Predicting the 2023 NFL season results for each division

2023 NFL regular season final standings prediction for each division

The 2023 NFL season has arrived, and not a moment too soon. All 32 fan bases are ready to cheer their teams in meaningful football games in what looks like one of the most wide-open seasons the league has seen in some time.

This is my final preseason prognostication of how the season will play out for each team, broken down by division.

Division winners are noted with an X, while wild card teams get a *

Detroit Lions Podcast: Season predictions and Week 1 matchup preview

Detroit Lions Podcast: Season predictions and Week 1 matchup preview, plus Isaiah Buggs and Mike Evans talk

The Detroit Lions play meaningful football on Thursday night, and the Detroit Lions Podcast is ready for action. The unusual game schedule forced a change in the live recording of this week’s show, which breaks down the Lions matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Before the season predictions and Chiefs talk, there is a good discussion on the Isaiah Buggs saga. It’s a look into the way head coach Dan Campbell is handling the players and the expectations for the team.

There’s also a diversion into the Mike Evans trade potential. Would the Buccaneers move the All-Pro wideout, and for what in return? Would the Lions be interested, and what would paying Evans mean for the rest of the roster?

Then it’s onto the season predictions for the Lions offense, defense and finally, the season record.

 

The audio-only version of the show is available from your favorite podcast provider.

 

Predicting the 22 remaining Detroit Lions roster cutdowns

The Detroit Lions have 75 players on the active roster as of noon Monday and have to be down to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday

It’s almost time for the Detroit Lions initial 53-man roster to be set for the 2023 regular season. The team has already trimmed several players from the 90-man preseason limit, but there are more cutdowns to be made.

As of 12 p.m. ET on Monday, the Lions have 75 players still on the active roster. That leaves 22 more players to be removed from the active roster before 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Note that CB Emmanuel Moseley and QB Hendon Hooker are not currently on the active roster, so they don’t factor in. WR Jameson Williams begins serving his suspension after the cutdowns, so he’s not involved either. 

12 players projected to make the Lions practice squad

These 12 players from the Lions’ final preseason game roster should make the team’s 16-man practice squad

One of the first orders of business for the Detroit Lions following the conclusion of the roster cutdowns and initial waiver claim period is to form the 16-man practice squad. Teams can start signing players to the practice squad after Wednesday, August 30th at 12 p.m. ET.

Most teams prefer to stock the practice squad with players who were on the roster for the final preseason game. The Lions did that last year and are expected to do so once again.

Here are 12 Lions expected to be cut by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline who should make the practice squad.

Video: Detroit Lions Podcast predicts the 53-man roster and more

Video: Detroit Lions Podcast predicts the 53-man roster and wraps up the preseason

A special weekend edition of the Detroit Lions Podcast is now available for streaming or download. This show, recorded live on Saturday, puts a bow on the Lions preseason and spins forward to the task of getting down to 53 players.

The first part of the show covers Friday night’s triumph in Carolina in the final exhibition game. Which players stood out and which ones faltered a little? There is also a discussion on the injuries from the game.

Then comes the 53-man roster projection. Position by position, who makes it and who does not? There is a focus on team constitution; the concept of keeping a sixth WR or a fifth RB and the ripple effects that would have at other positions, as an example.

Lions predicted to win the NFC North division title

Connor Orr from SI predicts the entire NFL season and gives the Detroit Lions a division title and playoff berth

During the offseason, football fans and analysts enjoy predicting how each team will perform in the upcoming season. However, accurately predicting each team’s record is as challenging as navigating construction zones in Michigan. The Detroit Lions have generated a lot of excitement going into the season due to their unconventional coach in Dan Campbell and a talented roster that could potentially secure a playoff spot.

Recently, Connor Orr from SI contributed to the hype by predicting that the Lions will finish the season with an 11-6 record, win the NFC North, and secure a spot in the playoffs.

Here’s where I’ll jump in the stream of the “trendy” teams. Could the Lions realize their potential, or will they end up in the bin alongside a handful of other clubs we perpetually thought were going to turn the corner but never did? (Looking at you, Chargers since 2018.) After a bit of a gantlet (Chiefs, Seahawks) to open the season, the Lions’ schedule settles in and includes a long stretch of games against teams vulnerable to the run. This is where they could rack up some Ws.

Orr’s analysis shows that the Lions will start the season strongly with victories against two of the toughest teams in the league, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. If the Lions can secure these wins, it will solidify their hype as a genuine playoff contender.

However, predicting divisional games is trickier. Orr predicts that the Lions will finish with a 3-3 record within the division, winning all their home games but losing on the road. It is unclear how the other teams in the division will perform this season. Will the Green Bay Packers succeed without Aaron Rodgers? Can Justin Fields elevate the Chicago Bears? Will the Minnesota Vikings continue to be a dark horse?

