No, not at all. In fact, I peg the Lions for three wins this season.
Predictions are easy to make and even as I write "three wins," it could be less or it could be more, but not much either way. But, if you'd like a good reason to believe my prediction for this season, ask my brother: I called last year's 0-16 debacle.
The question has been asked before, which is more difficult - going 16-0 or 0-16? In back-to-back seasons NFL fans were treated to both. I say going 0-16 is tougher, so I'll firmly say the Lions will not lose every game this year.
Let's first examine the three-win prediction.
The Lions have a tough schedule ahead. They get the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, runner-up Arizona Cardinals and playoff qualifiers Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings. Among the aforementioned, the first three are the toughest opponents.
Beyond the Vikings, the Lions still must complete with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. With quarterback upgrades in the Windy City and Frozen Tundra, that spells four losses for Detroit.
The Lions will also play all teams from the NFC West and the AFC North, as well as the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins.
The three wins I see for Detroit occur in weeks two (at home against Minnesota), eight (at home against St. Louis) and 13 (at Cincinnati). The combined 2008 record of the opponents is 16-31-1. That doesn't sound like a stretch, but I did leave out the 4-12 Seattle Seahawks and the 4-12 Cleveland Browns.
Dan Orlovsky made his first start as a Lion when he took the field in Minnesota last year in week five. The Vikes came away with a 12-10 win. When the Lions hosted the Vikes in week 13, Culpepper was making his fifth start for Detroit and the Lions lost a 20-16 decision.
When the Lions host Minnesota in week two, Culpepper will be the starter, likely lining up against Tavaris Jackson. The Lions will be coming off a loss after visiting New Orleans in week one. With a reliable Culpepper in the backfield, the Lions will edge the run-happy Vikings by nullifying their ground attack with the help of Larry Foote. The Lions will edge the Vikes for their first regular-season home win since Dec. 23, 2007.
In week eight, the Lions will host 2008's 2-14 St. Louis Rams. Right now, the Rams are a mess. They have four quarterbacks on the roster and the depth chart is headlined by Marc Bulger. They don't have a number one receiver and their top running back, Steven Jackson, is injury prone.
By week eight, they could have already down-graded at QB to Kyle Boller or even Brock Berlin. Brian Leonard or Antonio Pittman could be the starting running back and your guess is as good as mine when it comes to starting receivers.
The only team to allow more points than the Lions last season was the Rams and St. Louis was 28th in yards allowed. Just like the Lions won't win many games in 2009, neither will the Rams, but this one will end in Detroit's favor, especially at home.
Detroit's final win of the season will come against 2008's 4-11-1 Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are the Lions in the AFC, but with more recent success. However, it's difficult to dispute they're on the slide.
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