Detroit Lions finally get it done: Dave Birkett's game-by-game picks for 2023 season
I have the Detroit Lions winning the NFC North this year.
That’s not a bold prediction by any means. The Lions are the betting favorite to win their first division title in 30 years – since before the NFC North even existed. But this is the first time since I started covering the team for the Free Press in 2010 that I’ve made the Lions my pick to win the division.
If that happens, they’ll get their first home playoff game since Jan 8, 1994, at the Pontiac Silverdome. And if they win that, well … let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.
Here are my game-by-game predictions for how I see the Lions season shaking out.
Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs
The Lions will catch a break if All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones’ holdout extends into the regular season, but that still might not be enough to propel them to victory over the reigning Super Bowl champs on what should be a super-charged night at Arrowhead Stadium. Pick: Chiefs 31, Lions 24 (Record: 0-1)
Week 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Lions gave up 48 points and didn’t force a punt when they hosted the Seahawks at Ford Field last season. You can bet coordinator Aaron Glenn has this game circled on his defense’s calendar. Pick: Lions 30, Seahawks 20 (Record: 1-1)
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta has spent three straight first-round picks on offensive skill players Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson, but still doesn’t have a qualified quarterback to get them the ball. Pick: Lions 27, Falcons 21 (Record: 2-1)
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love’s first prime-time game as Packers quarterback comes on the same field where the Lions ended Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay career. Pick: Packers 24, Lions 20 (Record: 2-2)
Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
I think Bryce Young will be a good player in time. But he’s going to have some growing pains as a rookie quarterback, including when he plays against his old college teammate, Brian Branch. Pick: Lions 35, Panthers 21 (Record: 3-2)
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady is gone and the Bucs could be one of the five worst teams in the NFL. Pick: Lions 28, Bucs 17 (Record: 4-2)
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
Justin Tucker from 67 yards this time for the win. Pick: Ravens 23, Lions 21 (Record: 4-3)
Week 8: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Penei Sewell against Maxx Crosby will be the marquee matchup of the Lions’ only Monday night game of the year. Pick: Lions 30, Raiders 24 (Record 5-3)
Week 10: at Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Goff revived his career with that 2021 trade to Detroit, but wouldn’t be here if the Lions had done the right thing and taken Justin Herbert with the third pick of the 2020 NFL draft. Pick: Chargers 31, Lions 24 (Record: 5-4)
Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears
The Bears could be one of the NFL’s most improved teams this season, but after having the worst record in the league last year, they still have a long way to go. Fun sublot: The Sewell brothers square off for the first time in their NFL careers. Pick: Lions 27, Bears 23 (Record 6-4)
Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers
The Lions should have ended their Thanksgiving losing streak against the Buffalo Bills last year. They won’t let their turkey day skid reach seven games. Pick: Lions 30, Packers 20 (Record: 7-4)
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints
Top storylines to watch in this one: Dan Campbell returns to New Orleans. Jamaal Williams faces his old team. Pick: Lions 28, Saints 24 (Record: 8-4)
Week 14: at Chicago Bears
Every team has a clunker at some point in the season. This could be the Lions’, with the Bears coming off a bye week and Justin Fields’ running ability. Pick: Bears 20, Lions 17 (Record: 8-5)
Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos
If Campbell’s old boss, Sean Payton, can resurrect Russell Wilson, the Broncos might be a dangerous team in the AFC. Pick: Lions 28, Broncos 20 (Record: 9-5)
Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings
The NFL sandwiched both Lions-Vikings games into the final three weeks of the season because they expect these games to decide the NFC North. Round 1 goes to Minnesota. Pick: Vikings 27, Lions 21 (Record: 9-6)
Week 17: at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys close the season by playing three of their final four games on the road. This Saturday night matchup is their last home game and they prevail. Pick: Cowboys 24, Lions 23 (Record: 9-7)
Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions played in the NFL's regular season finale on Sunday night for the second straight year — and clinched a division title while doing so. Pick: Lions 30, Vikings 21 (Final record: 10-7)
Playoff picks
Wild-card round: Lions 31, Rams 21 — It would only be fitting for the Lions’ first playoff win in 32 years to come against their old quarterback, Matthew Stafford, and the team that traded them Goff and a stash of draft picks to jumpstart their rebuild.
Divisional round: Eagles 28, Lions 17 — The run ends, on the road, one game short of the NFC championship game — to the team I have winning the Super Bowl.
Lions questions and NFL picks
Lions record: 10-7.
Do the Lions win a playoff game: Yes.
How far do the Lions go: Divisional round.
Jared Goff passing numbers: 4,228 yards, 25 TDs, 10 INTs.
Lions leading rusher: David Montgomery.
Lions leading receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Lions sack leader: Aidan Hutchinson.
Lions MVP: Goff
Jameson Williams' stats: 22 catches, 339 yards, 2 touchdowns.
NFC division winners: Eagles, Lions, Saints, 49ers.
NFC wild-card teams: Cowboys, Vikings, Rams.
NFC title game: Eagles over 49ers.
AFC division winners: Dolphins, Bengals, Jaguars, Chiefs.
AFC wild-card teams: Browns, Jets, Chargers.
AFC title game: Bengals over Chiefs.
Super Bowl 58: Eagles over Bengals.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him at @davebirkett.
Catch "Free Press Sports with Carlos and Shawn" every Thursday morning at 5 and on demand on freep.com/podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions game-by-game predictions, NFL picks for 2023 season
