Predicting How The Detroit Lions Will Finish Out The 2022 Season And If There Will Be Hope For 2023
Nobody wants to give up on the season before Halloween, but it’s not looking promising that the 1-4 Lions will be making a playoff push this year. Let’s take a look at the remaining games and see how many more wins are likely.
Lions At Cowboys
The turnaround could start as early as this Sunday against the Cowboys. However, Dak Prescott is returning from injury and Dallas has a solid defense to keep Detroit in check.
Prediction (Record): Loss (1-5)
Lions Vs. Dolphins
Coming into this season, I would have considered this matchup a coin flip, but Miami has impressed so far this season. They have managed a 3-3 record with Tua missing time from a brutal concussion. He should be healthy and ready to take it to the Detroit defense.
Prediction (Record): Loss (1-6)
Lions Vs. Packers
The Packers have been far from perfect, recently dropping two in a row to the Giants and Jets. That doesn’t change the fact that the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who even on his worst day can pick apart the Detroit defense.
Prediction (Record): Loss (1-7)
Lions At Bears
If the prediction comes true to this point, most casual fans might not even bother tuning in to this game and some passionate fans will be calling for Dan Campbell to lose his job. This is a must have game at Soldier Field against a Bears team that has looked disastrous on offense this season. Jameson Williams has a chance to be healthy for this game and could have a strong debut. The Lions finally show they still have fight left and display the grit that the coaching staff has been trying to establish.
Prediction (Record): Win (2-7)
Lions At Giants
This is another one I was more confident in competing in before the season started. The Giants have exceeded almost everyone’s expectations with a 5-1 start. Saquon Barkley could have a career day if the Lions haven’t shored up their run defense before this game.
Prediction (Record): Loss (2-8)
Lions Vs. Bills
This is a brutal Thanksgiving day matchup for Detroit. Josh Allen and the Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills have already hit their stride and show no signs of slowing down. This could be ugly by halftime and will cause a lot fans to choose an afternoon nap over the second half torture.
Prediction (Record): Loss (2-9)
Lions Vs. Jaguars
In theory, the Detroit and Jacksonville should be in similar situations. Dan Campbell inherited a bad roster made worse by the former regime’s toxic environment and culture. However, there seems to be more bright spots for Doug Pederson’s team. Factor in that they play in possibly the weakest division in the NFL and could very well be competing for a playoff spot, they should have the motivation and talent to defeat the Lions here in week 13.
Prediction (Record): Loss (2-10)
Lions Vs. Vikings
Detroit probably should have pulled off the first matchup in Minnesota after starting strong with a 14-0 lead.
LIONS LEAD 14-0 IN MINNESOTA 👀 (via @Lions)pic.twitter.com/3mGjJsHXpj — NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) September 25, 2022
Alas, they let it slip away with some questionable decision making from Dan Campbell along the way. Again, Detroit might compete until the end but Minnesota has a chance to compete with Green Bay for the NFC North division.
Prediction (Record): Loss (2-11)
Lions At Jets
Another trip to MetLife Stadium results in another loss to a Jets team that is trying to earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2010. At this point it’s fair to question if this Lions team has really improved at all overall. Dan Campbell is exhausted and physically and mentally defeated from the losses and questions piling up at this point.
Prediction (Record): Loss (2-12)
Lions At Panthers
Finally, a team that looks like it’s in rougher shape than the Lions are currently. With a new head coach and a carousel of starting Quarterbacks to start their season, the Panthers never get any traction and are looking to secure the number one pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. Detroit gets a much needed victory to match their win total from last season.
Prediction (Record): Win (3-12)
Lions Vs. Bears
At this point, Chicago still hasn’t figured things out offensively and Justin Fields is publicly frustrated and making bad decisions on the field. Detroit starts the New Year off right and sweep the Bears, just like the “good old days” of the early 2010s.
Prediction (Record): Win (4-12)
Lions At Packers
This game has recently been a toss up because the Packers have been securing their playoff position by the last week of the regular season. It doesn’t appear likely that they will be as fortunate this year, and if they have anything to play for, they should have no problem handling the Lions at Lambeau Field in January.
Prediction (Record): Loss (4-13)
2023 Outlook
If Detroit finishes the season at 4-13, it will get mixed reactions from the fan base and NFL pundits. On one hand, they did improve upon their record from last year, albeit by the smallest margin possible. On the other hand, a four win season does not inspire confidence that they can make a playoff push in 2023, unless they knock all of their draft picks out of the park. The bright side of this mostly grim prediction is that they should have a top three pick again and hopefully they can add an immediate impact player to their roster with it.