Detroit Sports Yap with Knapp: Early 2022 Detroit Lions Schedule Prediction
As of May, how do I think the Detroit Lions will do in 2022?
The Detroit Lions received their 2022 schedule on Thursday, and now they know what is coming up this season. Sure, they already knew the opponents and if they were home or away, but they didn’t know what day, what time, what order, and more. This prediction is also before any more free agents are signed, before any possible trades, and before any possible injuries. Anything can happen between now and September.
So for this article, we will look at the rosters as they are right now and assume no new injuries will happen, as those can do anything to a season. I will write another predictions article around August once the preseason is over to better understand what this team and their opponents are like. For now, let’s take an early shot at what I think the Detroit Lions could do in 2022.
Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles
The Lions start the season at home and against a playoff team from last season, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are having a pretty good offseason so far, trading for wide receiver A.J. Brown and landing stud defensive tackle Jordan Davis, future starting center Cam Jurgens, and linebacker Nakobe Dean in the draft. While the Eagles got better, the lack of a running game I think will hurt the offense and the defense hasn’t improved while the Lions have improved on defense and offense. It will be a close game, but right now I think the Lions can do it.
Prediction: Win
Week 2: Washington Commanders
Another NFC East opponent here is a dysfunctional Washington Commanders team that could take a step back in 2022. They traded for quarterback Carson Wentz to try and fix their biggest issue on offense. Their rookie additions of wide receiver Jahan Dotson and defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis will help alongside the free-agent signing of Andrew Norwell. The offense is still dealing with wide receiver Terry McLaurin possibly holding out, and Wentz isn’t the same quarterback he used to be. I believe the Lions can get another victory here and start 2-0.
Prediction: Win
Week 3: @ Minnesota Vikings
This is where the winning streak ends as the Lions travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings, who, while still having an average quarterback in Kirk Cousins, have Dalvin Cook at running back and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. They added some solid pieces in the draft and free agency in safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth, and linebacker Za’Darius Smith. The Vikings’ offense didn’t get much improvement, but with a defense that was already tough getting tougher, I don’t think the Lions’ offense is set up yet to compete with that kind of defense, especially on the road.
Prediction: Loss
Week 4: Seattle Seahawks
Back before the Russell Wilson trade, I chalked this up as a loss, but with the quarterback changing to Drew Lock, that completely flips the script on the game. The offense will get some help from rookie running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Bo Melton, but with Lock at quarterback, I don’t know how much the offense can succeed. Detroit might be able to win this one by a lot.
Prediction: Win
Week 5: @ New England Patriots
The Lions take on their old head coach, Matt Patricia, as he is back in New England, and this one is not looking good for Detroit. While revenge would be sweet, the Patriots are a playoff team from last year that improved on both sides of the ball. Detroit improved on both sides as well, but New England already had a better team than Detroit, and with getting more help, this team could go further in the playoffs after getting bounced in the wildcard last season. I don't think Detroit has a chance this week.
Prediction: Loss
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: @ Dallas Cowboys
Coming off their bye week, Detroit travels to Dallas and takes on a Cowboys team that made the playoffs last year. While they traded away wide receiver Amari Cooper and lost defensive end Randy Gregory and safety Keanu Neal in free agency, the Cowboys have enough talent for them to win this game against Detroit. You could argue that both teams could be about equal in offense, but defense is where Dallas excels over Detroit; again, the Lions’ offense isn’t built to take down tough defenses... yet.
Prediction: Loss
Week 8: Miami Dolphins
After back-to-back losses, Detroit takes on a Miami Dolphins team that's tough to predict how they will turn out this season. After going 9-8 last season, Miami's offense got some huge help in wide receiver Tyreek Hill, alongside offensive tackle Terron Armstead and running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, while the defense didn’t seem to get much help. If the Lions can slow down this offense, then they can win this game, but right now that could go either way.
Prediction: Win
Week 9: Green Bay Packers
Midway through the season, Detroit takes on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at home. The Packers will be without their former star wide receiver Davante Adams, and if this matchup was earlier in the season, I could see an upset happening as the Packer’s defense lost some pieces and will perhaps take a step back, and the offense will for sure as well. But with half of the season ongoing, they will have things figured out and I can’t see Detroit, even at home, taking out Green Bay just yet.
