Passing Time: Lions 2026 Schedule Release - Breakdown & Win/Loss Predictions - S2E51 - 5/15/26

The 2026 schedule for the Detroit Lions is finally here and we’re breaking down EVERY game on Episode 51 of Passing Time! 🦁🔥

In this episode, we react to the full 2026 Lions schedule release, discuss the toughest matchups, biggest trap games, primetime opportunities, and predict the final record for Detroit this season. Can the Lions make another deep playoff run? How many wins will they finish with in 2026?

🏈 Topics Covered:

Full Detroit Lions 2026 schedule breakdown
Game-by-game win/loss predictions
Toughest stretches of the season
NFC North outlook
Playoff expectations
Bold predictions for the 2026 season

Drop your final record prediction for the Lions in the comments! ⬇️

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:04

You're listening to Passing Time, a Detroit Lions podcast. We're one pride and all grit with a passion for Detroit Lions football. Whether you're between meetings, between classes, sitting in traffic, or just relaxing at home, if you have time to pass, pass it with Passing Time. Detroit Lions Talk.

SPEAKER_00 0:25

Welcome back. Episode number 51. B Mike's 51. You are Passing Time with Us, a Detroit Lions podcast. I'm Rob. I'm Brian. Hey, today we're gonna do a quick podcast, and we are gonna give you kind of the uh way too early instant reaction to the schedule coming out.

SPEAKER_01 0:51

Yeah, yeah. I mean, so we saw the release come out uh yesterday. Um exciting stuff this to see how the lions are going to um you know to work out in in regards to the the the schedule and and you there's a there's a couple little spots there that I'm like a little bit worried about, but all overall I like how the schedule panned out.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

So and then uh we'll probably cram at the end just our our thoughts on the end of the like the roster construction after the draft, where we're sitting, how we're feeling. Are we still euphoric? Are we have we simmered down our our hope a little bit? And uh we'll see if Bill has anything to add to the to the back end of the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Sure. Well let's get it rolling.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

That sounds good. Alright. So uh let's skip the preseason, Brian. Um, and we'll go right into week one, okay? Uh a home opener against the New Orleans Saints.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

I I like I like warming up right there. I like the the opener at home against the Saints, which I I am hopeful that the Lions are tremendously better than.

SPEAKER_00 2:03

So I you know, I think uh I think the Saints are are starting to cook a little bit. I think they uh they got a good coach. I think Kellen Moore is a good coach. I think they found a I don't think they found a superstar quarterback, but I think they found a guy that could be a be a starter for them. Yep. I think they're drafting well, they're getting rid of some of these old contracts that have just doomed them. They're not quite ready to maybe make the big jump yet.

SPEAKER_01 2:27

Yep, they're not quite there yet, and the Lions should be able to take care of business, especially early in this season. Um, but it it is a good like good get get the wheels greased, get it rolling a little bit, get your get Petsing, you know, a game under his belt as the Detroit Lions OC, uh get Kafka going um as the support system in that passing game coordinator, get Kelvin Shepard figuring out what what we're going to do, the ins and outs and so on, and uh get the Lions rolling.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Um the NFC South is a lot like the AL Central, right? So like this is you know, they are they're in the playoff hunt just for existing in the NFC South. So this is a big game for them. But um, Brian, way too early prediction for this game.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Well, it's gonna be a Lions win right there. That way too early prediction, but the Lions are gonna roll it off or start it off on a positive note.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

All right, I like it. Uh also Lions W. 1-0, 1-0 after week one. Uh, week two is a tricky one, Brian.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

So we're going to Buffalo opening their stadium on a Thursday night, prime time. And uh, you know, it's uh the Buffalo Bills are they're they're a tough team.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

They're legit. They're they're uh they're up obviously a playoff contender, a Super Bowl contender. Um there's gonna be a lot of juice there. They got this new stadium, um, they're amped up. I mean, I think the it was like an 18-month or a 24-month build.

SPEAKER_02 3:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:59

Um, and they kept, you know, they kept it exposed. It's not a dome. They they put it up to the fans. The fans said no, they want the elements. It'll be early in the year, so it'll probably be pretty good weather. Yeah, hope for sure. Um, but a very, very difficult game uh for the Lions on a short week on the road to go to Buffalo.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

Um, and so this would be the where I would predict that the Lions might go one-on-one in those first two games, you know, fall to the the Bills, you know, in that that week to two matchups so all right.

