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Lions Pulse
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Lions Week 4 Recap |
Gates catches flight to haul in his 3rd TD pass of the day
The game was never in doubt once the two teams hit the field in Detroit as the Lions dominated from the opening kickoff until the final second ticked off their 48-21 trouncing of the rival Bears. The offense looked determined to erase the memory of last week’s disappointing showing against Philadelphia, and they did exactly that. Detroit exploded for big play after big play while the defense made sure Chicago never seriously threatened. A little faith was restored among the fanbase this week, even if the Bears remain winless and searching for answers.
QB Donovan McNabb delivered one of his best performances in a Lions uniform, throwing for 307 yards and 5 touchdowns on just 11 completions. Every completion seemed to come with a chunk of field attached to it as Detroit averaged over 13 yards per pass attempt. TE Antonio Gates was nearly unstoppable, hauling in 3 touchdown receptions. He struck first on a 52-yard bomb, added another long score from 45 yards out, and capped his day with a tough red zone touchdown where he simply outmuscled the defender. WR Scotty Anderson continued his breakout campaign by catching 4 passes for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. His scoring grabs covered 61 and 59 yards respectively as he repeatedly got behind the secondary and turned routine plays into big scores.
The ground game quietly played a major role as well. HB Kevan Barlow and rookie Brandon Jacobs combined for 149 rushing yards while helping control the pace once Detroit built its lead. Jacobs flashed again with 61 yards on 11 carries, including a 27-yard burst that showcased the size-speed combination that has coaches excited about his future. The only rushing touchdown belonged to veteran Olandis Gary, who vultured the score after leaping over a defender on his way into the end zone to put another exclamation point on the afternoon.
Defensively, the Lions took a classic bend-but-don’t-break approach after jumping out to a massive early lead. Aaron Rodgers finished with over 200 passing yards and three touchdowns, but most of the production came on lengthy drives that chewed clock and required nearly flawless execution. Detroit kept everything in front of them, avoided giving up the quick strike, and forced Chicago to string together drive after drive while protecting the football. That’s a difficult formula when trailing by three and four scores, and the Bears never had the margin for error needed to mount a comeback. MLB Chris Claiborne forced it away with an interception, while Sean Taylor was once again all over the field with 8 tackles and 2 passes defended. Michael Boley added 5 tackles, with 3 being for a loss, as the defense consistently slammed the door whenever Chicago appeared ready to gain momentum.
The victory moves Detroit back to .500 at 2-2 and provides a much-needed reset after last week’s embarrassment. Things won’t get any easier, however, as the Lions now head to Washington to face a revamped Redskins squad sitting at 2-1 and coming off a bye week. The 5th-ranked Redskins already knocked off the Eagles team that handled Detroit, so this shapes up as one of the bigger early-season tests on the schedule. Washington will be rested, healthy, and confident. If the Lions want to establish themselves as legitimate contenders, they need to keep stacking wins now before the grind of the long season begins. |
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Forum Discussion
(by Rod_Mendez on 06/01/2026)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 7 |
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Lions Week 3 Recap |
It was a real shitty day for the Lions
The revamped Philadelphia Eagles clawed out the eyes of the Detroit Lions at Philly, 34-21, in a game that felt over long before the final whistle despite Detroit briefly showing signs of life late in the first half. It was the second straight week where the Lions dug themselves into an early hole and never truly recovered, as the offense sputtered, the defense allowed explosive plays all afternoon, and the mistakes piled up faster than the points. Against all odds, it was Eagles backup QB John Navarre who looked composed and efficient when the game was hanging in the balance, while Detroit once again searched for answers after another flat start dropped them to a disappointing 1-2.
Detroit’s offense simply wasn’t making enough plays to overcome the turnovers. QB Donovan McNabb struggled badly in what should have been a revenge game against his former team, finishing an ugly 19 of 43 for 218 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. The stat line almost flatters the performance considering how uncomfortable he looked for stretches. Despite a few drops from his receivers, McNabb repeatedly forced throws into coverage and missed opportunities that were visible even live, let alone what the All-22 tape will probably reveal in the morning. There were several plays left on the field that could have changed the complexion of the game before it spiraled out of control. The offense managed just 4.95 yards per pass attempt overall, and the inability to consistently threaten Philly vertically allowed the Eagles defense to sit on routes and capitalize on mistakes.
