The Lions' 2017 schedule looks favorable on paper — no long road trips, no terrible cross-division matchups, and winnable road games.
This sounds familiar.
But Detroit had a similarly favorable schedule in 2016 and had to conjure up some fourth-quarter magic and late-season luck to squeak into the playoffs at 9-7. This season, they're down a couple of impact linebackers in Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy and are thin on the offensive line even with the addition Ricky Wagner, so no game on the schedule is an absolute guarantee (minus the Browns, because obviously). Add in three primetime games against playoff contenders (Giants, Steelers, Packers) and it's tougher than it looks.
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Here's a month-by-month breakdown of the Lions' 2017 regular-season schedule, and how we see it playing out.
September
vs. Cardinals, at Giants, vs. Falcons
Detroit's opening month could get ugly, depending on which Cardinals team shows up in Week 1. The next two weeks — a Monday Night Football game at MetLife Stadium and a home game against the defending NFC Champions — will set the tone for how the rest of the season goes. Split these games and the Lions should gain some confidence early.
October
at Vikings, vs. Panthers, at Saints, BYE, vs. Steelers
The Lions' October will go a long way to determine whether or not they'll smell the playoffs. Both road games are winnable — Detroit beat both Minnesota and New Orleans on the road in 2016 — and they should have confidence to take care of business at home. The Sunday Night Football game against the Steelers will be another playoff-caliber test for the Lions, and it comes at a favorable time after the bye week.
MORE: Sunday Night Football schedule
November
at Packers, vs. Browns, at Bears, vs. Vikings
Detroit's first matchup with Green Bay is in prime time the week after it hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday night, but after that, the Lions could win out in November. The road game against Chicago might be a trap game — they lost at Soldier Field last season — and they host Minnesota on Thanksgiving for the second consecutive season.
MORE: Monday Night Football schedule
December
at Ravens, at Buccaneers, vs. Bears, at Bengals, vs. Packers
The December slate isn't as daunting as last season's, but it's still not easy. Two consecutive road games — luckily, their longest road "trip" of the season — against two playoff caliber teams will test Detroit's ability to win close games down the stretch. The Lions avoid playing at Lambeau Field in the depths of winter for a second consecutive year, but they'll still be tested in the elements on Christmas Eve in Cincinnati followed by a visit by the Packers.
Lions schedule 2017, record prediction: 8-8
If the Lions can get a few things to swing their way like 2016, their schedule is favorable enough that they can sneak into the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The toughest stretches come in the first half of the season — a tough October, a Monday night game in Week 2 and back-to-back primetime games against the Steelers and Packers.
The offense could be improved if Detroit finds a consistent running game, and the schedule again looks like it'll test Matthew Stafford's late-game heroics. If the Lions can put the pieces together early on, the playoffs are possible. If they slip up early, it'll be an uphill battle. Knowing the Lions, we'll play it safe with a .500 record.