SPEAKER_00 4:28

Yeah, I'm in. Um I I don't like agreeing the whole time. So I'm gonna we have some deviation here, but this is unrehearsed. We're kind of going through this kind of raw and giving it to you and uh hoping to inject some enthusiasm into you uh with this schedule release. So uh week three. So we have one-on-one Detroit Lions, week three, uh New York Jets at home. You know, the the way this schedule's unfolding, just thinking about it, is the Saints is kind of a it's a Dan Campbell type game, right? Like he came from there, right? The Bills a little less, but then then you got the Jets.

SPEAKER_01 5:05

And AG coming back home, trying to uh impose some of his defensive will against the Detroit Lions, having some of his nuances, knowing that Calvin Shepard was one of his proteges, and uh, you know, are we gonna see his best? And is is new are the New York Jets going to start uh to get some traction in his year two of his regime?

SPEAKER_00 5:27

No, they're not, Brian. Actually, the New York Jets um are right there with the Miami Dolphins as two teams that are gonna be fighting for a top five pick in the next NFL draft. Um, this looks like a Lions W. And honestly, I think AG is a sacrificial lamb and he's gonna have a tough season.

SPEAKER_01 5:47

He's gonna have a tough season, I completely agree, and I would be very surprised if AG makes it through the entire season as the New York Jets head coach.

SPEAKER_00 5:56

Lions two and one going into week four at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night football.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

Another primetime game. Uh, and you know, I I don't believe that the Carolina Panthers are going to reach the same status as they did this past year. Um, I think they're gonna take it a step back. Um, and therefore the Lions are going to be able to come in to Carolina. Um, and uh I I feel like they're gonna again keep it rolling there. So I think they're gonna we leave week four with a three-and-one record.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

So week four, three-on-one record. Um it's a tough game. Carolina Panthers, um who did they give the they gave the business to was it the Rams? Or yeah, and uh made it a close playoff game. Um solid team. They're they're adding more offensive weapons over there. Um again, don't want to agree a whole lot, and you know, I'm looking at the next couple weeks, and we're probably gonna do some agreeing here. But the Lions are sitting here after week four at 3-1, and we're feeling pretty good about the Detroit Lions at this point.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Um, and then uh back-to-back road games on to the Arizona Cardinals to see um what Petsing can do against his forward team.

SPEAKER_00 7:10

So another another little narrative in that game. So um Cardinals are in an interesting state, and I I'll be very interested to see in this game if it's if the Cardinals are feating featuring Jacoby Brissett or if they have already moved on to Carson Beck. Um, if they're uh you know for the Lions, man, the Cardinals are another team that are gonna be playing for a top five NFL draft pick. Yep. And uh the Lions get to play two of those teams in the first five weeks, and actually they end up playing all three of those teams in the course of the year.

SPEAKER_01 7:46

You you would hope that in the schedule release that we could spread some of these guys out, um, but hopefully we are able to get things rolling. We hopefully are able to uh get a Blake Miller under, you know, his feet under him. You get um Panay Sewell used to that left side a little bit more. You you have again Kelvin Shepherd's defense starting to roll on uh um some of all those cylinders. And I think Arizona is just gonna be one of those uh those warm-up games along the the road.

SPEAKER_00 8:18

So calling a road game a warm-up game is um that's that's Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid. I think you know, road games are tough in the NFL. It's hard to win all your road games or all road game. Um this one seems a little bit more on the winnable side. Sure. Um, but I I'm not quite where Brian is. We're we're we're you know, we're we're talking about cakewalks here.

SPEAKER_01 8:43

Are you are you trying to be uh controversial with me? Are you trying to look for that that one game that we can disagree on?

SPEAKER_00 8:50

I think we're gonna have one. I think we're gonna have one coming up here. So like uh week six, they get a buy, right? So like good time for one.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

It is it because I really wish that they would be able to push that back into you know maybe week nine. Um, but uh, you know, obviously week six is where where it falls on, um, but does feel good going into Green Bay, uh the Green Bay week at home, um, having that bye week to get that extra week of preparation.

SPEAKER_00 9:18

So Sunday, uh uh Green Bay Packers 425 game. This is where the season really starts, man.

SPEAKER_01 9:27

This is uh the NFC North. We're gonna start to see some of those divisional rivals and what have they done um up until this point to uh to establish themselves. I mean, they they start their the Green Bay starts off their um their week one with with Minnesota and then on to the New York Jets. They're seeing Atlanta, Tampa Bay, and Chicago all before they would would see and Dallas all before they would see us.