Prediction: Loss
Week 10: @ Chicago Bears
After losing to Green Bay, Detroit will travel to Chicago to take on the Bears in what could be a big win for the Lions. Chicago is going to have a step-back year this season as their offense is going to be like the Lions were in 2021. No help at wide receiver as their top guy is wide receiver Darnell Mooney, and they didn’t bring in much help to improve and give quarterback Justin Fields a chance. I can’t see Detroit losing to this team this year.
Prediction: Win
Week 11: @ New York Giants
The New York Giants are up next, and they are like the Miami Dolphins of the NFC. With question marks at quarterback in Daniel Jones, they have help surrounding him, and with running back Saquon Barkley, wide receivers Kenny Golladay, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Kadarius Toney, the offense should be up to speed. The defense did get some help on the defensive line in defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, and that is where the Giants needed help the most on defense. Another coin flip game that I think goes against Detroit right now, just because they are on the road and outdoors.
Prediction: Loss
Week 12: Buffalo Bills
It's a short week for Detroit as they host the Buffalo Bills for Thanksgiving, and this one is the easiest to predict. The Bills were a coin flip away from playing in the AFC championship game and possibly the Super Bowl. This team is a serious contender this year, and I can’t see the Lions pulling off the upset on this one.
Prediction: Loss
Week 13: Jacksonville Jaguars
While the Detroit Lions struggled last season, no team has struggled more than the Jacksonville Jaguars. With former head coach Urban Meyer just leaving a horrible taste in the mouth of the team, you won’t see much progression with him gone. The Jaguars made some questionable decisions without Meyer, like signing wide receiver Christian Kirk to a massive contract and drafting Travon Walker over Aidan Hutchinson in the draft. This team will be better, but not by much.
Prediction: Win
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings
Next up is a rematch against the Vikings, now at home; maybe the Lions will have figured things out better, but the Vikings have a chance at being the top team in the NFC North if the Packers take a step back this season. Detroit can’t get the job done late in the season and gets swept in 2022. Next season though, Detroit will get revenge.
Prediction: Loss
Week 15: @ New York Jets
Detroit now travels back to New York to take on the Jets this week, and unlike the Giants' matchup, this one should be more favorable for Detroit. The Jets' biggest free-agent signing was tight end C.J. Uzomah, who is coming off some MCL injuries in the playoffs last season, but they had a stellar first three picks in the NFL draft with cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and defensive end Jermaine Johnson II. The Jets did improve and will be like Detroit, where maybe they are a year away from competing for the playoffs. This could end up as a loss, but I feel like Detroit has enough to get by.
Prediction: Win
Week 16: @ Carolina Panthers
After a tough win against New York, Detroit travels to Carolina to take on the Panthers. Carolina has question marks at quarterback with Sam Darnold and with the pick of quarterback Matt Corral in the draft, it means there will be a quarterback battle between the two, and head coach Matt Rhule’s job will depend on who wins it and who can perform the best. With the quarterback being the biggest issue overall and the defense not getting much help, I think Detroit can escape Carolina with a win.
Prediction: Win
Week 17: Chicago Bears
As I said earlier, Chicago is taking a step back this season and now on the road, won’t have a chance to take down the Lions. Detroit will be sniffing a possible playoff bid here and will want to try everything to win this game.
Prediction: Win
Week 18: @ Green Bay Packers
A season finale against Green Bay at Lambeau Field for a possible playoff spot just seems like a storybook ending, huh? Sadly, the Lions aren’t ready for the playoffs yet, but if they showcase that with more free agents and a better quarterback next season, it could be their chance to return to the playoffs.
Prediction: Loss
Final record: 9-8
Detroit is expected to take a step forward this season, but with how the schedule is laid out, the Lions have a shot to sneak into the playoffs this season. Missing them should be expected, but an effort to almost get there will show the fans and the team that this rebuild is working out just fine and they are close to being where they want to be in Detroit.
Detroit has the 5th easiest schedule and they are the only team in the NFL that in every game they play, they are either rested just as much as the opposing team or they have more rest. Every game besides Thanksgiving, and possibly the season finale as that time is TBD right now, every game Detroit plays is on Sunday at 1 pm. No 4 pm games, no Monday Night Football, no Sunday Night Football, and no Thursday Night Football.
This team has been given its best chance to succeed this season and if they were given this kind of schedule in 2023, they would be a lock for a playoff spot, but this year, what was expected to be a five to six-game win season, could very well hit the double digits and give the Lions a chance to play in the playoffs a year earlier.