2014 Record: 11-5
2015 Las Vegas Season Win Total: 8.5
I think that the Lions are becoming the new Bengals. And I mean that in a positive way. These two franchises spent the 1990s and most of the 2000s as the laughingstocks of the NFL. However, through savvy personnel moves and stability at the head of their organizations these two teams have become two of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
Detroit's 11 wins last year were the most this franchise has witnessed since 1991. Generally I would consider last season a fluke, especially since they only outscored their opponents by 39 total points on the year. But instead I think that the Lions are ready to compete with the Packers for supremacy in one of the toughest divisions in football.
Last year's team won thanks to a stifling defense, which finished in the Top 3 in both yards and points allowed. They lost their best player - and a bit of their identity - when Ndamukong Suh fled to South Beach. But the over the last three years the Lions have beefed up their defensive weaknesses in the back seven, and now I think the linebackers and secondary are ready to be the foundation of this defense, rather than an obstacle for it.
I also expect the Lions offense to improve significantly in the second year of their new system. Detroit barely averaged 20 points per game - compared to nearly 30 per game as recently as 2011 - but I expect them to add a touchdown per outing to that total this year. Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate comprise the best receiving duo in football. Detroit has built a respectable running game to compliment their pass attack, and Matthew Stafford has enough experience now to be trusted with the keys to the car.
The key word with this team is stability. And I feel like the Lions have more of that now than they have at any point in the last two decades. They enter the season without any glaring weaknesses on offense or defense (though their lack of depth along both lines could become an issue if injuries hit) and they have a sound 53-man roster. They were Pythagorean overachievers last year, and both their schedule and defensive yards per point were in a range that suggests a regression. But I think the Lions will be OK, and I think they will at least compete for a playoff slot, even if they come up short. I have Detroit at nine wins, and I think they sneak 'over' this total.
WEEK |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME (ET) |
Location |
Result |
Pre |
Thu, Aug 13th, 2015 |
NY_Jets |
07:30 PM |
Ford Field |
|
Pre |
Thu, Aug 20th, 2015 |
at Washington |
07:30 PM |
FedEx Field |
|
Pre |
Fri, Aug 28th, 2015 |
at Jacksonville |
08:00 PM |
EverBank Field |
|
Pre |
Thu, Sep 3rd, 2015 |
Buffalo |
07:30 PM |
Ford Field |
|
1 |
Sun, Sep 13th, 2015 |
at San_Diego |
04:05 PM |
Qualcomm Stadium |
|
2 |
Sun, Sep 20th, 2015 |
at Minnesota |
01:00 PM |
TCF Bank Stadium |
|
3 |
Sun, Sep 27th, 2015 |
Denver |
08:30 PM |
Ford Field |
|
4 |
Mon, Oct 5th, 2015 |
at Seattle |
08:30 PM |
CenturyLink Field |
|
5 |
Sun, Oct 11th, 2015 |
Arizona |
04:05 PM |
Ford Field |
|
6 |
Sun, Oct 18th, 2015 |
Chicago |
01:00 PM |
Ford Field |
|
7 |
Sun, Oct 25th, 2015 |
Minnesota |
01:00 PM |
Ford Field |
|
8 |
Sun, Nov 1st, 2015 |
at Kansas_City |
09:30 AM |
Wembley Stadium |
|
9 |
Bye |
||||
10 |
Sun, Nov 15th, 2015 |
at Green_Bay |
01:00 PM |
Lambeau Field |
|
11 |
Sun, Nov 22nd, 2015 |
Oakland |
01:00 PM |
Ford Field |
|
12 |
Thu, Nov 26th, 2015 |
Philadelphia |
12:30 PM |
Ford Field |
|
13 |
Thu, Dec 3rd, 2015 |
Green_Bay |
08:25 PM |
Ford Field |
|
14 |
Sun, Dec 13th, 2015 |
at St._Louis |
01:00 PM |
Edward Jones Dome |
|
15 |
Mon, Dec 21st, 2015 |
atNew_Orleans |
08:30 PM |
Superdome |
|
16 |
Sun, Dec 27th, 2015 |
San_Francisco |
01:00 PM |
Ford Field |
|
17 |
Sun, Jan 3rd, 2016 |
at Chicago |
01:00 PM |
Soldier Field |
All Times EST
Robert Ferringo has been the top football handicapper in the country the past two years, earning nearly $13,000 in total football profit with back-to-back winning seasons. Robert has tallied over $20,000 in football profit the last four years and in 2013 he hit 62.1 percent for the entire NFL season (95-58). Robert has produced an incredible 12 of 16 winning football months. Going back further he has churned out 35 of 51 winning football months, four of five winning overall seasons, seven of eight winning preseasons and he is at nearly 60 percent winners over his last 600 football picks. Also, Robert's proprietary KING College Football Betting System has posted two of three winning seasons and is 101-71 over the last two years (58.7 percent).
We are offering new clients $60 in free college football picks for Robert's picks or any Advisory Board handicapper of your choosing. Get your free college football picks now!
Read more articles by Robert Ferringo
Most Recent NFL Handicapping
- Week 16 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions
- Team to Finish with NFL Worst Record? Odds and Predictions
- NFL Betting Predictions: Week 15 Opening Line Report and Picks
- Six Times Smack Talk Backfired in the NFL
- NFL Conference Championships Best Bets and Odds for AFC and NFC
- Week 15 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions
- NFL Betting Predictions: Week 14 Opening Line Report and Picks
- Seven NFL Teams That Went from Champs to Chumps in One Season
- Week 14 NFL Odds - Lookahead Lines - Picks & Best Bet Predictions
- NFL Betting Predictions: Week 13 Opening Line Report and Picks