Above is the 2007 schedule for the Detroit Lions. It was released yesterday and already the predictions have begun. An early glance at what Detroit faces in 2007 is not one that has much promise behind it. Every year Lions fans try to be optimistic and try to predict a decent record, but in the end, the Lions always falter. Well, after seeing this schedule, I'm not even going to bother to be optimistic. Sure, this sounds very negative, but I don't see the Lions winning more than 6 games at best.

There are many tough match-ups on this schedule against good teams. I'm sure Detroit will score an upset or two over the course of this next season and on the flip side drop a couple of games that should be won. Either way, let's stay away from predictions as of right now and look more at the actual schedule part of it.

The Lions open the season at Oakland in what will be a meeting of the league's worst teams from this past season. I've heard that the main reason this game was selected as the opener is due to the fact that there would be some buzz surrounding it. If not during opening weekend, you just have a game between two bad teams.

Moving on, the Lions play their first home game of the season the following week against divisional rival Minnesota. Throughout the season the schedule follows a home one week and away the next format except for when Detroit plays two consecutive home games in late-November.

It won't be an easy ending with games against the Cowboys, Chargers, and Chiefs for three straight weeks in December. That will lead up to the final game of the season at Lambeau Field against the Packers in what could be Brett Favre's final home game.

All in all, there are quite a few good games to go see this year. With many decent teams coming to Ford Field, you'll have some variety if you choose to buy tickets down the road in August.

The preseason kicks off on August 9th against the Bengals. The three other preseason dates have also been finalized.

Despite the likelihood of another losing season, I am already excited for football to start up again.