Tag: lions schedule

When will the Lions win? Breaking down the remaining schedule

Breaking down the remaining Detroit Lions schedule and the chances for victory against each opponent

There are just six games left for the Detroit Lions to avoid the ignominy of another winless season. Now 0-10-1 after losing a winnable game against the visiting Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving, it’s getting very late in the year to try and break the seal on the win column.

It’s not going to be easy. The Lions will not be favored in any of their remaining six matchups. The teams on the schedule have a combined record of 37-29 and all but one are within a game of a postseason berth.

Here is how the Lions schedule looks for the rest of the season and their chances of winning each game.

There will be no fans in Ford Field for at least the first 2 Lions home games

The team is hopeful fans can return to Ford Field for the 3rd home game

The first two Detroit Lions home games will be played in an empty Ford Field. The Lions announced in a public statement that the ramifications of COVID-19 and the current local restrictions imposed by the state of Michigan have forced the team to not allow any fans into the home of the Lions until at least November.

Detroit has just two home games in the first six weeks of the 2020 NFL season, hosting the Bears on Sept. 13 and the Saints on Oct. 4. Those games will be played with no fans.

The first portion of the statement from the team,

As the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities throughout the United States and the State of Michigan, the Detroit Lions announced today that Ford Field will not have fans at their first two home games against the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints this season.
The Lions’ third home game is November 1 against the Indianapolis Colts. Whether fans can attend that or any other 2020 season games will continue to be evaluated while working diligently with healthcare officials at every level, as well as Governor Whitmer’s office.
“We have spent considerable time and resources implementing new gameday protocols at Ford Field and are ready to host fans at Lions games once approved by state guidelines,” said Lions Team President Rod Wood. “The health and safety of our players, coaches and staff, has been a focal point for all facets of 2020 season planning as demonstrated by being one of the first teams to gain approval from the NFL and NFLPA for meeting training camp COVID-19 requirements. We have the utmost confidence that we can provide a safe and enjoyable experience for fans at our stadium.”
“Lions fans have traditionally created an intimidating environment for visiting teams at Ford Field and, even in a reduced capacity, will be missed when we kick off the season against our division rival, the Chicago Bears. We are hopeful for an opportunity to host fans at the remaining six 2020 home games.”

The Lions offered several options for season-ticket holders, as well as indicating that all normal parking areas and tailgate opportunities are also off-limits through at least the first two home games.

The state of Michigan recently postponed high school football to the spring, and all college football in the state at the FBS and D-II and D-III levels have been pushed out of the fall as well.

2020 Lions schedule: Fan’s most anticipated game on the schedule

With the Detroit Lions schedule released, we gauged the #OnePride fanbase’s thoughts on which Lions game they are most eager to see.

With the Detroit Lions 2020 schedule released, it is not only a  time for everyone to make their season predictions but a time to circle our calendars for the most anticipated games.

We at Lions Wire gauged the #OnePride fanbase’s thoughts on which Lions game they are most eager to see.

Unfortunately for fans, they are going to have to wait until Week 16 before they can see the Lions play against the new faced Bucs at Ford Field.

With a new sheriff in Tampa Bay, it’s no surprise that the majority of fans what to see the matchup with Tom Brady at the helm. Also, with no primetime games on the Lions schedule and this being a potential flex game, this may be the closest fans get to a big stage game.

Looking solely at opponents, I was eager to see games against the Saints and Titans. The Saints sport an offense consisting of Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, and Alvin Karama, and would be a good test for the Lions’ new-look defense. This could make for exciting television.

The Titans and Lions run a similar style scheme — on offense and defense — and their balanced attack on offense with Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, Corey Davis, and A.J Brown makes it difficult for defenses to figure out. Along with their strong defensive front led by DaQuan Jones and Jeffery Simmons could make it a long day for the Lions’ offense. With the similar styles of play between the Lions and Titans, it could look like an 80’s style ground and pound football game.

The top game I have circled on my calendar is the Thanksgiving game against the Houston Texans. The last time the Lions played the Texans on Thanksgiving it was something most Lions fans want to forget. Due to a rule that shouldn’t have been there in the first place, the Lions lost in heart-breaking fashion. Outside of the turkey and pie, getting revenge on the Texans should be enough to get you excited on Thanksgiving.