SPEAKER_00 9:53

So and if you're if you're a Lions fan, that's feeling mighty good to you. That is a much tougher um also that they've got a couple North games under their belt.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

And is Micah Parsons gonna be healthy by by week seven? You know, you you consider probably he's probably considered to be back around week five, maybe even a little bit earlier. But um, you know, those ACL injuries, you're not really truthful yourself um until maybe even a year later.

SPEAKER_00 10:20

So yeah, all right, that's a good angle there. Yeah, um, and you know, Michael Parsons is a game changer for sure. So uh, you know, the Packers had a little bit of a gauntlet getting into this game, and now the Lions, you know, they go back-to-back games in the NFC North, and they uh but they're home games, yep. And they welcome the Minnesota Vikings with either the fighting JJ McCarthy's or the potential Kyler Murray's.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

I would be very surprised if Kyler Murray isn't the starting quarterback at this point. Um but uh you know crazier things have happened in the NFC North.

SPEAKER_00 10:56

So Vikings are gonna be tough. Uh the the same defensive coordinator, same defense. Um it'll be it'll be a very tough game. So actually, I apologize. Brian, we we have to go back and you have to tell me, do we win the Packer game at home?

SPEAKER_01 11:13

I I I do believe that we're gonna yes, we're gonna take that that Packer game at home. Um right now five and one feeling really good going into the uh the Minnesota Vikings.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

So we're five and one going to the Vikings, and then we we we precursed this uh Vikings game, another one at home. Are you feeling pretty good about what that looks like? Because um preview to the Vikings game, the Vikings, you know, they've played some I would call it a a slightly tougher schedule than than what the Lions have played.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

Yeah, I mean they they're gonna see the the Packers, they're gonna see the Bears, they're gonna see the Tamar Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Um they're gonna have a little bit of relief with the Miami Dolphins and the and the Saints and their bye-week in week six as well. Um but yeah, I mean going into the to the Lions game, I think I think they're going to be very in a very similar spot as uh the Lions. Um and uh I I'll be very intrigued to see how how things are rolling for them. Um why? Because I I don't believe they got necessarily a ton better um in their offseason acquisitions, um, but I do believe that the Minnesota Vikings are still gonna be uh a tough team to deal with, and they always have been for the Detroit Lions.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

So home game, Lions pull it off or no?

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Um I'm going to go with a a Minnesota or a Minnesota win and a Detroit loss at this game right here.

SPEAKER_00 12:37

With with a with a smile on your face.

SPEAKER_01 12:39

I don't like it. I don't like it. I want I want to say that the the Lions are gonna come out of there six and one and rolling into Miami, but uh I I I can't I can't with the the reality and um you know I don't want to be a complete homer and saying that they're just gonna roll through this schedule.

SPEAKER_00 12:57

You're you've uh got 50 episodes of being a complete homer here. So um no uh lions win this game six and one. Uh good start of the year, not a tough schedule. And speaking of not a tough schedule, so you're you're five and two. I'm six and one. Um bring this to Vegas, obviously. This is guaranteed stuff. Uh week nine, they go play a true road game, and they go down to South Beach and they play um probably the worst team in the NFL. One of the worst rosters we've seen.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

This is their get right game going into their international stuff.

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Shout out to T Rob, who is a closet dolphins fan.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

Sorry, T Rob, but no, man, he's he's he's given us his lions fandom. So he has, yeah. You know, he this is going to be a Detroit victory and should be handily. Um, because I'm I'm not gonna lie, I who's Malik Willis gonna throw to? Is he just gonna hand it off the entire time? Is there anybody to block? You know, what what do we got going on here? The Miami Dolphins are in shambles right now, and I'd be very surprised if they if they win four games um in the entire 2026 season.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

So it's impressive. They're they're paying off some really big contracts right now on other teams, and they're they're doing what the New Orleans Saints are doing is basically they're punting a year. They're basically saying, All right, here's our contracts. You you would take to uh um who else uh the um cheetah, they're paying cheetah a lot of money, Tyreek Hill, and uh I think Bradley Chubb. There's a lot of guys that they're paying big money to um to not be there, to not be there. Um so they're they're kind of doing a hard reset. I I feel really, really good about that. Lions are seven and one and looking real good after this week, Brian. And in your your case, they're they're six and two.

