With training camp underway and the preseason fast approaching, Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of all 32 NFL teams. Each team’s 16-game slate will be split into its most difficult (1-8) and easiest games (9-16). For this article, the San Francisco 49ers most difficult games of 2019 will be discussed.
Detroit Lions Most Easiest Games
Detroit Lions Most Difficult Games in 2019
1. Week Four: vs Kansas City Chiefs
This one is very simple and doesn’t require much reading into. The Lions simply won’t be able to score enough points to keep up with the Chiefs. Despite having Marvin Jones Jr. and an emerging star in Kenny Golladay, their quarterback play is still extremely average, and their offensive scheme has shown to be very vanilla since the arrival of head coach Matt Patricia. Barring any significant injuries to the Chiefs, this should be a pretty cut and dry game for Kansas City.
2. Week Three: at Philadelphia Eagles
Traveling to Philadelphia and playing a Super Bowl favorite in the Eagles will certainly be no easy task. The Lions have the capability of stealing a win here if the Eagles make the mistake of looking past them. Despite my concerns with Matthew Stafford, the defense of the Detroit Lions has the capability to be top five this year if all goes right. Somehow it just never does for the Lions though.
3. Week Six: at Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are another team that is typically very difficult to beat on the road, regardless of the conditions. Aaron Rodgers is known for playing particularly well at home. Now while I understand that the Lions beat the Packers 31-0 last year in Green Bay, it was also the last week of the season and the entire Green Bay team had packed it in already. Aaron Rodgers also only threw five passes that game before being pulled for DeShone Kizer. That won’t be the case this year as the Lions will be playing the Packers much earlier in the season.
4. Week 10: at Chicago Bears
The common theme in the NFC North seems to be “tough places to play” and that’s most definitely the case with Soldier Field in November. I’m not high enough on Kerryon Johnson to believe that he can carry this team to a win against a stout defense like Chicago has in what’s likely to be a run-heavy game.
5. Week 13: vs Chicago Bears
The Detroit Lions got swept by the Chicago Bears last season and I’m not sure why it wouldn’t happen again. The Bears are an extremely well-coached team under Matt Nagy and just happen to have more collective talent on both sides of the ball. Despite having an improved defense, Matt Nagy’s smoke and mirrors scheme should still cause the Detroit Lions fits.
6. Week 15: vs Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are another one of those teams that just have more talent than the Detroit Lions do. They have a better quarterback, star wide receiver, pass rushers and secondary. Detroit may have an arguably better offensive line, but even they will struggle to stop the combination of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.
7. Week 17: vs Green Bay Packers
Of all Detroit’s toughest games this year, their week 17 contest against the Packers might end up being the most winnable one. It’s not ranked lower simply due to the fact that the Packers could possibly still be fighting for a playoff spot at this point in time. Who knows, if the Lions season doesn’t meet the expectations of head coach Matt Patricia, then this may be Matthew Stafford’s last game as a member of the Detroit Lions. A move that is long overdue in my opinion.
8. Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings
This will be Kirk Cousins second year in Minnesota and the Vikings will be looking to bounce back to playoff form this season. They still have the best wide receiver duo in the league in Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. They also took steps towards addressing their atrocious offensive line in the draft by selecting Garrett Bradbury. Now he’s not going to single-handedly make them a top-five unit overnight, but it’s a step in the right direction for a team that needs to do all it can to block for their young, emerging running back in Dalvin Cook.
Detroit Lions Most Easiest Games
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