The Detroit Lions’ remaining schedule includes many strong teams

While the Lions are currently atop the NFC, they are the league’s second-strongest contenders over the next ten weeks. The combined record of Detroit’s remaining opponents is 47-30, and only Chicago’s opponents have a higher win total.

Green Bay Packers (5-2) – November 3 and December 5

The division rivals have not yet met in the 2024 season and are fighting for first place in the division. For the Packers, it has not been announced whether starting quarterback Jordan Love will be able to play on November 3rd because he suffered a groin injury in last week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Additionally, Green Bay is coming off its worst defensive performance of the year and is facing the league’s strongest offense with 52 points. That being said, the Packers can never be counted out and have been a contending team all season.

Houston Texans (6-2) – November 10

The Texans had a monster offseason, bringing in offensive talent like Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon for second-year quarterback sensation CJ Stroud. However, Houston’s offense has been underwhelming thus far, leading to the Texans having close games all season. Luckily, their defense is on the rise and will be a very big task for the Lions. If Houston’s defense holds, an offense that hasn’t struggled could be in trouble.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) – November 17

The only team the Lions have yet to face that currently has a losing record. The Jaguars have had a rough season but are starting to bounce back and almost beat Green Bay last week. However, Jacksonville has one of the worst defenses in football, as the Jaguars have allowed 26 touchdowns on the season, second-worst in the league. With Detroit’s offense in full swing and its defense struggling, things could get ugly at Ford Field.

Indianapolis Colts (4-4) – November 24th

The Lions will travel to Indianapolis to take on another AFC South opponent in the Indianapolis Colts. The big question of the game is who will play quarterback for Indianapolis, as young Anthony Richardson was substituted for veteran Joe Flacco. The move will hopefully help a struggling offense that will be needed to beat the Lions. Detroit also needs to keep in mind that the Colts will find a way to keep games close despite the difficulties, as none of their games have been more than 6 points apart.

Chicago Bears (4-3) – November 28 and December 22

Detroit still hasn’t seen the new and improved Bears team and they’ll have to do it twice near the end of the season. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and an outstanding defense have made them a contender in the toughest league in football. The most important thing to note in both matchups is which side of the ball was better. When it comes to defense, Chicago has the upper hand, while when it comes to offense, it’s the Lions.

Buffalo Bills (6-2) – December 15th

If there’s one game the Lions defense absolutely needs to have on their schedule, it’s against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo’s lowest score for a game during the year was 20, while its highest was 47. The matchup has a chance of becoming a shootout between two of the NFL’s best offenses and quarterbacks, but if the Lions stop them with their defense, they could just become the undisputed Superbowl favorites.

San Francisco 49ers (4-4) – December 30

The rematch in the NFC Championship game could look a little different for the 49ers as they have been plagued by injuries all season. Notable injured players include current NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, who hasn’t played in a game all season, and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who tore his ACL two weeks ago. The injuries left San Francisco looking nothing like themselves. Mix in a Detroit team looking for revenge, and the 49ers have a tough challenge on their hands.

Minnesota Vikings (5-2) – January 5

The last time the two teams played each other, the Vikings went into the game undefeated and suffered their first loss of the season by two points. Minnesota wants to get back on its feet for the final game of the season. The Vikings have now seen how the Lions play and need to fix what killed them the first time around: the passing game. The game could also become the NFC North championship depending on how both teams’ records pan out. Overall, the duel between the two division rivals is always a head-to-head race, and that doesn’t change here either.