HB Kevan Barlow was easily the bright spot in an otherwise miserable afternoon. The bruising back looked like he was in Pro Bowl form, carrying the ball 15 times for 136 yards and ripping off an 82-yard touchdown run as time expired in the first half to at least give Detroit a pulse heading into the locker room. He averaged over 9 yards per carry and continued to flash improved explosiveness once he reached the second level. Given how ineffective the passing game was, there will probably be questions about whether Barlow should have gotten even more touches, but the game script quickly forced Detroit into catch-up mode. The offensive line quietly held up fairly well despite the scoreline. LT Tony Pashos led the group with 7 pancakes while allowing no sacks, while sophomore Claude Terrell continued his sack less streak with 5 pancakes—11 on the year, 47 in his career, and still not a sack.
The receiving corps had mixed results. WR Anquan Boldin and WR Scotty Anderson each hauled in 6 catches, but neither consistently separated against Philadelphia’s elite secondary. Boldin finished with 39 yards and 2 short touchdowns, while Anderson managed only 50 yards and also dropped a deep ball that could have changed momentum. Chase Lyman did provide one explosive 44-yard catch, and Brandon Jacobs surprisingly chipped in 44 receiving yards himself, but too many drives stalled because nobody outside of Barlow could consistently generate chunk plays.
Defensively, things may have somehow been worse. The Lions entered the afternoon expecting to deal with Gibran Hamdan, but after Hamdan opened a perfect 3 for 3 with a touchdown before exiting injured, backup John Navarre stepped in and looked absurdly comfortable against a defense that was expected to overwhelm him. Navarre completed his first 7 passes and finished with 235 yards and 3 touchdowns, repeatedly finding WR Donte Stallworth behind the secondary. Stallworth completely exploded for 8 catches, 193 yards, and 3 touchdowns, with an incredible 80 yards coming after the catch. Most of the damage came against Sean Taylor, who easily endured the worst performance of his young career. Taylor gave up multiple explosive plays and looked uncomfortable all afternoon trying to mirror Stallworth vertically. Detroit generated pressure at times with Aaron Smith, James Hall, Michael Boley, and Kalimba Edwards all contributing around the pocket, but it hardly mattered because the backend repeatedly failed to hold up long enough to let those pressures fully develop.
The Lions now limp home frustrated, dejected, and already hearing uncomfortable questions about what exactly has gone wrong compared to last season. At 1-2, the season is far from lost, but another sloppy start against Chicago next week could quickly turn concern into panic. Fortunately for Detroit, the 0-3 Bears appear to be arriving at the perfect time for a potential reset. OLB Robert Reynolds is expected back, which should immediately help stabilize portions of the defense. Still, divisional games are never guaranteed, and if this team plans on competing for a playoff spot, it has to stop spotting opponents early leads and relying on desperation football to recover. Aaron Rodgers and the Bears come to Ford Field next, and after what happened in Philadelphia, Detroit’s defense better make sure his goofy ass looking head is on a swivel. |
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Forum Discussion
(by Rod_Mendez on 05/26/2026)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 9 |
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Lions Week 2 Recap + Notes |
It was a hostile bendover at Ford Field. Run for your lives!
It was another dramatic comeback attempt, and also another absolutely heart-breaking loss in front of the hometown crowd at Ford Field, as the Lions erased a 21-point halftime deficit only to fall 41-38 in overtime to the rival Vikings. Detroit moved the ball all afternoon and actually outgained Minnesota 507-392 in total offense, but the game will forever be remembered for the mistakes and missed opportunities that dug the early hole too deep to completely escape from.
