Pie in the Sky 2010 Lions Prediction - 7-9

So, how much of the kool-aid have I drunk? Apparently, more than I realized. In looking at the schedule and thinking about the supposed improvements of our grid iron warriors, this prediction doesn't seem completely out of the realms of possibility. If they can just win the games that they should expect to win. It shouldnt' be that bad. Let me explain...

Week 01Sun, 09/12 at 1:00 PM EDT Away Soldier Field

The Lions open the season at Soldier Field against the Bears new Mike Martz led offense. For a team that has basically no secondary to speak of, this could be a very large scale problem. But as I think about it long and hard, I start to see some hope. The Martz offense is predicated on long seven step drops and great timing between the quarterbacks and wide receivers. The strength of the Lions defense is in it's front four. If Suh, VandenBosch and Williams can play as expected, the Bears may not have the required time to execute the Mad Scientists offense. Furthermore, they are playing a somewhat inexperienced offensive line, which further boosts the Lions chances for generating a pass rush. Lastly, Martz's offense usually takes a few weeks to start clicking. Prediction: Lions win, 1-0.

Week 02 Sun, 09/19 at 1:00 PM EDT Ford Field

My enthusiasm only goes so far. The Eagles are a ready made playoff team. Yes they have a relative unknown ready to take over the helm for the departed Donavon McNabb, but Kolb has been in training for the last three years (see Aaron Rodgers/Brett Favre). Furthermore, while the Lions defensive line is supposed to be the strength of the defense and the secondary is....well, not, the Eagles run a West Coast offense, which will be only too happy to concentrate on three step drops and shredding our biggest weakness for 60 minutes. Prediction: Lions lose, 1-1.

Week 03 Sun, 09/26 at 1:00 PM EDT Away: Mall of America Field

Whether the Devil who wears #4 plays or not is huge in this meeting. The Lions simply throw out their white flags whenever that Mississippi Douche shows up. Something about him scares the holy hell out anybody sporting a Lion on their helmet. I will assume that the Devil will be back, no matter what he says--that media whore can't go three weeks without doing something to see helicopters circling his alligator infested compound. If he doesn't play and the Tavaris Jackson Era (Part II) is underway, all bets are off. I'd like to see Adrian Peterson running against the Lions improved D-Line. Prediction: Lions lose, 1-2.

Week 04 Sun, 10/03 at 1:00 PM EDT Away: Lambeau Field

With no Favre down the road in Minnesota, Green Bay becomes that prohibitive favorite to take the NFC North. With the Devil, the Packers simply have competition. This is the second year and only third time in 20 years that the Lions have played at Lambeau without snow on the ground. But don't expect the streak to end this year. This is another West Coast offense who can destroy our pitiful secondary. Prediction: Lions lose, 1-3

Week 05 Sun, 10/10 at 1:00 PM EDT Ford Field

Last year, everybody and their brother circled the Lions date with the Rams as the most likely possibility to end the infamous losing streak. Of course the Redskins were nice enough to jump in and end the streak first, because the Lions lost to the Rams 17-10, when the Rams shoved Stephen Jackson down the Lions throats for the entire game. This year, hopefully, the new DL can stop Jackson. Also, with Sam Bradford, a rookie, starting, the Lions chances look pretty good...of course I said that a few years ago when the Lions opened at home with Atlanta who was starting a rookie in Matt Ryan....Prediction: Lions win, 2-3.

Week 06 Sun, 10/17 at 1:00 PM EDT Away: New Meadowlands Stadium

The Lions will make their first visit to the brand spanking new billion dollar digs of the Giants and Jets. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that this game is one that the Lions surprise some people. The Giants are getting exceedingly old on defense. Their front is no where near what it used to be. The receivers in New York are not much to get excited about and Eli Manning is, in my opinion, way overrated. I like the Lions for the upset. Prediction: Lions win, 3-3.

Week 08 Sun, 10/31 at 1:00 PM EDT Ford Field

Welcome back, Skins! We really missed you. The Lions get the new Skins, with Mike Shanahan and Donavon McNabb after the week 7 bye. Aside from quarterback, I am not really sure where the Skins have made significant changes, let alone upgrades. I'm hoping that this isn't one of those "the Lions will prove you wrong" games. Prediction: Lions win, 4-3.

