Detroit Lions Schedule, Best Lions Predictions 2023-2024: Best Opening Odds, Picks

Lions Schedule and Top Opening Lines Per Game

Check out our ultimate 2023-2024 guide to the Detroit Lions. Find out the Lions schedule, Lions predictions and Detroit Lions opening odds.

Also get deeper betting info – like Lions days of rest vs opponents for futures betting knowledge, and what the Detroit Lions did in the draft. You can also find amazing WagerTalk and Goldsheet NFL picks packages.

Get latest NFL free picks for the Detroit Lions all year long from expert handicappers!

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2023-2024 Detroit Lions Schedule

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NFL Betting Tips for 2023!

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Detroit Lions Schedule BreakDown by Lines and Days of Rest

Detroit Lions 2023 Draft Picks: Have the Lions Improved?

In 2023, here’s how the Detroit Lions conducted their draft picks, by round and position.

Round 1, No. 12 (from Browns through Texans and Cardinals): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB (Alabama)
Round 1, No. 18: Jack Campbell, LB (Iowa) (signed)
Round 2, No. 34 (from Cardinals): Sam LaPorta, TE (Iowa) (signed)
Round 2, No. 45 (from Packers): Brian Branch, DB (Alabama)
Round 3, No. 68 (from Broncos): Hendon Hooker, QB (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 3, No. 96 (from Cardinals): Brodric Martin, DT (Western Kentucky) (signed)
Round 5, No. 152: Colby Sorsdal, OT (William & Mary) (signed)
Round 7, No. 219 (from Texans through Vikings and Eagles): Antoine Green, WR (North Carolina) (signed)

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2023 NFC North Odds – How are the Detroit Lions Looking?

Team	Current	Last	Open	High	Low
CHI Bears	+380	+330	+350	+380	+330
DET Lions	+130	+140	+140	+140	+130
GB Packers	+500	+475	+500	+500	+475
MIN Vikings	+275	+250	+250	+275	+250

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NFL Divisional Betting Tips By Teddy Covers

In this installment, Teddy breaks down betting angles covering the NFC North Division and how the Lions could fare this season! He runs through each team’s schedule providing betting trends and angles to take advantage of. Listen now!

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History of the Detroit Lions

The History of the Detroit Lions: A Proud Franchise with a Rocky Past 

The Detroit Lions are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the National Football League (NFL). They have won four championships, produced many Hall of Fame players, and established a tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. However, they have also endured decades of futility, frustration, and heartbreak. This article will explore the history of the Detroit Lions, from their origins in Ohio to their current struggles in Michigan. 

The Portsmouth Spartans: The Lions’ Predecessors 

The Detroit Lions were founded in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans of Portsmouth, Ohio. The team was a member of the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which later became the NFL. The Spartans were a successful and competitive team, finishing second in the league in 1932 with a 6-1-4 record. They also played in the first ever NFL playoff game, losing to the Chicago Bears 9-0 in an indoor contest at Chicago Stadium. 

However, the Spartans faced financial difficulties due to the Great Depression and the small size of their market. In 1934, they were sold to a radio executive named George A. Richards, who moved the team to Detroit and renamed them the Lions. 

The Early Years in Detroit: Glory and Dominance 

Richards picked the name Lions because he wanted his team to be the “king of the NFL”, much like the lion was the king of the jungle. He also wanted a tie-in to baseball’s Detroit Tigers. He hired Potsy Clark as the head coach and acquired several star players, such as quarterback Dutch Clark, running back Ernie Caddel, and lineman George Christensen. 

The Lions made an immediate impact in their new city, winning 10 straight games to start their inaugural season in Detroit. However, they lost their last three games to the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears and finished second in the Western Division behind the Bears. 

The following year, 1935, was the Lions’ breakthrough season. They won their first division title with a 7-3-2 record and advanced to their first NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants. The game was played on December 15, 1935, in front of 15,000 fans at University of Detroit Stadium. The Lions dominated the game, winning 26-7 and securing their first World Championship. They also became part of Detroit’s City of Champions for the 1935-36 sports season, along with the Tigers who won the World Series and the Red Wings who won the Stanley Cup. 

The Lions continued to be a powerhouse in the late 1930s, winning two more division titles in 1936 and 1938. However, they lost both times to the Packers in the NFL Championship Game. After Clark and Caddel retired in 1939, the Lions entered a period of decline. 

