After a two-game improvement last season from their infamous 0-16 blunder of a year in 2008, the Lions can again improve and their number of victories will be four if they can again double up. 2009 still saw Detroit suck in their in neutral on the road, a streak that now stands at 20 games in a row (2001-'03 Lions own record of 24 in a row). And Detroit actually lost at home to St. Louis last year for the Rams' lone win of the 2009 season and their first road win since midway through the 2008 season.
All things considered, things are looking up in Detroit. The offense gave fans reason to believe that the Lions do have their QB of the future in Matthew Stafford, who threw for 2,267 yards and 13 TDs. His rookie experiences still lead to 20 picks despite missing six games due to injury, so that needs to be his biggest improvement. Calvin Johnson remains one of the top wideouts in the league despite spotty quarterbacking, and adding Nate Burleson should take some pressure off Johnson. Two more aerial weapons for Stafford is the team's one-two punch at tight end in Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler, who was acquired this offseason from Denver. Speed merchant running back Jahvid Best, the rookie out of Cal, aims for a very nice rookie season with rehabbing Kevin Smith not expected to be in the starting line-up and thus allowing the first-year tailback tons of opportunity for touches, both running the ball and on screen plays and in the flat.
The lowest-ranked defense unit in the NFL for three consecutive seasons, the Lions need to see 180 degree-type changes to get out of the cellar in so many categories. They added several veterans on that side of the ball to help, notably corner Dre' Bly, defense tackle Corey Williams and ex-Titan Kyle Vanden Bosch. But by far the biggest addition will be No. 2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh out of Nebraska, whom many scouts have called the best defensive tackle prospect to enter the league in two decades. With that said, the defensive line should command most of the attention and perhaps take pressure off what has been a very poor back four. There are solid building blocks in DeAndre Levy and safety Louis Delmas. The defense still won't be good, but it could at least finish better than 25th or so and the mix of youthful exuberance and some veterans might bode well this season.
You can again forget the playoffs or even contending for the NFC North title, but they will be better Betus lists their NFL win season total NFL odds at just five, which is tied for the fewest with St. Louis.
Let's break down the 2010 Detroit Lions Schedule
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Philadelphia, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, St. Louis, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 25, New England, 12:30 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Detroit's schedule is ranked as the 12th-toughest in the NFL next season with an opponents' 2009 winning percentage of.508 (130-126). There are eight games against playoff teams from last year, but four of those are against division rivals Minnesota and Green Bay. If you notice all of the Lions' games are in the early slot, so not only will they not touch your television in prime time but again another season for Detroit without appearing on Monday Night Football.
That lousy Lion defense was pummeled twice last year by Week 1 opponent Chicago, with the Bears totaling 85 points in sweeping Detroit for the second year in a row. There are probably only two realistic road wins on here for Detroit to end that losing streak: at Buffalo and at Tampa Bay. If the Lions don't win at Buffalo, they could break their own NFL record for consecutive road losses. That's also likely Detroit's lone cold-weather game. Detroit won't be winning at Green Bay - it has lost 19 straight at the Packers.
Starting with three of four on the road probably means another rough start - 0-4 looks pretty likely. In fact, if the Lions have two wins by the bye it's an upset. Detroit probably will only be favored once this season: that rematch of last season's loss at Ford Field to St. Louis.
A key stretch for sure is the team's longest road trip of the year - to Dallas - preceded by a short week game against the Patriots. And Detroit hasn't won on Thanksgiving since 2003 and no game has really been close since then. After this a three-game homestand is on the menu.
Could the Lions reach five wins? It's possible but I think they double their total for the second year in a row and finish 4-12 - so take the 'under' and enjoy all the football picks from Doc's Sports this season
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