Week 09 Sun, 11/07 at 1:00 PM EST Ford Field

The first ever meeting between the top two quarterbacks of the 2009 draft. The Franchize vs. The Sanchize. But this game will have little to do with the QB's and a lot more to do with the fact that the Jets are built to be a Super Bowl juggernaut this season. This is sad, because I truly do believe that, on even teams, Stafford would definitely out-duel Sanchez. Prediction: Lions lose, 4-4.

Week 10 Sun, 11/14 at 1:00 PM EST Away: Ralph Wilson Stadium

Long, long, long, long gone are the days of Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurmon Thomas and Andre Reed. The Bills are a bad team with probably the worst offensive line in professional football. The Bills, seeing this massive deficiency, promptly drafted another running back to lead to the slaughter. I guess you can never have enough good running backs when everybody you hand the football to is going to be killed. Prediction: Lions win, 5-4.

Week 11 Sun, 11/21 at 1:00 PM EST Away: Cowboys Stadium

I can see how the City of Detroit will react when the Lions hit 5-4. "Above .500 after the midway point? We've got a chance to make the playoffs!" But alas, it is not to be this year. From this point on, the Lions will face a long, impossible road. The Cowboys will probably kill them. Prediction: Lions loss, 5-5.

Week 12 Thu, 11/25 at 12:30 PM EST Ford Field

Unless Tom Brady is run over a bus, or a hoard of screaming supermodels, the Lions stand no chance here. The Patriots will definitely kill them. Why? Because the Patriots are a real contender and the Lions are years away from being a pretender that fans might actually be fooled into believing in. Also, it's the Thanksgiving day game and the Lions have looked abysmal on Thanksgiving, pretty much since Barry left. Prediction: Lions loss, 5-6.

Week 13 Sun, 12/05 at 1:00 PM EST Ford Field

Simply because I don't really expect Jay Cutler to have two legs to stand on by this point in the season, I'm going to hand the Lions a sweep of the Chicago Bears this year. Besides, Cutler and a punt returner that the Bears now refuse to return punts, I don't think they have any weapons. Matt Forte was a one year wonder and the line is shaky at best. The defense? How old is Brian Urlacher? Prediction: Lions win, 6-6.

Week 14 Sun, 12/12 at 1:00 PM EST Ford Field

Green Bay in December with playoff implications? Get ready for a major league withering. This is when the young up and comers see what winning in the NFL is really and truly all about. Again, those who have truly partaken of the hometown cornbread will refuse to see the inevitable. This won't be like the Marinelli year that they started out 6-2...not that bad. But it won't be all that good either. Prediction: Lions blown out, 6-7.

Week 15 Sun, 12/19 at 1:00 PM EST Away: Raymond James Stadium

Detroit picked second in the draft this year. The Bucs picked third. And they picked third for a reason. They had a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback. This year they went and picked a dominant defensive tackle really high....does any of this sound familiar. I think the difference lies in that the Bucs have nobody that compares to a Calvin Johnson. Although they will probably be logically eliminated from playoff contention already in this scenario...lets see if they can rebound from what was probably an epic trouncing at the hands of the Packers the week before. The Lions achieve the first non-10 loss season in what seems like forever. Prediction: Lions win, 7-7.

Week 16 Sun, 12/26 at 1:00 PM EST Away: Sun Life Stadium

Wow, 7-7 with two weeks left, just on the outside of the wild card race? Can the Lions step it up? Not a chance. Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, Chad Henne, and an improved defense put the Motown upstarts back in their place. The Dolphins will most likely be in the same position as our hometown heroes and I don't like the Lions chances in that scenario. All talk of the Cinderella kitties ends both logically and mathematically. Prediction: Lions lose, 7-8.

Week 17 Sun, 01/02 at 1:00 PM EST Ford Field

The Leos will try valiantly to end on an up note, but it will not be meant to be against another bonafide playoff contender. In what hopefully will be the Devil's last ride, I expect him to once again beat down the Lions. Prediction: Lions loss, 7-9. Third in the NFC North.

So are my predictions so far off base? Really everything is contingent on the Lions beating the teams that, on paper, they really should beat. But you know the Lions, they're always out to prove us wrong.