POLL: What will the Detroit Lions’ final record be in 2023?

The perception of the 2023 Detroit Lions team has shifted dramatically for some after the past two weeks. Coming out of the bye week, the Lions won an entertaining shootout against the Los Angeles Chargers that pushed them to 7-2 on the season, tied for the second-best record in football.

But in the past two weeks, the Lions’ performance has been uninspiring at best and downright bad at worst. They were able to pull off an odds-defying win against the Chicago Bears after being outplayed for three quarters. Then the Green Bay Packers shell-shocked them by dominating the line on both sides of the ball.

The Lions are still in a fantastic spot to make the playoffs, sitting at 8-3 with a 99 percent chance at the postseason. However, faith has been shaken due to a rapidly declining defense and a suddenly mistake-prone offense.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

What will the Lions’ final record be in 2023?

My answer: I predicted 12-5 to start the season, and I’m still not budging. First, let’s look at the schedule:

• at Saints (5-5)
• at Bears (3-8)
• vs. Broncos (5-5)
• at Vikings (6-5)
• at Cowboys (8-3)
• vs. Vikings (6-5)

The schedule isn’t quite as easy as it looked a few weeks ago, with the Vikings (won 5 of the past 6) and Broncos (won 4 in a row) showing signs of life. Additionally, four of the Lions’ final six games are on the road.

However, I still think a 4-2 record in these final six games is extremely doable, if not likely. The Saints’ best win came against the 5-5 Colts, and while their defense is good, their offense is not. The other three road games—Bears, Vikings, Cowboys—will all be tough challenges, but I believe Detroit can win at least one of those three games.

That leaves their home contests against the Broncos and Vikings. Denver may be improving on the defensive side of the ball, but they still rank dead last in DVOA. Offensively, they’ve only put up over 25 points twice this year. I question their legitimacy. If Detroit can just win the season finale against Minnesota in what could be a huge game, that should be enough for a 12-5 record and an NFC title. I still believe.

What do you think? Vote in the poll below and then explain your answer in the comment section at the bottom of the page.