Detroit Lions 2020 schedule predictions: Picking every game

The Detroit Lions schedule has some winnable games for Matt Patricia’s team that looks to climb out of the NFC North basement.

In his second season in the Motor City, Lions’ head coach Matt Patricia and the team was 2-0-1 in its first three contests. Then for numerous reasons, including the loss of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford down the stretch, the clubs went 1-12 the rest of the way and closed the year with nine consecutive losses. Patricia owns a 9-22-1 record during his brief stay with the club. So what will that mark look like after the 2020 season?

Weeks 1-4

Last season, the rival Chicago Bears swept the Lions for the second consecutive year. That included a 24-20 Thanksgiving Day loss at Ford Field this past year. Perhaps the big question is whether Detroit’s defense will be dealing with Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles. In any case, Matt Patricia’s team will wind up getting the job done.

It was arguably the most frustrating loss of the Lions’ latest forgettable season. On a Monday night at Lambeau Field, the club opened up an early double-digit lead but watched the Packers rally for a 23-22 win. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has amassed some big numbers in this series and this meeting will be no different.

Last season on opening weekend at Arizona, the Lions squandered a 24-6 fourth-quarter advantage and settle for a 27-all tie vs. the Cardinals. It will be interesting to see how the team handles Kyler Murray in his second NFL season. You can expect both teams to put their share of points on the board and Detroit to come up short.

It will be the fifth meeting in seven seasons between the clubs and the first at Detroit since 2014. But the last time that the Lions and Saints clashed, New Orleans came away with a 52-38 home win three years ago. Drew Brees will be taking aim at a new-look Lions’ secondary and he and wideout Michael Thomas will have big games.