The Detroit Lions went into their Week 5 bye on the high of a win over the Seattle Seahawks, as the offense had its best showing of the season and Jared Goff had a record-setting performance.
A 3-1 record at the bye week comes with knowing the Lions have a lot of things to refine, as can be expected a month into the season and with starters not playing in the preseason.
The Lions getting better is a scary thought for their upcoming opponents. So let's predict how their remaining 13 games will go.
Predicting the outcome of every Detroit Lions game after the bye week
Week 6 at Dallas Cowboys: Win
The Cowboys are banged up in some spots, and as such they look vulnerable against what should be a healthier Lions' team that'll be coming off their bye. Dallas is a different/better team at home, but the Lions should be able to win here (and do so without controversy to rob them this time around).
Week 7 at Minnesota Vikings: Loss
The Vikings may get former Lion T.J. Hockenson back for this game, which will only add to the talent at Sam Darnold's disposal. On the other side of the ball, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores will pull no punches to confuse and get after Jared Goff with disguises and blitzes from all angles. This should be a close game, but the Vikings have enough to pull a minor upset.
Week 8 vs. Tennessee Titans: Win
Let's not sugarcoat it. The Titans are lined up to be one of the worst teams in the league this year. At home, the Lions should have no trouble here against a team that's so inferior to them.
Week 9 at Green Bay Packers: Win
This is the only outdoor game on the Lions' schedule this season before December. Early November could of course bring some level of bad weather to Green Bay, but it's certainly better than later in the season and the Lions leave Lambeau with a narrow win.
Week 10 at Houston Texans (Sunday night): Loss
The Texans are also one of the better teams in the league, which is why this game gets the Sunday night stage (barring an unexpected flex that would change that). The Lions will have to be on their game in all facets, but they go home with a close loss here.
Week 11 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Win
The Jaguars are a winless mess right now, and by the time this game comes it could be even worse (head coaching change? roster gutted at the trade deadline?). Another AFC South bottom-feeder the Lions should have no trouble with.
Week 12: at Indianapolis Colts: Win
The Colts are an interesting team, but where they'll be record-wise by Week 12 is a big unknown. This one could go either way, but the Lions easily handle another AFC South team here.
Week 13 vs. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving): Win
Short week games are always tricky, and Thanksgiving Day for the Lions has the added layer of a divisional opponent again this year. The Bears won't be a pushover, but a close win to make it a happy holiday in Detroit is in the cards.
Week 14 vs. Green Bay Packers (Thursday night): Win
The Lions get the Thursday night stage against the Packers for the second year in a row, this time later in the season and at home. A close game should be expected, and the Lions win the season series.
Week 15 vs. Buffalo Bills: Loss
Akin to the Baltimore Ravens (see Week 4), the Lions and their run-based offense could be a very bad matchup for the Bills' defense. But they are of course no slouches offensively, led by Josh Allen, and if the Lions aren't sharp defensively it will be a very long day for Aaron Glenn's unit. A high-scoring game goes to the team who has the quarterback who can make an off-schedule play.
Week 16 at Chicago Bears: Win
Jared Goff outdoors in December, particularly at Chicago, is a recipe for the Lions to have a disappointing loss when they can ill afford one. It probably won't be pretty, but you never apologize for a win on the road when playoff positioning is looming.
Week 17 at San Francisco 49ers (Monday night): Loss
The 49ers are a little bit beaten up and off-kilter in spots right now, but where they are now and where they'll be just before the calendar flips to 2025 are potentially two very different things. The Lions of course will return to the scene where they blew a halftime lead in last year's NFC Championship Game, but revenge will be hard to get.
Week 18 vs. Minnesota Vikings: Win
This game may or not be meaningful to the playoff status/seeding of one or both teams. But we can assume Dan Campbell will play his starters no matter what, without fear of potential injury consequences for the Lions heading into the playoffs. Whether or not that's a smart idea is a separate conversation (see injuries to Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond in Week 18 last year). But the Lions will play to win here, and they'll get it done even if it means nothing to them (but maybe they can spoil something for the Vikings?).
