Will the Detroit Lions Bounce Back in 2026 with a 12-5 Record?

Jeff in Detroit was the first caller to take on the win-loss game for the Lions this year, and he walked out of it at 12 and 5.

He started with confidence. The Saints visit Detroit to open the season, and Jeff had a reason beyond the matchup.

"We're going to win because Jamal is going to get paid and we're going to go," he said.

The short week that follows is where he took his first loss, with the Lions traveling to Buffalo for the Prime Video season premiere in the Bills' new stadium.

"Bills always give us problems," Jeff said.

From there he rattled off four straight wins, over the Jets at home, at the Panthers, at the Cardinals, before the bye. Coming out of it he stopped cold at Green Bay, admitting Jordan Love has been a thorn in his side, and took the loss.

Wins over the Vikings at home and at the Dolphins followed, then his second scheduled defeat, to the Patriots in Munich, where Jeff blamed jet lag more than the opponent.

The back half is where his optimism showed. Home for the Bucs, a win. Thanksgiving against the Bears, a win, on the theory that Detroit owes Chicago a beating and the series splits.

The Atlanta trip gave him pause, mostly because of the marquee. Gibbs against Bijan. Jeff talked himself into it anyway.

Then came the upset nobody saw coming, at least not from a Lions fan.

"Home for the Titans. For some reason, I don't know why, I think we might stumble on that one," Jeff said. Rich already had that game down as a win.

Jeff closed with a win at Minnesota on Sunday night, a Monday night win at home over the Giants, a loss at Chicago and a win at Green Bay. That is 12 and 5.

The more interesting thing came after Jeff hung up, when Rich actually looked at the schedule.

Detroit finishes at the Bears and at the Packers. Three of the last four division games are on the road, all of them.

The weather math is worse than that sounds. The Lions are indoors essentially all season. Munich is indoors. Atlanta is indoors. Minnesota is indoors. Their only true outdoor games are at Buffalo and at Carolina, both in September, plus Miami.

Then weeks 17 and 18 arrive and they go to the great outdoors, at Chicago and at Green Bay, in January.

"They better be sitting in an ice tub preparing for that," Rich said, before flagging the storyline that is coming whether Lions fans want it or not. Jared Goff outdoors versus Goff indoors. Get ready for that narrative.

None of which stopped Rich from acting on the information. Holding the second overall pick in his poker fantasy league, he is taking Jahmyr Gibbs and riding the indoor schedule.

Assuming Gibbs is still there. If not, he takes Bijan, which he was willing to call a win either way.