The initial predictions have the Lions landing between six and eight wins, which would be quite an improvement from last years 3-12-1 finish, but would more than likely fall short of a playoff spot. It’ll be a tough road ahead playing against quality opponents with some elite quarterbacks and robust defenses, but it’s the NFL, and you never know what can happen.

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Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:

Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea

The Lions did not earn any primetime games in 2020

The Lions did not earn any primetime games in 2020 and it’s a deserved slight from the NFL for the way the team has performed

The Detroit Lions will not make a single appearance on any national primetime games in 2020. No Monday Night Football. No Sunday night games to a national audience. Not even a single Thursday night matchup.

That is not by accident. The NFL doles out primetime appearances based on star power, a track record of success, fan excitement, expectations for the season and more. And the Detroit Lions fail to check any of those boxes on a national level.

It’s a harsh reality, but it’s where the Lions are as the team enters Year 3 of Matt Patricia’s coaching reign. They’ve won nine games in two seasons and carry a 9-game losing streak into the season. Their most marketable player from recent times, Darius Slay, is now in Philadelphia. The franchise cornerstone QB, Matthew Stafford, has broken bones in his back two straight years.

The Lions get their one moment to shine under the national spotlight on Thanksgiving. That’s all they have earned. Finishing in the bottom third in both offense and defense a year ago, playing a grinding style with a roster that lacks national cache and star power, the Lions simply don’t move the needle enough to draw in fans from other cities.

It’s up to the team to change that narrative. If they want to flip the script and earn primetime games, it means winning more games. The over/under for the Lions win total in 2020 is 6.5, not exactly dreadful but also not bullish. But it also means being exciting and buzzworthy, something the Lions are not.

Take the Arizona Cardinals, a team that finished 5-10-1 in 2019 and has one fewer win than the Lions in the last two years. The Cardinals will play two games in primetime and have a good chance for a third late in the year with the NFL’s flex scheduling. Kyler Murray throwing to DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald is marketable, and their dynamic young coach Kliff Kingsbury living in what appears to be a Bond villain house helps raise the profile.

There is a real opportunity here for Patricia and the Lions to rally around the national disrespect. “Detroit vs. Everybody” is a readymade catchphrase for a team that has several underappreciated talents on a national level (Kenny Golladay, Tracy Walker, Trey Flowers, Frank Ragnow, even Stafford) and a style of play that will be difficult for opponents. Embrace the lack of recognition, the painfully low expectations and shock the world. Then they’ll have to make room for the Lions all over the primetime schedule in 2021.

But until that happens, the Lions have not earned the right to be under the national spotlight.

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Here is the full Detroit Lions schedule for the 2020 season

Here is the full Detroit Lions schedule for the 2020 season.

The NFL revealed the full league schedule for the 2020 season. We already knew which teams the Lions were set to play in the upcoming season, and now we know the order and dates/times for each of the team’s 16 games.

Here is the Detroit Lions schedule for the 2020 season:

Date/Time Opponent Home/Away 2019 record
Week 1 Sept. 13, 1:00 PM Chicago Bears HOME 8-8
Week 2 Sept. 20, 1:00 PM Green Bay Packers Away 13-3
Week 3 Sept. 27, 4:25 PM Arizona Cardinals Away 5-10
Week 4 Oct. 4, 1:00 PM New Orleans Saints HOME 13-3
Week 5 Oct. 11 BYE
Week 6 Oct. 18, 1:00 PM Jacksonville Jaguars Away 6-10
Week 7 Oct. 25, 1:00 PM Atlanta Falcons Away 7-9
Week 8 Nov. 1, 1:00 PM Indianapolis Colts HOME 7-9
Week 9 Nov. 8, 1:00 PM Minnesota Vikings Away 10-6
Week 10 Nov. 15, 1:00 PM Washington Redskins HOME 3-13
Week 11 Nov. 22, 1:00 PM Carolina Panthers Away 5-11
Week 12 Nov. 26, 12:30 PM Houston Texans HOME 10-6
Week 13 Dec. 6, 1:00 PM Chicago Bears Away 8-8
Week 14 Dec. 13, 1:00 PM Green Bay Packers HOME 13-3
Week 15 Dec. 19/20, TBD Tennessee Titans Away 9-7
Week 16 Dec. 26/27, TBD Tampa Bay Buccaneers HOME 7-9
Week 17 Jan. 3, 1:00 PM Minnesota Vikings HOME 10-6

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