Breaking Down the Detroit Lions’ 2021 NFL Schedule

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We have obtained the 2021 schedule for the Detroit Lions, providing a comprehensive analysis of their upcoming NFL season.

Detroit has a series of notable games lined up in 2021, making the 17-game schedule brimming with interesting storylines.

Opening with San Francisco 49ers

On Sunday, September 12, at 1 p.m., the 2021 Lions schedule commences at Ford Field as they welcome the San Francisco 49ers.

The offseason has witnessed numerous changes for both teams. While the Lions’ alterations have received considerable attention, it is worth noting that Jared Goff will be starting at quarterback for the team for the first time.

The No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft was used by San Francisco to select QB Trey Lance. The 49ers made a significant trade to move up and secure him. Now, the question remains: Will the Lions have the opportunity to face Lance?

It is highly probable that San Francisco will persist with Jimmy Garoppolo as their starting quarterback, despite him experiencing numerous ankle injuries that significantly reduced his playing time during the previous season.

Despite any uncertainties surrounding both teams, oddsmakers have unequivocally identified San Francisco as the frontrunner.

In Week 1, the Lions find themselves as the most significant underdog, with oddsmakers placing Detroit at +7.5 at their home game against the 49ers.

Traveling the NFC North

The Lions had little time to explore the NFC North division.

In the first five weeks of play, Detroit will be on the road, facing the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, the Chicago Bears in Week 4, and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5.

Detroit will only have one Monday Night Football game during Week 2 in Green Bay.

Depending on the outcome of Aaron Rodgers’ situation, the Green Bay team has the potential to appear drastically distinct.

By the time October 3rd arrives, the Chicago Bears may consider introducing rookie quarterback Justin Fields into the game.

In spite of these inquiries, the NFL schedule-makers did not provide any advantages to Detroit when they scheduled their first three games on the road with a newly appointed coaching staff.

Matthew Stafford returns to Lions’ TV sets with Rams in Week 7

The most notable of Detroit’s three road trips out West this season will be the first one.

The Detroit Lions will be on the road in Week 7, heading to Los Angeles to take on the Rams at 4:05 p.m. on October 24th.

For the first time ever, Lions fans will have no choice but to witness Matthew Stafford playing against their team.

The trade involving Stafford for Goff and three draft picks will undoubtedly steal the spotlight in this game.

The Rams are considered a strong contender for the Super Bowl, as per PointsBet Sportsbook, with odds of +1200 to win the championship this season. On the other hand, the Lions are listed at +15000, placing them slightly higher than the Houston Texans, who have odds of +17500.

Thanksgiving Day with Chicago

Once again, the Lions will commence their Thanksgiving Day game by hosting the Chicago Bears at 12:30 p.m. on November 25th, airing on FOX.

The upcoming Thanksgiving matchup between the Bears and Lions will mark their 19th encounter. Notably, they also faced each other in the years 2018 and 2019.

Since 1934, the Bears have won 10 games against the Lions on Thanksgiving, while the Lions have only managed to win 8.

On Thanksgiving Day, Detroit has clashed with a team from the NFC North a total of 44 times. Amongst these encounters, the Packers hold the record with 21 meetings, followed closely by Chicago against whom the Lions have faced off frequently.

Tough second-half schedule

After playing eight games, the Lions will have their bye week in Week 9. The upcoming 9-game stretch appears to be quite challenging for Detroit.

The Lions will kick off their season with away games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. Additionally, they will embark on road journeys to compete against the Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks.

The home games will feature the Arizona Cardinals and all three rivals from the NFC North.

The regular season concludes on Sunday, January 9th, with the Packers playing at 1 p.m.

Except for Green Bay, which is presently not listed, all of those teams have odds of 7.5 wins or more as per oddsmakers.

Can Detroit hit the over?

After the 2021 Lions schedule was announced, the projected number of wins for Detroit’s season remains at 5.

The over is listed at -130 on DraftKings Sportsbook, whereas the under is positioned at +107.

Oddsmakers are going against expectations by favoring the over based on this schedule.

It will be challenging for Detroit to thrive initially due to the presence of a new coaching staff and a limited number of standout players in key positions like wide receiver, linebacker, and defensive back.

Next season, the Lions will face a tough challenge as the 49ers, Packers, and Ravens, all considering themselves strong playoff contenders, won’t give them much time to find their groove.

Once Detroit finally hits their stride, they will face a challenging lineup of opponents during the latter half of the season, with the majority of these matches taking place away from home.

Despite the NFL delivering surprises week after week, the struggling teams in the league have historically found it difficult to secure more than four wins in a 16-game season. With the introduction of a 17-game schedule this year, the overall situation doesn’t alter significantly.

There should be no doubt: The majority sees the Lions as one of the weakest teams in the league for 2021.

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