I went back and looked at my season prediction from last year the other day and boy was I off.
I had Jared Goff throwing for 4,555 yards and leading the Lions to an 11-6 record. Not terrible; Goff finished with 4,564 yards passing and the Lions went 9-8.
But I also had the Lions making the Super Bowl and losing to the Ravens, and neither of those teams even made the playoffs.
The Lions, of course, finished last in the NFC North last season despite their winning record, and spent the offseason retooling their roster and returning to their roots of hungry, hard-nosed players and a team built through the trenches.
I won’t be picking the Lions to make the Super Bowl this year. I think you’re probably trying to be different if you don’t take the Rams,
though that doesn’t mean they are a lock to win the Super Bowl. But I do think the Lions will be better and back in the postseason.
Here’s my game-by-game picks and stat predictions for the Lions in 2026.
Sept 13: vs. New Orleans Saints
The Saints could be without a handful of starters because of injuries, but even if they were healthy they’re not good enough to beat the Lions at Ford Field. Pick: Lions 31, Saints 20.
Sept. 17: at Buffalo Bills (Thursday night)
Brad Holmes said he likes the guys the Lions have in the secondary. With no Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch, Josh Allen might like them, too. Pick: Bills 28, Lions 23.
Sept. 27: vs. New York Jets
I don’t think the Jets will get the first pick in the draft next year. But I think they have a better chance of that than beating the Lions in coach Aaron Glenn’s first game against Dan Campbell. Pick: Lions 30, Jets 17.
Oct. 4: at Carolina Panthers (Sunday night)
I waffled on this game but I think the absence of Cade Mays, Branch and Joseph will cost the Lions one game early in the season they otherwise would have won. Pick: Panthers 24, Lions 23.
Oct. 11: at Arizona Cardinals
Remind me to get some dining recommendations from Drew Petzing before this game. Pick: Lions 34, Cardinals 24.
Oct. 25: vs. Green Bay Packers
Micah Parsons made his Green Bay debut against the Lions last year, and he could play his first game back from a torn ACL against the Lions this fall. Pick: Packers 27, Lions 21.
Nov. 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The height of J.J. McCarthy’s NFL career might always be that road win over the Lions last Nov. 2. Pick: Lions 20, Vikings 17.
Nov. 8: at Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are so bad they claimed seven players off waivers this week. If Malik Willis gets hurt, they might not win a game. Pick: Lions 38, Dolphins 17.
Nov. 15: vs. New England Patriots (Germany)
The Lions are landing in Germany about 48 hours before kickoff. I still think Amon-Ra St. Brown will them to victory. Pick: Lions 26, Patriots 24.
Nov. 22: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here’s where the letdown comes on the schedule after back-to-back road trips and with Thanksgiving up next. Pick: Bucs 28, Lions 21.
Nov. 26: vs. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving)
I don’t think the regression for coach Ben Johnson’s team will be as big as some believe. But I also don’t see him winning in Detroit. Pick: Lions 28, Bears 27.
Dec. 6: at Atlanta Falcons
If Bijan Robinson runs for 120 yards in this game, Jahmyr Gibbs will have 121. Pick: Lions 31, Falcons 27.
Dec. 13: vs. Tennessee Titans
Robert Saleh could have some success as coach in Tennessee, but it won’t be this year. Pick: Lions 35, Titans 21.
Dec. 20: at Minnesota Vikings
Beating a Brian Flores defense twice in one season is no easy task, but I think Goff pulls it off again. Pick: Lions 21, Vikings 17.
Dec. 28: vs. New York Giants (Monday night)
I expect the Giants to compete for the playoffs in coach John Harbaugh’s first year, but their end-of-season schedule is brutal with trips to Seattle, Detroit and Dallas in the final five weeks. Pick: Lions 30, Giants 24.
Jan 3: at Chicago Bears
Caleb “Yolo” Williams in the snow could be fun. Pick: Bears 24, Lions 20.
Jan. 9 or 10: at Green Bay Packers
Back-to-back division games outdoors to end it. If the Lions win the division, they’ll have earned it. Pick: Packers 27, Lions 21.
Lions record prediction: 11-6
Lions player stats predictions
- Jared Goff’s passing numbers: 4,498 yards, 31 TDs, 10 INTs
- Amon-Ra St. Brown’s receiving numbers: 120 catches, 1,373 yards, 9 TDs
- Jahmyr Gibbs’ rushing numbers: 298 carries, 1,581 yards, 9 TDs
- Aidan Hutchinson sacks: 15
NFL playoff predictions, picks for 2026 season
NFC playoffs
- NFC division winners: Lions, Cowboys, Rams, Buccaneers
- NFC wild cards: Packers, Seahawks, Eagles
- NFC title game: Rams over Eagles
AFC playoffs
- AFC division winners: Chiefs, Bills, Texans, Bengals
- AFC wild cards: Ravens, Broncos, Jaguars
- AFC title game: Chiefs over Bills
Super Bowl 2027 prediction and pick
- Super Bowl 61: Rams over Chiefs (in Inglewood, California)
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Predicting Detroit Lions 2026 schedule: Return to playoffs in cards
