After years of bottom-dwelling, the Detroit Lions turned a corner in 2022, finishing with a 9-8 record and coming extremely close to landing a playoff berth. As the calendar moves to 2023, the Lions’ schedule will give them an opportunity to make the postseason for the first time since 2016. Can Dan Campbell’s squad take the leap?
Detroit Lions Schedule
- Week 1: at Chiefs (TNF)
NBC | 8:20 p.m. ET (Thursday, Sept. 7) - Week 2: vs. Seahawks
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Sept. 17) - Week 3: vs. Falcons
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Sept. 24) - Week 4: at Packers (TNF)
Amazon Prime | 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday, Sept. 28) - Week 5: vs. Panthers
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 8) - Week 6: at Buccaneers
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 15) - Week 7: at Ravens
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Oct. 22) - Week 8: vs. Raiders (MNF)
ESPN | 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday, Oct. 30) - Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: at Chargers
CBS | 4:05 p.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 12) - Week 11: vs. Bears
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Nov. 19) - Week 12: vs. Packers (Thanksgiving)
FOX | 12:30 p.m. ET (Thursday, Nov. 23) - Week 13: at Saints
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 3) - Week 14: at Bears
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 10)
- Week 15: vs. Broncos
TBD - Week 16: at Vikings
FOX | 1 p.m. ET (Sunday, Dec. 24) - Week 17: at Cowboys
ESPN | 8:15 p.m. ET (Saturday, Dec. 30) - Week 18: vs. Vikings
TBD
Detroit Lions Team Strength of Schedule
Based on 2023 win-total projections, the Lions project to have the ninth-easiest NFL schedule next season. As usual, Detroit will play each of its NFC North rivals at home and on the road. They will also face the entirety of the NFC South and the AFC West.
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Additionally, the Lions will play the two remaining NFC teams that finished in second place in their respective divisions: the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. Lastly, Detroit will round out its schedule by playing the Baltimore Ravens, who finished second in the AFC North in 2022.
Looking at PFN’s Strength of Schedule, which takes more than just win totals into consideration, the Lions have the eighth-easiest schedule. This a promising number for a young team looking to take advantage of a wide-open NFC North.
Detroit Lions Team Record Prediction
With the Lions’ 2023 schedule comparing favorably to the rest of the NFL teams and their own impressive collection of offensive talent, Detroit has become the betting favorite to win the NFC North. They have the highest win-total projection in the NFC North, as their nine-win total is just ahead of the Vikings — last year’s NFC North champion — at 8.5.
One big factor in the Lions’ success will be the defense’s performance. After posting the league’s fourth-worst scoring defense a season ago, the Lions set out to right that wrong in free agency. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley are in town to help strengthen Detroit’s secondary, while the Lions brought back linebacker Alex Anzalone on a three-year pact.
They also added linebacker Jack Campbell and defensive back Brian Branch in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft.
But Detroit’s strength is clearly on offense. After an outstanding campaign led by coordinator Ben Johnson and quarterback Jared Goff, the Lions made a few additions to ensure their offense keeps clicking.
The Lions shocked the world by selecting running back Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall, and David Montgomery will take over Jamaal Williams’ role in the backfield. D’Andre Swift was quickly traded to the Eagles as they cleared playing time for Gibbs.
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Meanwhile, the receiver room will have a little more turbulence despite their talent. Marvin Jones Jr. is back in Detroit after spending the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. With 2022 first-round receiver Jameson Williams suspended for the first six games of the year due to violating the NFL’s gambling policy, Josh Reynolds will need to take a step forward alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Overall, though, the trajectory of the Lions’ offense is still going upward. Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta was a shrewd pick at the start of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, filling a gaping need.
The NFC North is there for the taking. With Aaron Rodgers expected to become a New York Jet, and the Vikings primed to take a step backward after overperforming their underlying metrics in 2022, the Lions could emerge with the division crown.
Projected Record: 9-8