SPEAKER_01 14:51

Six and two. So um still looking really good and getting ready for international game um in Munich.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

In Munich. So uh earlier today, sitting on the couch watching the Pistons, Detroit basketball. Let's go. Um and uh sit next to my beautiful, lovely wife. And uh got you know, I want this to this is gonna be put in the record books here, but I got full permission to go to Germany and uh and see our Detroit Lions in Germany.

SPEAKER_01 15:19

So I'm gonna work on my permission now, and I'm hoping Steph can make a a good recommendation to uh to Lisa and see how that thing rolls out.

SPEAKER_00 15:28

It just happens our family are we're getting dinner tomorrow. Oh, we should. We should bring this up in conversation after a couple glasses of wine, you know, like like let it loosen up a little bit. Um so we are going, you know, uh the Lions, potentially us, we're going to Munich. Um we gotta take this also. This is a business decision. We gotta take this podcast international, right? Yeah, oh yeah, it's a it's a it's a large tax write-off here. Um so playing the Patriots in Munich. Um Sunday at 9 30 a.m. Eastern time, uh whatever time that is in Munich, I think it's a six-hour difference. Um and uh the Patriots, and this is a this is an easy game. Home game for the lions.

SPEAKER_01 16:09

This is not an easy game, and I I love the idea of playing in Munich because of the the Amin Ra, the German connection there, the the what he's built in in Germany as a fan base. Um, but what I'm hearing as well is that you know, coming coming away from the the Tom Brady, the Bill Belichick, the success that the Patriots have uh have had in the in the you know last decade or so, um, there's still a pretty strong fan base in Germany for the New England Patriots.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Well, that's interesting. Um they fans of you know Mike Vrabel's been in the headlines. He's been in the global headlines. Maybe they're big fans of uh the infidelity? I don't know. You know, the the the the Germans are they don't show their cards a whole lot, but um maybe they show their husbands or their girlfriends. I it's an interesting is there a lot of distractions going on in New England?

SPEAKER_01 17:04

Are we are we building them up because so we have to also remember the New England Patriots last year played a fourth place uh schedule, which the Lions have the blessings of doing this year, and now New England will be playing that first place schedule. Um, and uh ultimately I mean you we know things are gonna be tougher. It's not that they're going to get everyone's best game this year versus you know the the question mark on whether New England's legit. So the Lions will uh I do believe the Lions in Germany will pull out a victory.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

Alright, so uh and and you got the Lions at 7-2 after coming home from Germany. Um man, I this is ridiculous, but uh I am also gonna go 7-2. Are you sure they haven't they're I'm gonna say they lose in Germany because um I I just think that the the Patriots are a different style team. Um running quarterback, got some weapons, a grinded out team. Um it's a it's a it's a tough game, and I just feel like uh also I've been a little rosy going into this. So I like all right, I like 8 and 2, different different patterns. So we come back from Germany, week 11. We play a Sunday afternoon game at home, a real home game against um the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Yeah, this is gonna be tough. It's uh again, um you're you're looking at a condensed uh lots of games in a in a short amount of time here. Um so if you think about week 10, week 11, week 12, um what is it, uh, three games? We're not to week 12 yet, right? I know, I know, but you know, you're you're looking past a little bit, you're coming off of international travels, um, coming into uh again a Sunday to Sunday game, but Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no slouch, and I I do believe we dropped this game um to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

SPEAKER_00 19:06

At home, okay. Um Brian, why do pirates like corn so much? Because they're a Buccaneers! Um I I I think the Lions take care of business here. Um we win this game. Okay. Um and uh so we we're you're at uh 7-3. I'm at 8-2 right now. Um, um, I would say the biggest week so far in the year. It's a Thursday night football game against the Fight Eden Johnsons, the Chicago Bears.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Yep, this is another tough game. Uh again, short wait I referenced this earlier, short week. Another home game. So another home game, technically. Um, but this is a lot of football in a short amount of time. Um, I do think they get right here. I think they lose to Tampa Bay, but they are able at home on Thanksgiving, which doesn't necessarily happen often. This is going against what I really, you know. Maybe this some of my fandom coming out, but I do believe they pull out a victory toward to Chicago at home.

SPEAKER_00 20:10

So um my wife fancies herself as a Chicago Bears fan. Um, she couldn't name the one player on the offensive line, probably not a running back, probably not a wide receiver. I'm trying to convert her to the good side. Um, it's it's been hard.

