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The NFL is releasing the full 2020 schedule on Thursday, so it’s time to make our predictions on how it’ll play out. We already know the usual: home-and-homes with Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota. The Lions will also face the NFC South, AFC South, Cardinals, and Redskins in 2020. Now, let’s take a stab at how things will play out.
Divisional Games
Poll
Who will be the Lions’ first divisional opponent
This poll is closed
-
21%
Vikings
(103 votes) -
64%
Bears
(312 votes) -
14%
Packers
(68 votes)
My prediction: The Vikings. Nothing behind this, just a hunch, but it usually is either the Vikings or the Bears.
Poll
Will the Lions’ first divisional game be home or away?
My prediction: Away. Again, just a shot in the dark here.
End of Year
The Lions have finished many of the last few seasons with games against the Green Bay Packers, whether it be home or away. Will that continue?
Poll
Will the Lions face a divisional opponent in Week 17?
This poll is closed
-
35%
Yes, Green Bay
(167 votes) -
41%
Yes, Minnesota
(196 votes) -
14%
Yes, Chicago
(70 votes) -
7%
No
(34 votes)
My prediction: Yes, Green Bay. This one’s sort of a gimme after the Lions have finished many of the last several seasons with games against the Packers.
Poll
Will the Lions finish the season home or away?
My prediction: Away. The Lions-Packers matchup was home in 2017, away in 2018, home in 2019... you seeing a pattern too?
NFC/AFC South
The Lions play all eight teams between the two divisions at some point in the season.
Poll
Who will the Lions play first?
This poll is closed
-
79%
An AFC South team
(316 votes) -
20%
An NFC South team
(81 votes)
My prediction: An AFC South team. Rumors are swirling that the NFL is planning exclusively AFC-NFC matchups for the first four weeks of the season.
Poll
Which NFC South team will the Lions play first?
This poll is closed
-
23%
Tampa Bay
(90 votes) -
19%
New Orleans
(75 votes) -
33%
Carolina
(129 votes) -
22%
Atlanta
(87 votes)
My prediction: New Orleans. Just a hunch.
Poll
Which AFC South team will the Lions play first?
This poll is closed
-
21%
Tennessee
(75 votes) -
31%
Jacksonville
(113 votes) -
35%
Indianapolis
(125 votes) -
11%
Houston
(41 votes)
My prediction: Houston. No real reason, just my gut feeling.
Potpourri
Poll
Will the Lions start the season home or away?
My prediction: Away. By the Lions’ luck, they’ll get the hot weather games against southern teams in the first weeks of the season and freezing away games in the last few.
Poll
How many Lions games will be in prime time? (TNF SNF, or MNF — Thanksgiving doesn’t count)
This poll is closed
-
16%
0
(63 votes) -
54%
1
(209 votes) -
22%
2
(87 votes) -
5%
3
(22 votes)
My prediction: 2. The Lions are an up and coming team this year (hopefully) after a flashy free agency and draft; that ought to land them at least one, and I’m hoping for a second.
Poll
Will the Thanksgiving game be a divisional game?
My prediction: No. Early rumblings are saying Tom Brady and the Bucs may be coming to town for Thanksgiving, but we’ll see if that comes to fruition.
It’s always a huge guessing game with these, but the NFL has taken a liking to certain patterns in recent years that allow us to have some idea of what to expect. Following Thursday’s schedule release, we’ll revisit the polls and see how you all fared in predicting what the Lions’ 2020 season will look like.