5: BYE
At the BYE week, Risdon has the Lions’ record at 1-3, while Schlitt has them even at 2-2.
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 PM, EST on “MNF”
Risdon: Drawing a divisional road game off a bye is both a blessing and a problem. I’m bullish on the new additions to the Packers defense, and by this time they should be clicking. That Rodgers guy remains elite, too. It’s hard to beat any foe five times in a row, and I don’t see Rodgers tapping out of this one like he did in the 2018 finale. Strange things happen in favor of the home team in Green Bay under the lights.
LOSS 1-4
Schlitt: Welcome to the “Mike Daniels revenge” game. Daniels intensity alone could win the Lions this game but if you’re looking for actual reasoning, I’ll point you to what happened after last years BYE week, when the Lions walked into Miami and smacked them around on their way to victory. WIN 3-2
Week 7: vs Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The Vikings come to Detroit off a trip to Philadelphia, which is not an easy roadie. But Minnesota always gives the Lions problems in Ford Field; the Vikings have won three of the last four meetings on the road. Their defense is a perennial issue for Detroit’s offense, which has not scored more than two offensive TDs against Minnesota since the 2013 season opener (remember the Joseph Fauria dancing?). They won’t this time, either.
LOSS 1-5
Schlitt: This game is going to be tricky. Being at home will help the Lions but coming off a short week will hurt. Adam Thielen is exactly the type of player who could expose the Lions weaknesses in the slot, but can Kirk Cousins get him the ball? This game will likely come down to which defense can get pressure on the quarterback — the Vikings have proven they can but we’ve yet to see it from the Lions. LOSS 3-3
Week 8: vs New York Giants, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: Who knows what the Giants QB situation will be by this time? It should not matter, as long as Damon “Snacks” Harrison and the run defense stymie reigning Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley. Expect a warm reception for Harrison from his old teammates, though few of them are left. Ford Field should give a hearty welcome to Golden Tate, and that will help him deal with getting blown out by his old team.
WIN 2-5
Schlitt: Watch for the Lions to sell out to stop Saquon Barkley and force the Giants to try to beat them through the air. It shouldn’t matter if it’s Eli Manning or Daniel Jones at the helm, at the end of the day, Damon Harrison will be happy he’s in a Lions uniform now. WIN 4-3
Week 9: at Oakland Raiders, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: Fun fact: the Lions have not lost in Oakland this century. Detroit makes its final trip to Oakland to face a Raiders team that might have mutinied on Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock, and/or Antonio Brown, by this point. This should be the game where the Lions hit their season-high in both points scored and margin of victory.
WIN 3-5
Schlitt: The Raiders are young and unstable. Unless things go very right for them early, at this point in the season, I am expecting most of the players to be more focused on real estate in Las Vegas rather than on football. WIN 5-3
Week 10: at Chicago Bears, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: I know most Lions fans expect the Bears to regress, but they’re still formidable on defense and got more explosively diverse on offense. The best chance for Detroit here is a field goal-kicking battle. Matt Prater will need to make a lot of them for the win here.
LOSS 3-6
Schlitt: Soldier Field is no fun to play in, especially during the final two months of the season. While the Bears defense may take a step back from an opportunistic 2018, they’re still a very good unit and one that will give the Lions offense problems. In tight games where defenses will likely be the determining factors, the slight advantage goes to the home team. LOSS 5-4
Week 11: vs Dallas Cowboys, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: Dallas’ defense is going to be very hard for the Lions to crack. Their superb set of LBs and a tough front line nicely augment one another, and the secondary can make plays. I expect a low-scoring game and an unexpected hero for the visitors scoring a demoralizing game-winner for Dallas.
LOSS 3-7
Schlitt: After last season, when reflecting on the Lions losses, this game stood out to me because it likely would’ve had a much different outcome if the Lions had Harrison for it. Add Daniels to the mix and the Lions should be able to go after Ezekiel Elliot with full force and make Dak Prescott beat them. The Lions have been on the wrong end of too many losses to the Cowboys and won’t let this one slip away from them at home. WIN 6-4
Week 12: at Washington Redskins, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The Washington defense is no joke. The Washington offense might be, however. I’m oddly confident in the Lions rolling on the road.
WIN 4-7
Schlitt: Detroit’s final NFC East opponent of the year is another one where the Lions match up well. Coaches should be able to gain pertinent information about Washington’s passing game from Josh Johnson, thus allowing the Lions stout defensive front to flex its muscles against the talented Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson. WIN 7-4
Week 13: vs Chicago Bears, 12:30 PM, EST on Thanksgiving
Risdon: I’ve seen this Thanksgiving movie before, and I don’t like the way this smells like last year. I can see the home fans turning on the team if the Bears come out and seize a quick early lead. I can also see the Lions being overconfident in the mystical power of the annual marquee game.
LOSS 4-8
Schlitt: Last Thanksgiving against the Bears, the game came down to a few key letdown plays halfway through the fourth quarter. This team appears more poised than that. Like I said in the last Bears-Lions matchup, a tight game with two stout defenses, favors the home team. WIN 8-4
Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: I have a feeling the Vikings will need a win here to keep their playoff aspirations afloat. They’re returning home off a Monday Night Football trip to Seattle, which gives the rested Lions a better chance. But the Lions just don’t match up well with Minnesota.
LOSS 4-9
Schlitt: The Vikings defense has been the Achilles heel for the Lions recently and I think they could be the front runner to take the division if they can beat the Lions twice. Until the Lions offense can prove they can stop Danielle Hunter, it’s going to be difficult for them to win this matchup. LOSS 8-5
Week 15: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: Every year the Lions have one home game where they simply lay an egg. Last year it was the Jets. The year before, the Bengals. This is the egg game of 2019, and methinks Mike Evans and O.J. Howard have a lot to do with that.
LOSS 4-10
Schlitt: New coach Bruce Arians is great offensive mind. Can he turn around a Bucs offense that has terrific skill players but an unreliable quarterback and offensive line? I’m also not sold their defense is deep enough overcome injuries that happen this late in the season. WIN 9-5
Week 16: at Denver Broncos, TBD
Risdon: The Broncos have the ability to cover the Lions wideouts with just their CBs. That means their safeties can focus on shutting down the run and the tight end aerial attack. Von Miller is a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate and he’ll prove why. I don’t see Denver’s offense doing much damage to Detroit. Unfortunately they won’t need to.
LOSS 4-11
Schlitt: Shifting from Detroit to Denver in late December is difficult enough on its own, but if the game ends up being played on Saturday, it will make things even more challenging. The variables make this one hard to call, so when forced to make a decision, I tend to lean towards the team with the best player on the field and that’s Von Miller. He is exactly the type of player this offense struggles with — although they’re not alone — and could be the X-factor in a push game for me. Loss 9-6
Week 17: vs Green Bay Packers, 1:00 PM, EST
Risdon: The Lions take out season-long frustrations on a Packers team which I believe will also be well out of playoff contention entering the finale. It might not be the spectacular shutout shellacking of a year ago, but it will still be a glorious triumph to smoke the division rivals once again.
WIN 5-11
Schlitt: At this point in the season, I am expecting the Packers to be out of contention and wouldn’t be surprised to see them turtle like they did in Week 17 last year. Even if they are competitive, I still think the Lions know how to beat them and, at home, with playoff implications on the line, I expect them to answer the bell. Win 10-6