SPEAKER_01 20:26

She's got to be supportive of your boys, too. And Quinn. I mean, let's be honest.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Yeah, Quinn's a diehard Lions fan in her first six months. Um, Lions, uh they they beat the Bears. The Bears are gonna be a formidable team this year. They they are gonna be solid. Um, but man, I hate I just uh at this point, are they the Gary Bears yet? Or have they announced officially um whatever, all that all that stuff.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

So Indiana Bears.

SPEAKER_00 20:53

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um which you know, she's from the region. That'd be good for that'd be good for the region. There's not much down there besides gas stations, chain restaurants, and maybe the Chicago Bears.

SPEAKER_01 21:03

Yeah, there you go.

SPEAKER_00 21:04

So we'll we'll see. Um week 13, Atlanta Falcons.

SPEAKER_01 21:09

Um, I believe again, this is this is a at uh away game, but I don't believe Atlanta is all that formidable right now. They have some a couple quarterbacks that are are dealing with injuries, and who's gonna be healthier this time? You know, who knows? Um, so I would say that the Detroit Lions, it's gonna be the Jameer Gibbs Bijan Robinson kind of showdown, and I think Jameer Gibbs is gonna be the better back.

SPEAKER_00 21:35

So the Lions uh are now nine and three. Three come out of that game. I agree. Um, hate agreeing. I hate um for you, you know, our raving fans. I want to disagree with this guy so much and great banter.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

It's hard to disagree when you're right.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

Okay, so so this is looking a little um, you know, we pulled up the stats here on on Vegas and um Vegas. Is you know we're favored in what was it like 13?

SPEAKER_01 22:04

14 of 17 games.

SPEAKER_00 22:06

But the over-under was 10 and a half. 10 and a half. Right. So um interesting. So we both got the Lions beating the Falcons, and you look another week, you're kind of thinking, okay, like, all right, things gotta get tougher, right? They gotta get tougher. And then But they don't yet. No, you got the fighting Warren Moons coming to town, uh, the Tennessee Titans on week 14.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

And again, I coming home, it's still uh uh another solid victory for the Detroit Lions. Uh yeah, Salah coming home to Detroit, um, but he does not get a victory.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

So you know they're Titans are doing it right, they're building right, they're just a year out. Yeah, or maybe two years. Maybe two. Yeah. So then, you know, we we get off that week, right?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

So we're we hit our 10. We we hit our 10. Our 10 wins. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 22:54

So we're at 10 wins. Uh 10 and 3. Week 15, a big road game. Um, primetime Sunday night football at the Minnesota Vikings, Brian.

SPEAKER_01 23:04

So this is where I have the the Lions split with the Minnesota. I had them losing earlier. I have them winning in Minnesota. The skull, uh, they silenced the skull in order to take this victory.

SPEAKER_00 23:17

All right, uh no rhyme or reason, just uh I say they split with the Vikings. Okay, they split with the Vikings. So I'm gonna say they lose this game, a tough game. The the skull crushes them just like it crushes your gums when you go to the dentist, um, and the Lions lose a tough one. Uh, first loss in the NFC North to date. So you play that game, you're like, all right, like tough week 16, Brian.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

Yeah, well, I mean, New York. I feel like New York is a is a sneaky good team this year. Um, I think they gave the Lions the business last year. Yeah, I think Jackson Dart being healthy, you know, you have a lot of defensive weapons coming uh. Time out, time out.

SPEAKER_00 23:57

He he's healthy, week 16. You're just saying like he's getting a week 16 healthy.

SPEAKER_01 24:01

I think so. I think so. I think he's a tough guy, and I think that you know Harbaugh is a great coach. I think he's gonna teach this guy how to slide a little bit more and play the game at a at an NFL level. And I I think that he is going to be healthy at this point of the season. I think, to be honest with you, I think New York is gonna be a sneaky good team.

SPEAKER_00 24:20

So so at home, New York Giants, still think we get the victory.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

I think it's a tough victory, but I think we we we are able to pull this one out.

