TO CLOSE

Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez describe the new additions of Lions free agents and discuss what they need on March 14, 2019 at Allen Park.
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

The NFL is expected to release its 2019 calendar at 8 pm On Wednesday, it is certain that several games will be lost in advance when the staff of the team will have it in their hands. For now, here's what we know:

Detroit Lions opponents in 2019 ready

The NFL uses a programming format each year that makes it easier to know opponents. The Lions play at home and away against each of their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears, and will face AFC West and NFC East this season. Due to their last place in their division last year, the Lions also play the last place team in NFC West (Arizona Cardinals) and NFC South (Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

The entire Lions home schedule includes Packers, Vikings, Bears, Bucs, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers.

On the road, they face the Packers, Vikings, Bears, Cardinals, Broncos, Raiders, Eagles and Washington.

Lions running back Kerryon Johnson passes the ball against the Patriots in the second half of the Lions 26-10 win on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Ford Field. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, TNS)

Rematch Thanksgiving in the works

The dates and times of the full schedule will be unveiled Wednesday, although a match already seems set. In February, Sports Business Daily reported that Lions will host the bears during their annual Thanksgiving match.

Last year, the Bears beat the Lions at Thanksgiving, 23-16. Chicago won NFC North in 2018 and is expected to be a playoff favorite for the season.

Night movements

For fans, one of the biggest unveiled on the day of the scheduled release is how the games will be played in prime time.

Last year, the Lions played two games in prime time during the first three weeks of the season: home games against the New York Jets on a Monday and the New England Patriots on a Sunday evening. Nothing more.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is thrilled with the crowd after the Oakland Raiders win at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports)

Lions are not a big draw for television. They do not have star caliber players in their lineup, do not play in a major media market and have a six-win season. But they have several games against attractive teams. With the Packers and Bears, which tend to be big draws for television for various reasons, the Chiefs, Cowboys and Giants are expected to be the favorites of the network this year because of their home teams or hometowns, and the Eagles and the Raiders, in their last season in Oakland should also spark interest.

From the point of view of the Lions, fans should flock to see the Chiefs (because of Patrick Mahomes) and the Cowboys (because they are the Cowboys) regardless of the day and time of the encounter , so that the organization benefits more from the practice of the Bucs. or chargers in prime time.

What do we know about each other?

The Packers and Bears will open the 100th NFL season in September and the Oakland A host the Tigers at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum the first weekend of the season, so line up these games for the Lions' first game.

Rumor has it that Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will play the Chiefs or Cowboys in their opening game on Sunday night. The best Lions bet for the first week is a match against the Vikings, Bucs, Giants, Chargers, Cardinals and Broncos. , Eagles or Washington.

The NFL usually hosts Week 17 games (and often 16 games) against division opponents. So expect the Lions to end the year against their opponents at NFC North.

Beyond that, there would be three games on the Saturday before Christmas, December 21, and the Lions have not played match on Thursday outside Thanksgiving since 2015, so it might be time for the game. one of them.

Ranking of openers

So who do you want the Lions to play in their first game? After last year's tough season, a home game would be a good start (though the NFL giveaway wrapped up the Lions' throw last year, and they quickly embarrassed themselves on national television).

Here is my ranking of the potential matches of week 1, with the understanding that the Chiefs or Cowboys would be an incredible draw if they did not open against the Patriots:

Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, in 2018. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

1. giants: The Lions were not able to play against the other New York teams last year, but the Giants are terrible. In addition, Saquon Barkley would be fun to watch.

2. Bucs: The Bucs could be worse than the giants and the Lions could benefit from a win to start the year.

3. Cardinals: Kyler Murray in his first match, someone?

4. Washington: A road game that would not generate any buzz, but still a winner.

5. Vikings, at home or away: these two teams know each other well and division games are always fun. A problem: The Vikings usually hit Matthew Stafford, which could well tip the season.

6. chargers: The Chargers are expected to be one of the top NFL teams this year, but it's best to start the season at Ford Field.

7. BroncosGoing west and playing at altitude could be a challenge after what should be another training camp, but the Broncos are not contenders for the playoffs.

8. the eagles: I think the Eagles will have a rebound season with Carson Wentz in top form. It's still a good team and if the Lions go to Philadelphia during the first week, their chances of coming home as a winner are not great.

Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. More information about the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.