The Lions are 3-2 after five games, and the rest of the 2026 slate already looks like a grind. There’s no easing into it from here. Detroit has division games, a trip to Germany, a Thanksgiving showdown, and a finish that could carry real playoff weight.
Josh Jacobs remains on the Commissioner's Exempt List, and Detroit will still be chasing a little revenge against a division opponent that beat them twice last season. The next meeting with the Packers is shaping up as another test for the Lions’ secondary, though the offense is expected to do enough at home to keep things moving. That one lands as a 31-27 Detroit win, pushing the Lions to 4-2.
A week later, the Vikings bring a defense that could make life harder on Detroit. The division leaders are expected to try to slow the Lions down and attack a secondary that has questions. Justin Jefferson is projected to be a major factor at Ford Field, and that game is forecast as a 23-20 loss, dropping Detroit to 4-3.
After that comes what reads like a soft landing on the schedule. Detroit should have little trouble against a team that could wind up winless, and the prediction reflects that with a 40-17 win to move the Lions to 5-3.
Week 10 sends the Lions to Munich, Germany, for Sunday, Nov. 15 against the Patriots. It’s one of the tougher games on the board, though Drake Maye is also projected to have turnovers that hurt New England. Detroit is expected to put on a show overseas and come away with a 27-24 win, moving to 6-3.
The Buccaneers are next, and the source of concern there is injuries. Mike Evans leaving is described as a major loss for Tampa Bay’s offense, and the NFC South team could even be selling by the trade deadline. That sets up another Detroit win, this one 38-20, for a 7-3 mark.
Thanksgiving brings the Bears, and that one looks dicey. Chicago is expected to test Detroit, especially if its offensive weapons are healthy. Ben Johnson could lean on the Lions’ issues defending tight ends, and the result is a 35-31 loss that puts Detroit at 7-4.
Then comes one of the season’s marquee matchups, a road game built around two of the NFL’s best running backs. The Lions are projected to have a hard time leaving with a victory, with Bijan Robinson and Drake London both expected to be tough to contain. That one is a 38-35 loss, dropping Detroit to 7-5.
Tennessee offers a chance to steady things. The Titans are described as a mess, and the Lions’ offense should be enough to take advantage of a team that makes too many mistakes and has a quarterback who is not yet ready to lead it. Detroit wins 24-10 to reach 8-5.
The Vikings show up again after that, and this time Detroit is predicted to get the rematch. Fresh off the Titans win, the Lions are expected to be rolling and fighting hard in the division race. That game is a 27-24 win, putting them at 9-5.
Then comes the kind of prime-time curveball every season seems to have. Last year, the Giants hung around against the Lions at Ford Field, and this time Monday Night Football brings another competitive game. Jameis Winston could matter here, and the prediction is a 31-28 New York win, leaving Detroit at 9-6.
The Bears appear again late in the year, and weather is mentioned as a possible factor. Chicago will be looking to compete hard at home, and Ben Johnson is expected to empty the bag in a home victory. That one is listed as a 24-20 loss, putting the Lions at 9-7.
Detroit’s regular season ends with a game that could shape the playoff picture. The stakes are described as significant for both seeding and postseason hopes, and the Lions are forecast to finish strong. A 30-24 win closes out the year at 10-7, with a playoff berth potentially waiting ahead.
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Real Center Decision To Make
Cade Mays training-camp wrist fracture created a quiet opening on the Lions offensive line, and now that opening has turned into a real decision. The free-agent addition has been working back toward full availability, while backup center Juice Scruggs has handled the job well enough to keep the conversation from being simple.
Dan Campbell said Detroit will assess Mays in practice before deciding how to fold him back into the line, which is exactly the kind of week-to-week call that can shape an offense in September. Around the league, there is already belief in what Mays can bring when he is healthy, but for the Lions the immediate question is less about reputation than timing, fit, and whether the group that has been holding up can keep rolling a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Linebacker Decision That Could Test Their Rookies
Devin Whites forearm injury has suddenly put the Lions in a position they did not want to face this early in the season. After five games, Detroit had been leaning on White for linebacker depth and experience, but his absence opens a real workload question in the middle of the defense and forces the staff to sort through younger options in a hurry.
One obvious beneficiary is rookie Jimmy Rolder, who has mostly been used on special teams so far. If the Lions decide to stay internal, his defensive snaps could rise quickly, but the team also has another route available if it wants more stability and experience in the room. Joe Bachie is sitting on the practice squad as a possible answer, and Detroit now has to decide how aggressively it wants to patch the hole. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Goff's Rare Lions Highlight Had His Wife Calling Him Out
Jared Goff rarely gets the spotlight for what he does with his legs, which made his rushing touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 11 stand out all the more for the Lions. After the game, the Detroit quarterback posted photos on Instagram celebrating the score, a lighthearted post that drew playful reactions from family and teammates and added a little extra life to an already comfortable win.
For Goff, it was the kind of offbeat moment that tends to follow a player who has settled in as one of the faces of the franchise, even if his biggest work still comes from the pocket. The reaction from Christen Goff and others turned a simple highlight into a small social media scene, the sort of reminder that the Lions' season has become as much about personality and connection as it is about the box score. [Read more 🡒]