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Lions 2015 Schedule Released. A Game-By-Game Look

By: Jamie Samuelsen
@JamieSamuelsen

The draft is still a week and a half away. The Lions don't currently have a left guard. James Ihedigbo is holding out. The landscape of the NFC North is still very much up in the air.

What better time could there be to go game-by-game and see how the Lions are going to do in 2015?

The NFL schedule was released Tuesday night, and as usual the league did the Lions no favors. A brutal start with three of the first four games on the road and the lone home game is Sunday Night Football against Peyton Manning and the Broncos. I foresee a streaky season finishing with an 8-8 final record. But we should probably have the draft first.

 

SEPT. 13 - AT SAN DIEGO - Perhaps the last call for the Chargers in San Diego. The Lions always seem to struggle on the west coast and this is no exception. Should be a warm day under the sun in southern California. Chargers 31 Lions 12

 

SEPT. 20 AT MINNEOSTA - It doesn't make sense to me why the Vikes couldn't still play at the Metrodome until their new stadium is ready. Instead the Lions get outdoor TCF Bank Stadium. The Lions snuck one out there last year. They won't be so lucky this year. Vikings 24 Lions 16

 

SEPT. 27 VS. DENVER - Peyton Manning is another year older. But he's still deadly in a climate-controlled stadium. I almost wish this game was in Denver, and I'm 100% serious. Lions are 0-3 Broncos 33 Lions 23

 

OCT. 5 AT SEATTLE - 0-4? Are the wheels already coming off? Cliff Avril will spend most of this Monday night in the Lions backfield terrorizing Matthew Stafford. Russell Wilson will throw for 215 yards and run for another 80. Seahawks 34 Lions 23

 

OCT. 11 VS. ARIZONA - For a time there, the Cardinals had the best record in the NFC. But then Carson Palmer went down and the season went down the tube. Palmer is back. But guess what - he's still Carson Palmer. Lions get on the winning track. Lions 24 Cardinals 20

 

OCT. 18 VS. CHICAGO - Ford Field has become a House of Horrors for Jay Cutler. Even without Ndamukong Suh out there the Lions make life miserable for the Bears miserable QB. Three sacks for Ziggy Ansah. Lions have two in a row. Lions 30 Bears 16

 

OCT. 25 VS. MINNESOTA - So many questions. Will Adrian Peterson play? Is Teddy Bridgewater the answer? Will any team challenge the Packers on the NFC North. No, no and no. But the Lions still sneak this one out. Lions 22 Vikings 20

 

NOV. 1 VS. KANSAS CITY (LONDON) - Last year, the Lions were gifted a game across the Atlantic when Falcons coach Mike Smith mangled clock management down the stretch. Andy Reid is cut from the same clock management cloth. Lions eke one out. After four straight losses, the Lions are 4-4. Lions 24 Chiefs 23

 

NOV. 15 AT GREEN BAY - The Lions had one of the top defenses in the NFL in 2014 and Aaron Rodgers could barely walk. Rodgers still led the Packers to victory and clinched the division title. The Lions might win at Lambeau when they dome it - in other words…never. Packers 38 Lions 24

 

NOV. 22 VS. OAKLAND - This has to be Charles Woodson's last season, doesn't it? Woodson celebrates his return to Michigan with a pick-six off Stafford, but it isn't nearly enough. Lions 27 Raiders 13

 

NOV. 26 VS. PHILADELPHIA - Is Chip Kelly a mad genius, or just mad? We'll find out this season. A lot of offense. Very little defense. Stafford outguns Bradford (or Tebow) (or Mariota) in a Thanksgiving shootout. Lions 44 Eagles 38

 

DEC. 3 VS. GREEN BAY - When Suh signed with the Dolphins, Aaron Rodgers was the first person I thought of. He must be THRILLED that Suh is playing in another conference this season. Three TDs for Rodgers, one more for Eddie Lacy. Pack rolls on Thursday night. Packers 42 Lions 20

 

DEC. 13 AT ST. LOUIS - Nick Fairley gets a chance to line up against his old team, assuming he's healthy (and not grossly overweight). He'll sack Stafford twice and the underrated Rams will score a big home win. Rams 20 Lions 14

 

DEC. 21 AT NEW ORLEANS - Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi wants to install a Saints-like offense in Detroit. Today, he gets a front row seat to watch his mentor (Sean Payton) and his pupil (Drew Brees) put on a clinic on Monday Night Football. Saints 36 Lions 24

 

DEC. 27 VS. SAN FRANCISCO - You may think the Lions had a bad off-season. Nobody in any sport has had a worse off-season than the 49ers. Jim Harbaugh might sneak into Ford Field to watch Detroit beat up on his former team. Lions 26 49ers 13

 

JAN 3. AT CHICAGO - The Bears fell apart in 2014. John Fox is not going to be a difference maker in 2015. The Lions will struggle to win on the road - but not at Soldier Field. Lions 24 Bears 21

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