CBS Sports: Detroit Lions Have 15th Toughest Projected Schedule In 2015
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
The 2014 Detroit Lions had a pretty successful season when it was all said and done. They went 11-5, eventually losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.
They put themselves in position to do what they set out to do. One win against the Green Bay Packers changes everything. I know the NFL doesn't work in hypotheticals, but think about it.
In my lifetime, I have seen good Lions teams that fell flat. The 2014 version of the team really did have some highs and lows, but more highs, I would say.
CBSSports.com put out their list projecting the toughest schedules for the 2015 season.
The rankings are based on the combined 2014 record of all 16 opponents.
Yet again this is hypothetical as we don't really know where the teams will be after the draft, free agency and so forth. Who knows if the NFL will have another Ray Rice/Adrian Peterson situation on their hands?
Dan Quinn might have hit the jackpot when he decided to be the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons as they are projected to have the easiest schedule. Pittsburgh Steelers have the hardest.
The 2015 Detroit Lions come in the middle of the pack at 15th. Their combined record of the opponents is 135-121 and a .527 winning percentage.
According to CBSSports.com:
Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs in 2014, only four of those teams had a strength of schedule over .500. That means the other eight playoff teams got into the postseason in due part to playing a weaker schedule.
After all was said and done, Dallas, Detroit, Houston and Pittsburgh played the four weakest schedules in 2014. Three of those teams made the playoffs and the one that didn't -- Houston -- finished with a winning record.
Lions' opponents for the 2015 season include home games against the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders. Road opponents are the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