The turnovers became almost impossible to comprehend at one point. The Lions gave the ball away three times officially, but it honestly felt like more with the amount of loose footballs bouncing around the field. The defining moment came deep in Detroit territory when Donovan McNabb forced a throw toward a covered Anquan Boldin at the goal line and Vikings CB Patrick Surtain jumped the route for a 99-yard interception return touchdown. It was essentially a brutal 14-point swing that turned an already shaky start into a nightmare, and the crowd could feel the momentum completely leave the building. Minnesota piled on from there with Clinton Portis and Cedric Humes hammering away on the ground while Steve McNair capitalized on short fields. Before the Lions could blink, they were staring at a 31-10 halftime deficit despite moving the football reasonably well themselves.
To the team’s credit, they never folded. After the pick-six disaster, McNabb settled down and began carving up the Vikings secondary. By the end of the comeback attempt he had thrown for 402 yards and 5 touchdowns on 26-of-47 passing, spreading scores to four different receivers while nearly pulling off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history. Scotty Anderson continued his breakout campaign with 7 catches for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the first spark that finally woke Ford Field up late in the second quarter. Boldin finished with 7 catches for 109 yards and a score despite two costly drops on potential deep completions that could have pushed his day into monster territory. Antonio Gates once again looked uncoverable down the seam, hauling in a 41-yard touchdown during the furious fourth quarter rally that tied the game at 38-38 with under a minute remaining. Eddie Drummond added another touchdown grab of his own while continuing to provide field position help with 147 kick return yards.
Kevan Barlow quietly may have had one of the most complete performances of his career despite not finding the end zone. The bruising back finished with 88 rushing yards on 17 carries while also catching 5 passes for another 73 yards. Early on there wasn’t much room to work with, but as the game progressed Barlow became a major factor both on checkdowns and underneath routes where his improved receiving ability consistently punished Minnesota linebackers in space. Detroit’s offensive line wasn’t overwhelmingly dominant in the run game and only combined for a handful of pancakes, but they largely kept McNabb upright outside of one sack and gave him enough time to push the ball vertically during the comeback effort.
Defensively, the scoreboard really doesn’t tell the full story either. Detroit was repeatedly put in awful situations because of the turnovers and short fields, yet after halftime the defense settled in and held Minnesota to 7 points until the overtime possession. Sean Taylor once again looked like the centerpiece of the entire unit, forcing another fumble, intercepting another pass, and batting away three additional throws while flying all over the field in coverage support. FS Jon McGraw led the team with 10 tackles and spent much of the game creeping into the box trying to slow down the Vikings rushing attack. Chris Claiborne added 7 tackles while Kalimba Edwards consistently generated pressure with 2 tackles for loss. Aaron Smith recorded his second sack of the season as well. Still, one lapse proved devastating when Clinton Portis exploded through the second level for a back-breaking 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that briefly felt like the dagger before Detroit’s late rally.
And somehow, despite all the chaos, Detroit still forced overtime. The Lions exploded for 28 fourth quarter points and completely erased the deficit behind McNabb’s aggressive downfield passing. Ford Field went from nearly silent to absolute madness when Gates crossed the goal line for the tying score. Unfortunately, the defense never got a chance to touch the ball in overtime. Minnesota marched methodically down the field on the opening possession before Jason Elam drilled a 39-yard game winner that looked dangerously close to catching the upright on its way through. It was a fitting ending for one of the wildest Lions-Vikings games in recent memory, and one that instantly earns a place in the growing lore of this rivalry.
It should have been different, again. That’s what will sting the most. Detroit proved it could move the football against one of the league’s better defenses and showed tremendous resilience fighting back from three scores down, but the mistakes were simply too severe to fully overcome. The loss will linger until these teams meet again later this season in Minnesota, where the Lions will undoubtedly feel they let one slip away. If there is any positive takeaway, it’s that the offense looks increasingly explosive when McNabb settles in, and the defense continues generating impact plays at all three levels.
The Lions now head to Philadelphia for a matchup that already feels close to must-win territory against a revamped Eagles team coming off an emotional divisional loss to Washington. Detroit cannot afford another turnover-filled start if it hopes to return home at 2-1 for a showdown against the rival Bears. In a dream scenario, rookie QB Vince Young may even be entering the picture by then, but for now the focus has to remain on cleaning up the mistakes that continue turning potential signature wins into agonizing losses.
