Detroit Lions Dealt a Brutal Hand With 2025 Schedule

The Detroit Lions will enter the 2025 season looking to recover from a disappointing postseason loss and needing to replace both their offensive and defensive coordinators. Aaron Glenn was hired to be the head coach of the New York Jets and Ben Johnson will lead the Chicago Bears. 

Detroit’s schedule, especially early on, will not provide the team with the opportunity to ease into the NFL season. The Lions are tied for the league’s second-toughest schedule and have the NFL’s toughest schedule through Week 11. They also have 11 playoff teams on their schedule. Will the Detroit Lions be able to navigate a daunting 17-game schedule?

Detroit Lions Game-By-Game Breakdown

Week 1 @Green Bay Packers: This is a tough opening game for the Detroit Lions. They will have to go on the road against a divisional rival. The Lions will start the season with a close victory, though. 1-0.

Week 2 vs. Chicago Bears: This will be Johnson’s first chance to face his former team. He will look to pull out all the stops. It will allow him to leave Ford Field with a victory in hand. 1-1.

Week 3 @Baltimore Ravens(MNF): On the road in Baltimore is no easy task for a team. Even one with as deep a roster as the Detroit Lions. Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson has been tremendous against the NFC in his illustrious career. He will outscore the Lions in a high-flying affair. 1-2.

Week 4 vs. Cleveland Browns: Following a tough first three games, Detroit will have an easier game against the hapless Cleveland Browns. The Lions will win dominantly. 2-2.

Week 5 @Cincinnati Bengals: This is the first of back-to-back difficult road games for the Lions. Detroit’s defense limped to the finish line last season, and it is unknown how well the defense will play under Kelvin Sheppard over the first month of the season. Joe Burrow will lead an aerial attack that the Lions won’t be able to keep up with. 2-3.

Week 6 @Kansas City Chiefs(SNF): A primetime matchup on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs is one of the toughest spots in the NFL. Kansas City will also have revenge on its mind from Week 1 of the 2023 season. Detroit went on the road and won that game. They ruined Kansas City’s Super Bowl celebration. The Chiefs tend to coast at times during the regular season. Detroit will face a locked-in Chiefs team and head home with consecutive losses. 2-4.

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers(MNF): Coming off back-to-back-losses the Detroit Lions will be desperate for a win. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have illustrated they are a top-tier opponent. Detroit will get back in the win column though following a close win. 3-4.

Week 8 Bye: Following a tough first 7 games, the Lions get a much-deserved bye week. The first half of the season will be a struggle for the Lions.

Week 9 vs. Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback J.J. McCarthy will enter a hostile environment in this Week 9 tilt. The Detroit Lions will record a win to get back to .500. 4-4.

Week 10 @Washington Commanders: Detroit will lead to the “Nation’s Capital” with revenge on their mind. The Commanders came into Ford Field and sent the Lions home in the NFC Divisional Round. 45-31. The Detroit Lions had no answer for rookie Quarterback Jayden Daniels. Washington will beat the Lions again. This time at home. 4-5.

Week 11 @Philadelphia Eagles(SNF): Detroit’s brutal road schedule continues with a game against the defending champions. In what could be a playoff preview, Detroit will be overwhelmed by Philadelphia’s deep roster. 4-6.

Week 12 vs. New York Giants: Detroit’s third straight game against an NFC East team will have them face one of the worst teams in football. New York is rebuilding and will be run off the field by the Lions. 5-6.

Week 13 vs. Green Bay Packers(Thanksgiving Day): Following a win against Green Bay in Week 1, the script will flip in Detroit. Green Bay will win, and each team will win on the road in the season series. 5-7.

Week 14 vs. Dallas Cowboys(TNF): There is no love lost between these teams. When Johnson was the Lions OC, he would always have a few trick plays dialed up against the Dallas Cowboys. Dan Campbell will have his team motivated to defeat the Cowboys. 6-7.

Week 15 @Los Angeles Rams: This will be a game between two of the best teams in the NFC. Detroit will be forced to endure a long trip against a top-flight team. It will not be a fruitful trip for the Lions as they will lose. 6-8.

Week 16 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Even though the Steelers are habitual playoff teams, there is too much uncertainty surrounding their QB situation for them to go on the road and defeat the Lions. Even if Aaron Rodgers is the team’s starter. 7-8.

Week 17 @Minnesota Vikings: Detroit will head to Minnesota in must-win territory. The Detroit Lions will stay alive for at least another week and head home with a victory. 8-8.

Week 18 @Chicago Bears: Both teams will be fighting for a playoff spot/seeding when Week 18 rolls around. After losing to the Bears earlier in the year, the Detroit Lions will get a win against them to close out the season. 9-8.

Final Thoughts

A 9-8 record is a far cry from their 15-2 record last season. Detroit’s tough schedule will be its undoing. It is unknown if 9-8 will be enough to sneak into the NFL Playoffs, but it will not be as good a season in the “Motor City.”