SPEAKER_00 24:29

The Giants are building. I think Harbaugh is gonna get them there. I think it's gonna take a couple years. They're they're young, they're ambitious, they've turned over their defensive line a little bit. Um, you know, neighbors probably at this point is fully healthy and um relatively dominant in the league. You know, you got Scataboo fully healthy at this point, um, but I do think the Lions take care of business there. Uh, and then it brings us to week 17. Another tough game. The Lions go down to Gary, Indiana to play the Chicago Bears. Oh, wait, actually, they're still gonna be in Chicago. They're gonna go to they're gonna go down to Soldier Field and play the Chicago Bears. Week 17.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

And I I again like the Vikings. I believe we split with the Bears this year. I don't think John uh we are able to sweep the Ben Johnson Bears this year. They're fighting Ben Johnson's. I think that he gets his first victory against the Detroit Lions in Chicago on week 17.

SPEAKER_00 25:25

Um, tough game. Uh, what's the weather? You know, uh I mean um and I I I do think the Lions are a tougher team than than than the Bears. Um you give me a snowy day, I like the Lions.

SPEAKER_01 25:38

Um I mean, the tricky thing would be that the the Bears are coming off of uh a tough game against Green Bay Um in week 16. Um and uh they have to play Christmas Day uh you know just before this.

SPEAKER_00 25:55

So um they they do get I I guess an extra couple days off, and the Lions are coming off a Monday night game, so they they got a little less rest. Um so uh we're at this point, Brian, you got the Lions. Um they're sitting at 13 and 3, right? Like that's kind of where you're at.

SPEAKER_01 26:12

13 and 4? Is that right?

SPEAKER_00 26:15

Um that would be 17 games.

SPEAKER_01 26:18

No, I'm sorry. Uh I think I have them 12 and 4, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:21

12 and 4, okay. All right. All right. Um, so we go in last week. Yep. Packers at Green Bay. Yep. The frozen tundra. The frozen tundra. Um, with probably something in the line here. There's gonna be some kind of seeding going on. Um, big game for the Lions.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

Yep, and uh I I believe that the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions split as well. Okay so I I feel like this is another one of those Detroit losses at the end of the season. Um 12 and and five, I think, is their overall record. Um could it be 13? Yes, I I believe it could be 13, but uh I'm gonna overall say that 12 and 5 is gonna be the the end all.

SPEAKER_00 27:02

So Lions uh I I didn't comment on the Bears. I I do think they beat the Bears. Um I think they beat the Giants and they beat the Packers. Whoa! And they win with four, you know, they they end the season with 14 wins. Okay. Um and they're the top seed in the NFC. And uh a fairly easy schedule, too. I mean, I'm the the North is the tough part, right? But outside the North, it's just like you're looking at it, it's just like, you know what, there's a lot of winnable games on that schedule. I think they get to play the three worst teams in the NFL, which is a gift, right?

SPEAKER_01 27:34

The the Arizona Cardinals, the New Orleans Saints, and the Miami Dolphins. I I don't disagree. Am I missing somebody?

SPEAKER_00 27:41

No, um the New York Jets. Not not the New Orleans Saints. I think that you know the Saints are they might be the fourth worst team in the NFL, but I think they're building something down there, but like they're they're I wouldn't call them you know a playoff team, but um they they're probably yeah. I mean the the fact that you just proved the point is you can name uh uh a few other teams and maybe even the Tennessee Titans are I mean, I would say that they're closer to bottom half, but uh maybe the Falcons haven't been a juggernaut, and they're going to Tua uh to save their problems at Hurt Tua, and then you know with a hurt Penix. Um so that there's just a lot of like potential. Uh this is a really favorable schedule for the Lions. So at this point, what I want you to know is like the Lions are gonna make the playoffs. Yep. And don't disagree. And it's not gonna be because the Lions are a juggernaut. They they could be, but the Lions have a very favorable schedule, very unlike last year, where they had a we went into last year on this podcast and told you like it's a tough, it's tough sledding for the Lions.

SPEAKER_01 28:43

And uh I'm I'm trying to be as realistic as possible, but I feel like the first half, if not two-thirds of the Lions schedule is pretty, pretty, pretty easy. Um and it's hard to say easy as a you know NFL schedule, but you know, when it comes to schedules go, um, I feel like the Detroit Lions have a a good can establish themselves early in that season in order to you know really get things rolling. Um and I hope they start to have that confidence, they start to feel that fun again, like they did a couple years ago, and you could start to see that excitement and the fan basics start to see the excitement on the field with with with our players and uh you know even our coaching staff.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

So you know what's fun is doing a podcast after a win, you know, like way better. Yeah, so last year we got way better. We got our flavor of like, all right, this isn't as much fun uh doing the podcast. So um bring the heat there. Uh Brian, uh transitioning here, yeah. Um kind of way too early predictions, both making the playoffs, a good season, probably take the over on 10 and a half from Vegas. Um, if you're taking this advice, call 1-800 Gambler. We we are not a gambling soliciting advice, but we will win you some money, so take it. Um on the draft, anything that you want to recap real quick, just kind of uh gun to your head. Sure.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Um I I do believe that Blake Miller is gonna be an asset. Um I I'm really excited to see what Derek Moore brings to the table and how quickly he is part of the rotation.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Um I think that's how how quickly, right now in your mind, is Derek Moore part of the rotation?