In other team news, the Lions lost OLB Ryan Reynolds for a week with a strained pec. He joins CB Bruce Thornton on the thus far small injury list, but they’re both slated to return after next week if all goes well.
The team also came to terms with CB Phillip Bucannon, who was set to hit the free agent market after this season. The contract was for seven years and roughly 30 million total. He actually now counts less against the cap for the next two seasons, and the deal terms overall are extremely team friendly as he continues to ascend into the elite category of cornerbacks in PTF. |
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Forum Discussion
(by Rod_Mendez on 05/23/2026)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 9 |
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Lions Week 1 Recap |
Jue got Mossed for a 39-yard TD early in the 2nd quarter
The Detroit Lions walked into Oakland and delivered on opening day a strong performance to begin the 2006 season, dismantling the Raiders 41-10 behind a balanced offensive attack and a suffocating defensive effort that forced five turnovers. Detroit controlled the game from the second quarter onward and never truly allowed Oakland to settle in offensively, as Donovan McNabb continued to look comfortable in the offense while the defense continued its caliber of performances from its top ranked defense last season.
After a scoreless first quarter where both defenses traded punches that repeatedly missed, the Lions offense finally broke through with an extended 12 play, 93 yard drive that chewed nearly five minutes off the clock. McNabb capped it by finding Scotty Anderson for a 39 yard touchdown, the first of two huge scoring plays between the duo. Just minutes later, Detroit struck again almost instantly when Anderson got behind the secondary for a 58 yard touchdown reception to put the Lions up 14-0. Anderson only caught two passes all afternoon, but both went for touchdowns and completely changed the game. Matt Leach later connected on a short field goal to extend the lead to 17-0 before Oakland answered with a quick strike touchdown from Ty Branyon to Jerry Porter right before halftime.
The Raiders briefly showed signs of life in the third quarter after Sebastian Janikowski drilled a 54 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-10, but Detroit completely buried them in the fourth. McNabb engineered another scoring drive early in the quarter, finding Antonio Gates for a 3 yard touchdown after the defense set the offense up with favorable field position. Kevan Barlow then added a goal line rushing touchdown midway through the quarter as Detroit’s offensive line continued to wear Oakland down physically. Leach added another field goal before Sean Taylor officially slammed the door shut with a 36 yard interception return touchdown after reading Branyon perfectly and jumping the throw. Taylor was everywhere throughout the afternoon, finishing with eight tackles, a forced fumble, an interception that became a late defensive touchdown in a dominant performance that further strengthened his growing reputation as one of the most dangerous young defenders in the league.
McNabb finished an efficient 12 of 22 for 199 yards and three touchdowns without turning the football over, posting a 124.8 passer rating despite operating in a fairly conservative offensive gameplan once Detroit grabbed control. Barlow added 71 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Brandon Jacobs chipped in another 33 hard fought yards to help Detroit control the tempo. Anquan Boldin quietly contributed six catches for 74 yards underneath, repeatedly moving the chains and helping extend drives.
Defensively, the Lions overwhelmed Oakland’s offense for most of the game. Ty Branyon was sacked five times and intercepted four times while Detroit held the Raiders to just 50 rushing yards and only two successful third down conversions all game. Michael Boley and James Hall consistently pressured the quarterback while Kalimba Edwards added two sacks of his own. The Lions defense also forced two fumbles and allowed Oakland to score just three points after halftime.
Perhaps most impressive was how clean and disciplined Detroit played overall. The Lions committed zero turnovers, controlled third downs on both sides of the ball, and dominated situational football throughout the afternoon. In a game that featured several explosive plays offensively and another statement effort defensively, Detroit looks poised to get their lick back for the heart-breaking playoff loss against the Minnesota Vikings at home in week 2 |
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Forum Discussion
(by Rod_Mendez on 05/21/2026)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 13 |
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Lions Training Camp News |
Quarterbacks: Matt Schaub
+2 AWR (74) +1 THA (91)
The newly acquired free agent from the infamous glass class gets some attention here as the Lions continue grooming him into a long-term, serviceable backup quarterback. His throwing power is still downright pathetic at 75, but at just 25 years old, Schaub already possesses respectable awareness and near-elite throwing accuracy. That combination alone gives him a legitimate shot to stick around in Detroit for a long time.
