Lions schedule: Game-by-game score predictions, wins outlook

Shough went 5-4 as the Saints' starting quarterback after taking over for Spencer Rattler in November, completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards and 10 touchdowns, ran for three touchdowns and threw six interceptions.

It's a good Week 1 test, but the Lions grab the opener.

• Prediction: Lions 27, Saints 20
• Record: 1-0

Week 2: at Buffalo Bills

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 14: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills in action against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Lions get the unenviable task of facing one of the league's premier passers in the first game in the new Highmark Stadium. The Bills have won their last four home openers dating back to 2022, averaging 38.5 points per game.

In a game that gets prime-time "Thursday Night Football" treatment on Amazon Prime Video, there will be millions of fans around the globe taking in this heavyweight showdown. The last time these two met was an epic back-and-forth battle at Ford Field Dec. 15, 2024 where the Bills defeated Detroit, 48-42.

It feels like fans are in for something similar in 2026.

• Prediction: Bills 34, Lions 30
• Record: 1-1

Week 3: vs. New York Jets

TAMPA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 21: Garrett Wilson #5 of the New York Jets catches a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images)

The New York Jets traded a sixth-rounder to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for Geno Smith and a seventh-rounder.

Smith has been turnover-prone, though. Smith has a league-high 32 interceptions over the past two seasons, including 17 last year (most in the NFL). Can the Lions take advantage and move their record back above .500 early in 2026?

• Prediction: Lions 34, Jets 17
• Record: 2-1

Week 4: at Carolina Panthers

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 10: Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams greets Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers after the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Bank of America Stadium on January 10, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

It's another early-season prime-time date for Detroit.

The Panthers made the playoffs last season and could be an ascending franchise with quarterback Bryce Young. Carolina also did some nice things to upgrade its defense this offseason, adding pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowl linebacker Devin Lloyd.

Ultimately, the Lions are just better top to bottom and hungry to make a statement early in 2026. Unlike its trip to Buffalo, the Lions get the job done at Carolina in Week 4 on "Sunday Night Football."

• Prediction: Lions 27, Panthers 20
• Record: 3-1

Week 5: at Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 21: Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium on October 21, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Chargers 17-15. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It's Drew Petzing's return game to Arizona. The Cardinals' win total is set at 4.5 right now at FanDuel Sportsbook. Jacoby Brissett and the Cards are in for a long year as Petzing returns to the desert with better weapons and walks away with the Lions' fourth win of 2026.

Detroit enters its Week 6 bye on an uptick.

• Prediction: Lions 30, Cardinals 17
• Record: 4-1

Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) reacts after missing a pass intended for him against Green Bay Packers during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.

The Green Bay Packers won both meetings last season. Packers quarterback Jordan Love passed for six touchdowns and no interceptions in the two wins combined.

In this go-around, Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard finds some defensive answers to keep the Lions rolling toward the midseason point in 2026.

• Prediction: Lions 23, Packers 20
• Record: 5-1

Week 8: vs. Minnesota Vikings

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 25: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions is sacked by Andrew van Ginkel #43 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Division games always carry added importance, but this is one that Jared Goff, Dan Campbell and the Lions will have circled on the calendar. The Vikings forced six turnovers and sacked Goff five times last season on Christmas as they eliminated Detroit.

The Lions respond with an All-Pro day from Aidan Hutchinson as he gets after and sacks Kyler Murray multiple times en route to a 2-0 start in NFC North games.

• Prediction: Lions 23, Vikings 17
• Record: 6-1

Week 9: at Miami Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 28: De'Von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Like the Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins are thought to be one of the NFL's worst teams headed into 2026. Miami has a staggering $179.2 million in dead money in 2026 as the Dolphins slammed the reset button from Tua Tagovailoa and Co.

The Lions get out of South Florida with a win, but De'Von Achane makes Detroit sweat more than folks thought coming in.

• Prediction: Lions 27, Dolphins 17
• Record: 7-1

Week 10: vs. New England Patriots

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots reacts against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

After its AFC championship and trip to the Super Bowl, Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots have had an offseason sullied by controversy.

Vrabel and the Pats are probably desperate to just get back to coaching and playing football. The Pats won't win the AFC East in 2026. The Bills regain that throne, but New England is still a playoff team with a talented young quarterback in Drake Maye.

