Ranking Lions’ 10 most interesting 2022 games
At last, the Lions’ 2022 regular season schedule has dropped.
Based on the records of their 2021 opponents, the Lions, which are coming off a 3-13-1 campaign, have the fifth-weakest slate of games. Detroit’s foes last season went a combined 135—154.
Now, it’s on to taking a look at the team’s most interesting matchups this upcoming season.
Here are the 10 games that I believe possess the most intrigue.
10. Nov. 13, Week 10 at Chicago
Detroit’s first chance to square off with Justin Fields and the Bears comes in this Week 10 matchup.
The Lions will firsthand be able to find out if Fields has improved since his rookie campaign. And, with a win, Detroit, depending on how it’s fared in its previous eight games, could make the statement that it’s surpassed Chicago in the NFC North pecking order.
9. Oct. 23, Week 7 at Dallas
The Lions return from their bye week to face off with Dak Prescott and the reigning NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. This could be a good indicator of where the team stands at in year two of the Dan Campbellbrad Holmes era.
8. Nov. 6, Week 9 vs. Green Bay
This marks the first time the Lions are set to play Aaron Rodgers and the Packers this season. Green Bay, which has won three straight NFC North crowns, will be good once again, but might not be as vaunted. So, this could be a nice opportunity for Campbell & Co. to steal
one against the Pack.
7. Oct. 9, Week 5 at New England
The Lions get a chance to line up against “Matty P” and the New England Patriots in this one. How delightful, right?
It’d be nice to see Campbell have one of his best coached games in this contest, as you know a lot of Detroit fans are going to be rooting hard for the Lions to get a victory against Patricia & Co.
6. Sept. 25, Week 3 at Minnesota
This Week 3 matchup with the Vikings marks the Lions’ first NFC North contest of the season.
In this matchup of veteran QBS (Jared Goff vs. Kirk Cousins), I’ll take
Goff. And, if Detroit does come out on top in this road tilt, it could be a sign that Campbell & Co. are beginning to turn things around.
5. Jan. 7 or 8, Week 18 at Green Bay
In Detroit’s regular season finale, it’ll do battle with none other than Rodgers and the Pack at Lambeau Field. Could the Lions
play spoiler to a potential Green Bay playoff bid? Or better yet, could there be playoff implications for both teams going into this matchup?
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, and I do think it’s premature to say the Lions have a shot at making the playoffs in 2022. However, this is a tasty matchup, nonetheless.
4. Oct. 30, Week 8 vs. Miami
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins come to town for this early season matchup. And, Tagovailoa and Miami’s air attack will be equipped with a new toy, in former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill.
Hill could be in line for a huge day against Detroit’s young, inexperienced secondary. However, on the flip side, this is also a great opportunity for Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to prove his worth. With that said, this will be a huge test for the Lions’ defense to start off the season.
3. Dec. 4, Week 13 vs. Jacksonville
The top two picks from the 2022 draft — Jacksonville’s Travon Walker (the No. 1 overall pick) and Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson (the No. 2 pick) — will square off in this matchup.
All eyes will be on these two pass rushers and focused on who has the better game. Will it be Hutchinson going up against Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, or Walker going up against Goff?
This definitely adds intrigue to a matchup that otherwise would fail to jump off the page.
2. Sept. 11, Week 1 vs. Philadelphia
The Lions open up the campaign against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
Detroit was blown out against Philadelphia a season ago, 44-6. So, the expectation is clearly for the Lions to make this a much closer game this time around.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Hutchinson fares against Hurts.
1. Nov. 24, Week 12 (Thanksgiving) vs. Buffalo
You couldn’t script a much better Thanksgiving game than this one.
The Bills are one of the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end, and are coming off a 2021 campaign in which they lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.
Led by Josh Allen under center, Buffalo could prove to be too much for Detroit’s defense to handle.
Regardless, this could be a fun game for the fans that pack the stands at Ford Field, especially if it becomes a shootout.