Starter Donovan McNabb is now 30 and therefore ineligible for camp, while Doug Johnson is about to hit 30 himself, making it feel pointless to dump resources into a player who would immediately begin regressing after just one season. On top of that, the way Johnson’s contract is structured, there’s a real chance he hits free agency after next year anyway, which would likely open the door for Schaub to officially slide into the backup role full-time.
Project things forward a little further and it gets even more interesting. At age 27, with two additional training camps and no progression from playing time even factored in, Schaub projects to sit at 78 AWR and 93 THA. For a backup quarterback in this league, that’s more than acceptable. That’s a guy you can confidently survive stretches with if disaster strikes.
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Running Backs: Brandon Jacobs
+1 SPD (86) +1 AGI (86) +1 ACC (87)
The 6’4”, 264-pound battering ram put together a highly successful rookie season by almost every measure, so combining the natural rookie jump with another strong training camp should only make him even more dangerous heading into Year 2. Detroit heavily flirted with the idea of moving starting running back Kevan Barlow during the offseason, but nothing serious ever materialized, meaning Jacobs will continue operating as the complementary piece in what might be the most physically punishing backfield in football.
Even in a secondary role, Jacobs already looks capable of taking over games with sheer size and momentum alone. Defensive backs looked exhausted trying to tackle him late last year, and now he’s even faster and more explosive coming downhill. The rest of the league should prepare themselves for another season of absolute punishment once the weather starts turning cold.
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Wide Receivers: Anquan Boldin
+1 SPD (99) +1 AWR (70) +1 AGI (9
The former second overall pick has admittedly underwhelmed for stretches of his career, but the flashes late last season reminded everyone exactly why Detroit selected him so high in the first place. Boldin closed the year with four 100-yard games over the final five contests of the season, finally beginning to resemble the dominant offensive centerpiece the Lions envisioned on draft night.
Now he finally receives the full training camp he was promised as a rookie, and the timing honestly could not be better. With his athleticism now bordering on cartoonish levels, the expectations rise right alongside it. A 1,500-yard, 12+ touchdown season is no longer some unrealistic dream scenario. That’s the standard now.
Detroit upgraded around him this offseason, McNabb gives the offense legitimate explosiveness at quarterback, and Boldin now enters the season with 99 speed. Corners better start stretching now because very few defenders in this league are built to run with him for four quarters.
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Offensive Line: LG Claude Terrell
+1 SPD (57) +1 AGI (49) +1 ACC (75)
Terrell quietly put together one of the better rookie seasons of any young offensive lineman in football, finishing the year with 36 pancakes while allowing zero sacks. For a young guard stepping immediately into meaningful snaps, that’s extremely impressive production. His added athleticism should only elevate his game further. If Terrell maintains, or slightly improves on, the pace he established last season across a full 16-game schedule, he has a real shot to finish among the league leaders in pancakes at left guard.
A 60+ pancake season with only a couple sacks allowed honestly feels very realistic at this point.
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Defensive Line: DE Kalimba Edwards
+1 SPD (87) +1 AGI (87) +1 ACC (89)
Edwards was already one of the most explosive defensive linemen in the league before camp even started, and somehow he managed to become even more athletic. His combination of size, speed, and burst is nearly unmatched across the entire PTF.
He’s already posted double-digit sacks in two of the last three seasons, but now, entering his age-27 season, the expectation shifts from “very good player” to legitimate superstar production. Detroit believes this could finally be the season where everything fully comes together.
Thirty plays behind the line of scrimmage is the goal this year. Sacks, tackles for loss, forced chaos — all of it. Opposing quarterbacks, running backs, and especially right tackles should probably start preparing now because Edwards looks ready to terrorize offenses every single week.
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Linebackers: OLB Robert Reynolds
+1 SPD (91) +1 AGI (79) +1 ACC (92)
Mr. Draft Gem got faster.
Reynolds enters the season looking to build upon a year where he was finally able to stay mostly healthy and consistently showcase the ridiculous upside that made Detroit steal him in the fifth round. Few linebackers in the league possess his combination of closing speed, physicality, and pass-rushing ability.