SPEAKER_01 30:25

I think that he starts off, you know, kind of like a Tyleek Williams did last year. Um, I think that we ease him in, and by the end of the season, he is a big contributor.

SPEAKER_00 30:35

Is he the starter at the end of the season?

SPEAKER_01 30:37

End of the season, he is gonna take over and he's gonna be a starter.

SPEAKER_00 30:40

Okay, day one starter in my in my mind, and a guy that um is a three-down guy, except they'll spell him in in certain situations.

SPEAKER_01 30:49

But um, I think that we are going to be surprised more by what Kendrick Law brings to the table than what we really anticipate. I think that he is I've been seeing some some highlights of him not necessarily catching the ball, but him blocking downfield, and that makes me very, very excited. Oh yeah. Um so I like what he is offering, not just as a wide receiver, but also in special teams. I think he is going to be a return guy and he's gonna be very, very successful at that. Um, I love the idea um of Abney coming in and being a contributor. I th I honestly think that we have four guys that are gonna contribute, maybe even five guys that are gonna contribute um this year um on our roster.

SPEAKER_00 31:33

So right now, do you value on the Lions team who do you value more, Abney or Rakestraw?

SPEAKER_01 31:40

Um right now, Abney has gotta be the guy that you I mean he he gives me a little bit more you know excitement only because of the last two years of what we've dealt with with with Rakestraw. Do I I have hopium still for Rakestraw? Yes. I still have hope I have hopium for him, but that's all I have. I I mean he's hasn't proven me anything. And at the very least, I can look back at the history of Ebony and say that that he's been healthy.

SPEAKER_00 32:10

So Lions took a guy in the fourth round this year that we haven't talked about who will be the starting weak side linebacker for the Detroit Lions coming in this season. Jimmy Rolder, look out. Um, he might not start the year, but uh he's majority of the year, he's gonna be your starting, and you know, teams are gonna go to nickel, they're gonna play a lot of packages. Linebackers aren't always on the field. Yep. Um but the guy's gonna be on the field, he's gonna play, he's smart. Um, he compliments a lot of what the Lions are looking for. Um, another guy, I I mean, um man, pretty rosy uh draft picture, and after a pretty rosy prediction picture. So this is a very Kool-Aid-ish um podcast, which isn't typically our MO. So maybe we'll we'll get off our our high hog a little bit later on in the offseason.

SPEAKER_01 33:04

Yeah, um, I I will I will question, I I I believe going into the 2025 season, we talked about rich people problems a lot, right? Well man, we have we have lots of those types of problems. I don't believe that we're in that necessarily world right now. I I am more in the we gotta see it to believe it kind of scenario. Um, do I want to be there? Yes, I want to be there, but I'm not quite there yet. I'm in uh we've got to prove it. Um I want to see it on the field. I I I want to be able to believe in this team, and I want to be able to say that this schedule is gonna definitely help in that, especially early on.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

All right, so uh idea for the next podcast on the fly here. Let's go position group um on our next podcast, and we'll we'll give it a rich people, poor people uh vote, and we'll just figure out like okay, where do we like certain position groups and where do we not like other position groups?

SPEAKER_01 34:00

I like it. Let's let's let's dive in.

SPEAKER_00 34:02

All right, you just got a bedtime reminder on your on your phone. I'm looking at here. Um 1114. Brian has a bedtime reminder.

SPEAKER_01 34:12

Um anything else? Listen, guys, I I really appreciate everybody continuing to watch and and subscribe. I I want you to continue to add some of those comments so that we know what direction we want to go next and uh ultimately like and subscribe.

SPEAKER_00 34:28

So the numbers are banging and Brian is slanging. We appreciate you tuning in to another podcast here. Uh go lines, stay classy, stay gritty. Did that wrong. See you next week.