Detroit Lions 2020 schedule predictions: Picking every game

Weeks 9-12

There was a time the hand which the Lions to out their history couldn’t find a way to beat the Redskins. Including playoffs, there was a stretch of 18 consecutive losses in the series. A year ago in Week 12, Detroit fell, 19-16, in a game in which the defense did not give up a touchdown. But turnabout will be fair play in a narrow win.

For the third time in four years, the Lions and Carolina Panthers will renew acquaintances and this will mark the first meeting in Charlotte since 2014. And the last time these teams square off, Matt Patricia’s team came up with a 20-19 win two years ago at Detroit. But this time, the nail-biting affair goes the way of the Panthers.

The last time the lions hosted the Houston Texans was on Thanksgiving Day of 2012 and Detroit came up short in overtime, 34-31. This will mark just the fifth meeting between these interconference foes and the first since 2016. The Texans have won the last three encounters and will make it four straight in another close contest.

There was a time in which the Lions owned the series with the Chicago Bears, going 9-1 in the series from 2013-17. But that has completely reversed in recent years. And Detroit head coach Matt Patricia is 0-2 at Soldier Field during his brief stint with the teams. The Lions’ frustration in this longtime rivalry continues with a close setback.