He already flashes elite potential as an edge threat, but what makes Reynolds truly dangerous is his versatility. He can attack downhill against the run, pressure the quarterback, and still hold his own dropping into coverage responsibilities. There simply are not many linebackers built like this.
The biggest thing holding him back from yearly Pro Bowl consideration is durability. But after nearly doubling his injury rating thanks to some mysterious activity-shop physical therapy program that sounds borderline illegal, the Lions are hoping Reynolds can finally put together a fully healthy breakout campaign.
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Defensive Backs: NCB Bruce Thornton
+1 SPD (95) +1 AGI (91) +1 ACC (91)
Thornton is expected to thrive in the nickel role this season, even if his ideal long-term fit may ultimately still be on the outside. While he may not possess the absolute elite short-area shiftiness teams traditionally look for in smaller nickel corners, he makes up for it with outstanding straight-line athleticism, developing awareness, and impressive physical tools for a player still only 24 years old.
At this point, Thornton simply covers too much ground too quickly to keep off the field. His recovery speed is excellent, and his awareness continues trending upward every season. That combination should allow him to compensate for any minor deficiencies he might have compared to more traditional slot corners.
And if injuries ever force him outside full-time again, Detroit probably won’t lose much sleep over it.
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Special Teams: K Matt Leach
+1 KPW (99) +2 KAC (96)
Leach somehow continues getting better.
His leg strength has now officially reached absurd territory, and his accuracy is beginning to climb into the elite-of-the-elite conversation league-wide. The physical tools are all there for him to become one of the most dangerous kickers in football from virtually any distance.
Now the focus shifts toward awareness development and consistency in pressure moments. The Lions are hoping that growth finally prevents another nightmare repeat of the infamous missed kick against Minnesota that effectively ended Detroit’s season last year.
Because with 99 kick power and 96 kick accuracy, there are no more excuses |
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Forum Discussion
(by Rod_Mendez on 05/16/2026)
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Replies - 0 :: Views - 10 |
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At A Glance
| TEAM CAPTAINS |
Off. Captain
QB Donovan McNabb |
Def. Captain
LE Kalimba Edwards |
ST Captain
WR Eddie Drummond |
| NFC North |
| RNK |
TEAM |
W-L-T |
PCT |
DIV |
| #20 |
 Vikings |
2-2-0 |
0.500 |
2-0 |
| #13 |
 Lions |
2-3-0 |
0.400 |
1-1 |
| #30 |
 Bears |
1-4-0 |
0.200 |
1-1 |
| #31 |
 Packers |
0-5-0 |
0.000 |
0-2 |
| LIONS SCHEDULE |
| Preseason |
| WK |
DATE |
OPPONENT |
SCOUT/RESULT |
| P1 |
Thu |
vs  Bengals #21 |
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| P2 |
Sat |
at  Browns #24 |
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| P3 |
Sat |
at  Colts #26 |
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| P4 |
Thu |
vs  Bills #29 |
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| Regular Season |
| 1 |
Sun |
at  Raiders #32 |
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| 2 |
Sun |
vs Vikings #20 |
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| 3 |
Sun |
at  Eagles #8 |
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| 4 |
Sun |
vs Bears #30 |
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| 5 |
Sun |
at  Redskins #5 |
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| 7 |
Sun |
vs  Buccaneers #15 |
Match-up |
| 8 |
Sun |
at Bears #30 |
Match-up |
| 9 |
Sun |
vs  Broncos #3 |
Match-up |
| 10 |
Sun |
at  Cardinals #12 |
Match-up |
| 11 |
Sun |
vs  Giants #18 |
Match-up |
| 12 |
Thu |
vs Packers #31 |
Match-up |
| 13 |
Sun |
at Vikings #20 |
Match-up |
| 14 |
Sun |
vs  Cowboys #4 |
Match-up |
| 15 |
Sun |
at  Chargers #10 |
Match-up |
| 16 |
Sun |
vs  Chiefs #16 |
Match-up |
| 17 |
Sun |
at Packers #31 |
Match-up |
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