2011 Game-By-Game Schedule for the Detroit Lions: Playoffs or Not?

I have done a previous article about the Detroit Lions in 2011. However that article did not include going through their schedule game-by-game. As a result of doing that along with all of the other NFL teams, I've found that I think the Lions are going to have a breakout year in 2011, if the season is played. Today the two bargaining sides are making it hard to believe that is going to happen.

My reference article is the FB Schedules website's "2011 Detroit Lions Football Schedule."

Every year it seems the Lions start off strong but then they have a major injury happen to one of their key players (usually to their quarterback) or have some other untoward thing occur. A case in point is the reversal of their winning touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the first game of the 2010 season. The wide receiver was charged with not following all of the way through on the touchdown catch.

Then, it seems, every year the Lions are hard to beat but play the role of spoilers to the toughest of teams. However, they never do well enough to go to the playoffs. How will they do in 2011?

Here are my picks for Detroit in 2011:

The Detroit Lions against the NFC North:

For the first time in a long time I think the Lions will hold their own in the division, equally splitting the games and going 3-3.

The Detroit Lions against non-divisional teams on the road:

The Lions play Atlanta, Carolina, Dallas, Kansas City and San Diego on the road. I believe the Lions are going to be true Lions on the road and defeat all of the teams with the exception of the Dallas Cowboys. While the dates of these games have not been set, I would not be surprised to see Dallas and Detroit play on Thanksgiving Day. So the Lions go a surprising 4-1 on the road.

The Detroit Lions against non-divisional teams at home:

The Lions entertain New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Denver and Oakland. I think Detroit will also go 4-1 at home losing only to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Since I have finished the entire league's 2011 schedule, I can tell you, without giving away the total end-game, that I do think the NFC North is going to be a tough division when compared to total league play.

The Detroit Lions are an example of that ending in my opinion with an 11-5 record and showing strength on the road and at home.

Reference:

FB Schedules Website, "2011 Detroit Lions Football Schedule"