The Detroit Lions are heading into the season with a few key names already on the shelf, and that’s going to force some early adjustments on both sides of the ball.
Cade Mays, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and now Isiah Pacheco are all slated to start the year on injured reserve, which puts a little extra pressure on a roster that already has some moving parts. The running back group and offensive line may need time to settle in again, while Kelvin Sheppard’s defense could have some growing pains against the pass with a brand-new safety room in place.
That makes the stretch before the Week 6 bye especially interesting. With a handful of injured players potentially working their way back by then, here’s a look at how Detroit’s first five games could shake out.
Week 1 brings the New Orleans Saints to town, and the pick here is a win for Detroit. New Orleans should be better than its 2025 record indicates.
Tyler Shough proved last season that he can be a serviceable starter, and he’ll have plenty around him with Chris Olave, Travis Etienne Jr., and Alvin Kamara, though Kamara is injured. Rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson will also be out to begin the season.
The Saints have a solid offensive line and a defensive front led by Cam Jordan and Chase Young, both fresh off 10-plus sack seasons. Detroit could have its hands full there, but this feels like a game where the Lions’ ground attack does the heavy lifting.
New Orleans allowed 120.6 rushing yards per game last season.
Week 2 is the one that stands out most: a road trip to Buffalo, on a short week, and still a projected Lions win. That’s the bold call, but the matchup points in Detroit’s direction.
Buffalo may be viewed as a Super Bowl contender, yet its defense remains the major concern. It’s hard to see them consistently slowing down Detroit’s receiver group or Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Bills’ offense is still their strength, and trading for D.J. Moore made it better, but the real question is whether they can stop the Lions when it matters.
The edge here goes to Detroit, even with the quick turnaround.
The Lions then return home for Week 3 against the New York Jets, and that’s another predicted win. New York should again have a strong defense, but there are still questions on offense.
The Jets addressed quarterback by trading for Geno Smith, though he’s coming off a rough year with the Las Vegas Raiders. Maybe the fit was the issue, and maybe the talent around him finally starts to pop.
Still, Detroit looks like the safer bet. The Lions’ passing game should matter here, and while the Jets’ defensive line could be excellent, there’s less confidence in their ability to completely shut down Detroit’s receivers.
Protecting Jared Goff will be a big assignment for Juice Scruggs, Blake Miller and Penei Sewell.
Week 4 takes the Lions to Carolina, and the projection stays the same: win. At this point, a 4-0 start might sound like a stretch, but the schedule gives Detroit a real chance to build momentum.
The Panthers game could have been framed as the Mays revenge game, but instead it becomes a DJ Wonnum revenge game. Wonnum flashed in limited preseason snaps, and there’s optimism about what he can do this year working alongside Aidan Hutchinson and Derrick Moore.
With Carolina’s offensive line looking weaker after losing Mays, Detroit’s defense is expected to overwhelm Bryce Young and the Panthers.
Week 5 sends the Lions to Arizona, and that’s another win on the board in this projection. It’s also another revenge-game setup, with Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing facing his former team.
Arizona is one of the teams projected to be tanking this season, largely because it still needs a franchise quarterback. Jacoby Brissett could be the starter in this one, unless the Cardinals have already decided he’s too good and turned to Carson Beck instead.
They do have real talent in Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride and pass rusher Josh Sweat, but the roster around them doesn’t look deep enough to make them a complete threat. Right now, they look like the Jets of the West.
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Lions Sent A Clear Message With One Surprise Pass Rush Decision
Brad Holmes made it clear during roster trimdown season that Eric ONeills path to the 53-man roster was about more than simply surviving a numbers crunch. The Lions general manager pointed to the undrafted rookies playmaking instincts, his ability to move around the defense, and the way his approach fit the teams culture, which is no small endorsement for a player who had to force his way into the conversation from the start.
It also says something about where Detroit believes its pass rush is headed. Ray Agnew described the defensive line as a strength, and the group has the names to back it up with Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Tyleik Williams, D.J. Wonnum and Derrick Moore all part of the mix. In that kind of room, a surprise decision on the edge is less about filling a hole and more about the Lions signaling they want depth, versatility and competition to keep the pressure coming all season. [Read more 🡒]
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Williams has made steady progress in recent seasons, enough to make the idea worth serious discussion rather than a pure hypothetical. If Petzings offense leans into Williams explosiveness the way some around the league expect, the Lions could be looking at a very different pecking order in the passing game, with St. Brown still central to everything but no longer the unquestioned top producer by seasons end. [Read more 🡒]
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Westbrook-Ikhine has mostly worked as an outside receiver, which gives Detroit a potential fit if it wants another experienced body on the boundary. The tradeoff is that he does not bring return specialist experience, so if the Lions want one of those vacant spots to help on special teams as well, the decision gets a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]