It's the defense that leads the way for New England in this win, though. The Lions fall to 1-2 all-time in international games as New England slips past Detroit in Munich, Germany.

• Prediction: Patriots 20, Lions 17
• Record: 7-2

Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 20: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks to pass while under pressure from Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at Ford Field on October 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Lions will wind up as a better football team than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it's the NFL. It's not going to be all smooth sailing and this feels like a pocket in the schedule for some potential turbulence.

After a frustrating trip to Munich, the Lions return home and host the Bucs for a second season in a row. Detroit handled Tampa last season, winning, 24-9, in a game where it sacked Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield four times and picked him off once as well.

Mayfield is an experienced vet that's been around the block. He also tends to play his best when he's got a chip on his shoulder or feels a little doubted. After last season's disappointment against the Lions, Mayfield puts together a solid performance, leading the Bucs to a road victory and suddenly creating some questions in Detroit as the NFC North race tightens.

• Prediction: Bucs 27, Lions 24
• Record: 7-3

Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 04: Jake Bates #39 of the Detroit Lions kicks a game winning field goal as time expires against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 04, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Reeling from its first consecutive losses of the season and on a short turnaround, the Lions muster up one of their best performances of the season in a game they know they need to get.

Detroit has had Chicago's number, winning the past four in the series, including both last season in Ben Johnson's first season as the Bears' head coach.

The Lions win on Thanksgiving and take a big step in the right direction toward winning the NFC North as they finish perfect in home division games in 2026.

• Prediction: Lions 34, Bears 27
• Record: 8-3

Week 13: at Atlanta Falcons

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Things spiraled on Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. Of course, his health and the accumulation of hits had to be one of the biggest reasons why his overall play took a hard left turn.

Could Tua find a career resurgence in Atlanta? Tua would have to beat out Michael Penix Jr. for the job, though the early edge could swing Tua's direction with Penix working back from a third torn ACL in his football career.

The closing stretch is difficult for the Lions. This needs to be a win. Detroit leans on the ground game with Jahmyr Gibbs in order to get out of The A with a W.

• Prediction: Lions 24, Falcons 17
• Record: 9-3

Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - JANUARY 04: Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans throws a pass during the first quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

As the former No. 1 overall pick enters his second season, Titans brass will be looking for another step forward from Cam Ward. Tennessee might get precisely that, but this is still a three-win team from a season ago that has a ways further to climb.

Just get the feeling the Titans are another year away from being consistently competitive. The Lions grab their 10th win.

• Prediction: Lions 33, Titans 23
• Record: 10-3

Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings

Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Jauan Jennings offseason pickup could wind up being one of the sneaky-good free agent signings that won't draw a ton of headlines nationally.

Jennings will get the benefit of playing alongside superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. The Lions drop their first division game of the season as the Vikings' passing game and Kyler Murray's mobility is the story inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

• Prediction: Vikings 27, Lions 20
• Record: 10-4

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

May 9, 2026; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks during a press conference at rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

John Harbaugh had options as he left Baltimore. Ultimately, he wanted to head to the Giants where he could be paired with second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Harbaugh is a winner and there's no doubt he'll wind up doing that with the Giants, too. But, it doesn't get built overnight.

The Lions sweep the Big Apple in 2026, winning late in the season on "Monday Night Football."

• Prediction: Lions 30, Giants 20
• Record: 11-4

Week 17: at Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 04: Caleb Williams #18 of the Chicago Bears reacts against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on January 04, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

After falling to 0-5 against the Lions with his Thanksgiving Day loss, Caleb Williams answers the critics with a terrific performance in the penultimate week.

Williams outduels Goff and keeps the Bears alive in the NFC North race entering Week 18.

• Prediction: Bears 34, Lions 24
• Record: 11-5

Week 18: at Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions is pressured by Micah Parsons #1 of the Green Bay Packers during the game at Lambeau Field on September 07, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

With the NFC North on the line, Goff and the Lions deliver late. Goff finds Amon-Ra St. Brown for a go-ahead score in the game's final minute to capture the NFC North title and to sink the Lambeau Field faithful and Bears fans watching at home.

After a 2025 where some said the championship window had closed, the Lions roar back to win the division and enter the NFC playoffs as one of the top seeds and a definite threat to reach the Super Bowl.

• Prediction: Lions 27, Packers 24
• Record: 12-5

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions schedule: Game-by-game score predictions, wins outlook