Game-by-Game Predictions for 2013 Lions

The NFL pre season is behind us. Let’s take a look at the regular season with game-by-game predictions: 

September 8th vs. the Minnesota Vikings: Result: Win. Comment: This divisional game features Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The difference may be Lions running back Reggie Bush creating some plays while Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder fails to kick start a lackluster passing attack. The new Lions balance will result in a 1-0 start.

September 15th at the Arizona Cardinals: Result: Loss. Comment: The Lions played one of their worst games in 2012 in Arizona. The Cardinals new quarterback Carson Palmer will team with receiver Larry Fitzgerald to test the Lions revamped secondary. My guess is that the game will be closer this year but the result will still be the same.

September 22nd at the Washington Redskins: Result: Loss. Comment: This is a tough assignment for the Lions in our nation’s capital. The Redskins are coming off a surprise playoff year and look to continue that success with quarterback Robert Griffin III healthy. The Lions were not great on the road in 2012 and I expect that trend to continue early in 2013.  

September 29th vs. the Chicago Bears: Result: Win. Comment: The Bears are a tough team to read with a new coaching staff and quarterback Jay Cutler in a contract year. The good news for the Lions is that they will have a few weeks to see what the new schemes are and they are playing at home. The Lions lost two close games to the Bears last year. The prediction here is that the Lions break through with a big home division win.

October 6th at the Green Bay Packers: Result: Loss. Comment: Some day the Lions will break their twenty-plus year losing streak in Green Bay. October 6, 2013 will not be that day. The Lions have played better in Green Bay since 2010, but the results have been the same. The Packers remain the class of the NFC North division and prove it again on this day.

October 13th at the Cleveland Browns: Result: Win. Comment: Throw out the pre season game film from August. The Lions sure did. This is one of few “winnable” road games on the Lions schedule. By this point in the season, the Lions will have figured out how to fully utilize Bush and Johnson together. The defense should be able to shut down the Browns lackluster attack. The Lions did not show much of anything in Cleveland in August – both scheme and effort wise – but will get it done when it counts.

October 20th vs. the Cincinnati Bengals: Result: Loss. Comment: Hard Knocks reality show darlings the Bengals will come into Ford Field and give the Lions their first home loss of the year. The game will feature Johnson vs. Bengals receiver AJ Green – who is often compared to Johnson. The difference will be the Bengals defense making a few more plays to stop the Lions offense when it counts in a close game.

October 27th vs. the Dallas Cowboys: Result: Win. Comment: Diva receiver alert – Cowboys Dez Bryant will invade on this day. Some believe the hype that he may be as good as Johnson, but I’m not buying it. The game will be a shoot out with two good offenses. The key for the Lions will be their defensive line – I expect them to dominate the Cowboys inferior offensive line enough to earn the win. The Lions will have the same 4-4 first half record going into the bye week as they did in 2012.

November 10th at the Chicago Bears: Result: Loss. Comment: I think the Lions can win in Chicago. Some of the worst Lions teams managed to come out of the windy city with a win against a better Bears team. Chicago is not Green Bay in terms of losing on the road over the past twenty-plus years. Still, the Lions offense is predicated too much on the passing game and could struggle if the weather is not great in the aforementioned windy city. The Lions start the second half of the season with a loss. 

November 17th at the Pittsburgh Steelers: Result: Loss. Comment: I took a trip to Pittsburgh a few years back for a Lions pre season game – Suh’s first NFL game. Great stadium, great fans (who even wore the punter’s jersey) and a great football town. I am not sure what to make of the Steelers this year – they are attempting to get back to a running offensive approach and have brought in some college defensive stars to improve the older defense. My hunch is that will be enough to win at home vs. the Lions, who will now stand at 4-6 with playoff hopes slipping.

November 24th vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Result: Win. Comment: A home game for the first time in a month against the improving Bucs may be a good recipe for the Lions to get back on track. The Lions started their successful 2011 campaign with a big road win at Tampa Bay. My feeling is that the Lions match up well with the Bucs, particularly the defensive front against the Bucs offensive line and slow footed quarterback Josh Freeman. Lions fans noise will do the rest in this home win.

November 28th vs. the Green Bay Packers: Result: Loss. Comment: Thanksgiving Day game with the division rival Packers in town. The Lions have not won on Thanksgiving Day since 2003 against these same Packers. Can the Lions put together a complete game after coughing up a late lead at home last year vs. Green Bay? My prediction is that quarterback Aaron Rogers steps up on a national stage and carries the Packers to victory on the road. One step forward, one step back and now 5-7 with four games left.

December 8th at the Philadelphia Eagles: Result: Win. Comment: Can the Lions duplicate their 2012 road win vs. the Eagles? This is a different Eagles team with new coach Chip Kelly from the college ranks. Still, the Lions have played Michael Vick well in the past, including last year. This is a rebuilding effort for Kelly and his staff and my guess is that by December he will realize that he doesn’t have the parts needed to fully run his system and will instead have an eye towards the draft. Road win #2 for the Lions.

December 16th vs. the Baltimore Ravens: Result: Win. Comment: The Lions return to Monday Night Football probably only because they have Calvin Johnson on their roster. The opponent at home is the world champion Ravens. But this Ravens team unloaded a lot of veteran players after their Super Bowl win. They will struggle to even make the playoffs, as many champions do the year after their big win. The Lions win two in a row for a 7-7 record.

December 22nd vs. the New York Giants: Result: Win. Comment: The Lions will need to win out to have any chance at the playoffs. Hosting another recent Super Bowl winner is not great luck scheduling wise, but this is another former champion who has changed a lot of players since their championship heyday. The Lions will win a shoot out against Eli Manning and stay alive for another week.

December 29th at the Minnesota Vikings: Result: Loss. Comment: Not many teams make the playoffs with an 8-8 record (although the Lions have in their recent, mediocre history). The Lions will play their last indoor game in Minnesota (for at least a few years) with the dome closing. It has not been a kind place to play over the years for the Lions (similar to the Tigers history there) and 2013 will be no exception. The Lions will suddenly have a lot of free time on their hands – missing the playoffs at 8-8.

I have been a die hard Lions fan since 1991. I played football in high school and began a college playing career at Wayne State before hanging up the cleats. I will try to provide a perspective on my favorite NFL team as the season progresses for the Patch.