It’s exciting to speculate on how others view your favorite team. Orr’s predictions are favorable for the Lions, but it’s important to remember that anything can happen during the season. Fans shouldn’t rely too heavily on these predictions as they are not gospel. If the Lions do follow Orr’s predictions, it will undoubtedly be an electric season for fans at Ford Field.

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Updated 53-man roster projection after the Lions 2nd preseason game

With one preseason game left and a little over a week before roster cutdown day, here’s the current projection for how that initial 53-man roster will look for Detroit.

Roster cutdowns around the NFL come in just over a week. The Detroit Lions, like all NFL teams, will have to get down to an initial 53-man roster from the current 90. With just one roster cutdown this year, it builds the dram of who makes it and who does not.

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With one preseason game left and a little over a week before roster cutdown day, here’s the current projection for how that initial 53-man roster will look for Detroit.

Updated Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Updated Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Detroit Lions training camp will wrap the second week of action on Saturday. It’s a good point to recalibrate the depth chart and reevaluate the 53-man roster projection.

There are a few changes to the prediction after 10 days of practice. Injuries have caused some unfortunate shifts, as have on-field performances — positive and negative. There are some leanings here that reflect what I’ve seen and heard in training camp, too.

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Detroit Lions training camp battles: Wide Receivers

A look at the Detroit Lions training camp battles at wide receiver from Lions Wire’s Russell Brown

Say what you want but the depth at wide receiver for the Detroit Lions is better than it’s been in a few seasons. While there might be some low expectations for some players in the group, the Lions have built something that they’ve been intending on building since the arrival of this regime.

That something is competition.

By drafting, trading and signing players such as Antoine Green, Denzel Mims and Marvin Jones Jr., the Lions should be able to find some consistent contributions from one, if not all three players this season.

For Antoine Green, he’s a seventh round pick from North Carolina in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s a deep ball specialist that averaged 19 yards per catch for the Tar Heels while possessing sub-4.5 speed. In 2022, he had 798 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was picked over some veteran receivers to make the 53-man roster.

As for Mims, he’s a former second round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft. While I wasn’t his biggest fan coming out of the draft, he does have sub-4.4 speed and could be a player that just needs a change of scenery. We’ve seen the Lions have success with players changing teams such as John Cominsky and Charles Harris. Mims does only have 42 receptions for 676 yards in his career so my expectations are low. But again, he adds depth and competition for training camp.

When you look at the rest of the roster, players such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones Jr., and Kalif Raymond should be safe to make the roster. Jameson Williams will make the roster but won’t be available for the first six weeks of the season with his suspension on gambling.

Another veteran that the Lions have is Josh Reynolds. After posting 38 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns, he’s coming off his best season with Detroit. He should easily earn a spot on the roster as a 3rd or 4th receiver.

It’s possible that the Lions cut a player such as Denzel Mims for a player such as Maurice Alexander, Trinity Benson or Tom Kennedy. However, I don’t see that being the case. Between those three players, they’ve totaled 17 receptions for 305 receptions and 33 games played.

Regardless of what happens, I’d have low expectations for that final roster spot when it comes to loading the stat sheet on offense. Much of the Lions production at receiver should come from Amon-Ra St. Brown, who posted a career 106 receptions in 2022.

While the Lions did have five receivers last season, I could see them carrying six receivers this season. Here’s how I’d project the Lions wide receiver room for this season:

  • Amon-Ra St. Brown
  • Marvin Jones Jr.
  • Josh Reynolds
  • Kalif Raymond
  • Jameson Williams (Suspended — won’t be on the active 53-man roster)
  • Denzel Mims (Six week trial run to start the season. Could move on after activating Williams)
  • Antoine Green (Practice squad. Could keep him on the PS or activate based on performance of Mims)

The way I see it, the final roster spot at receiver will come down to Denzel Mims and Antoine Green. With how rocky Mims career has been so far, I’d expect the Lions to go in favor of Green.

However, they could put Green on the practice squad to start the season and they could give Mims a six-week trial while Jameson Williams is out of the lineup. If Mims doesn’t produce, they could move on from him while activating Williams and promoting Green to the 53-man roster.

Regardless of how it turns out, it’ll be interesting to see how training camp turns out for the Lions depth chart at wide receiver this summer.

Which Lions offensive players are locks to make the final 53-man roster?

Breaking down which Detroit Lions offensive players are locks to make the final 53-man roster

The Detroit Lions players arrive in Allen Park this week for training camp. Not every player’s purpose in training camp is the same, however.

Many players already have roster spots sewn up. Others are fighting to try and earn a spot on the Lions’ final 53-man roster.

Here are the Detroit offensive players who don’t have to worry about losing their jobs in the upcoming weeks of training camp and preseason.