The Dark Ages: Struggling and Rebuilding 

From 1939 to 1951, the Lions had only one winning season (6-5 in 1944) and finished last or next-to-last in their division nine times. They also had eight different head coaches during this span. Some of the reasons for their poor performance were injuries, military service during World War II, lack of talent, and poor management. 

The Lions hit rock bottom in 1942, when they went 0-11 and scored only 38 points all season. They also suffered a humiliating 53-0 loss to Washington on Thanksgiving Day that year. 

However, things started to change for the better in 1950, when Richards sold the team to a group of businessmen led by Edwin J. Anderson. The new owners hired Buddy Parker as the head coach and drafted quarterback Bobby Layne from Texas. They also acquired several other key players through trades or free agency, such as running back Doak Walker, receiver Cloyce Box, lineman Lou Creekmur, and linebacker Joe Schmidt. 

The Golden Age: Championships and Contenders 

The Lions quickly became one of the best teams in the NFL under Parker and Layne. They won their second World Championship in 1952 by defeating 

the Cleveland Browns 17-7 in Cleveland Municipal Stadium. They repeated as champions in 1953 by beating the Browns again 17-16 at Briggs Stadium (later renamed Tiger Stadium) in Detroit. 

The Lions had a chance to win three straight titles in 1954 but lost to the Browns 56-10 in the NFL Championship Game. They bounced back in 1957 by winning their fourth and last World Championship, crushing the Browns 59-14 at Briggs Stadium. The Lions were led by Tobin Rote, who replaced an injured Layne at quarterback, and John Henry Johnson, who rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Lions remained a strong team in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but failed to win another championship. They lost three close playoff games to the Giants in 1958, 1962, and 1963. They also had to deal with the retirement of several stars, such as Walker, Box, Creekmur, and Schmidt. 

The Lions’ fortunes took a turn for the worse in 1964, when they traded Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Layne reportedly cursed the Lions, saying they would not win for 50 years. Whether or not the curse was real, the Lions entered a long period of mediocrity and misery. 

The Modern Era: Frustration and Heartbreak 

From 1964 to 2021, the Lions have had only 12 winning seasons and made the playoffs only 12 times. They have never reached the Super Bowl and have only won one playoff game (38-6 over Dallas in 1991). They have also endured several losing streaks, such as going 1-25 from 1979 to 1980, 0-16 in 2008, and 3-13-1 in 2019. 

The Lions have had some bright spots and memorable moments during this era, such as drafting running back Barry Sanders in 1989, who became one of the greatest players of all time and won the MVP award in 1997; hosting Super Bowl XL in 2006 at Ford Field, their current home stadium; and breaking several records in 2012, such as quarterback Matthew Stafford passing for 5,038 yards and receiver Calvin Johnson catching for 1,964 yards. 

However, the Lions have also suffered many disappointments and controversies, such as losing Sanders to a sudden retirement in 1999; having several high draft picks bust or underperform, such as Charles Rogers, Joey Harrington, and Eric Ebron; firing or losing several coaches or executives, such as Wayne Fontes, Matt Millen, Jim Schwartz, Jim Caldwell, and Bob Quinn; and being on the wrong end of several controversial calls or plays, such as the “Bert Emanuel rule” in 1999, the “Calvin Johnson rule” in 2010, the “Fail Mary” in 2012, and the “Batted Ball” in 2015. 

The Future: Hope and Change 

The Lions are currently in a rebuilding mode under a new regime. In January 2021, they hired Dan Campbell as their head coach and Brad Holmes as their general manager. They also traded Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and several draft picks. They used their first-round pick in the 2021 draft to select offensive tackle Penei Sewell from Oregon. 

The Lions are hoping to establish a new culture and identity under Campbell and Holmes. They are looking for players who are tough, smart, competitive, and passionate. They are also looking for fans who are loyal, supportive, and optimistic. 

The Lions have a long and proud history that spans almost a century. They have had their share of glory and dominance as well as futility and frustration. They have faced many challenges and obstacles but have also overcome many adversities and hardships. They have given their fans many reasons to cheer and cry but also many reasons to hope and dream. 

The Lions are not just a football team. They are a symbol of Detroit’s spirit and resilience. They are a part of Detroit’s history and culture. They are Detroit’s pride. 

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