Detroit Lions 2015 schedule -- an objective look

Like all other NFL teams, the Lions have known for some time who their opponents would be this year. They just didnt't know in what order they would face them. Now they do. Here's a look at their schedule and how things might well play out.

Week 1.
@ San Diego. Probably lose.
Week 2.
@ Minnesota. Even with Adrian Peterson, the Lions likely win.
Week 3.
Denver. They still have Peyton, right? Probably lose.
Week 4.
@ Seattle. Forget about it.
Week 5.
Ariz. Cards beat them last year without their starting QB, and they'll beat them again this year with him.
Week 6.
Chicago. A gimme.
Week 7
Minnesota. Another gimme.
Week 8.
@ London vs Kansas City. A serious road game for both teams. And the coin flip says -- Lions lose.
Week 9.
Bye
Week 10.
@ Green Bay. See Week 4.
Week 11.
Oakland. Put it in the bank.
Week 12.
Philadelphia. Will be interesting to see how the Eagles shake out this year, but the Lions get them at home. Probably win.
Week 13.
Green Bay. The Pack is a much better team, but the Lions play them tough at Ford Field. Probably win.
Week 14
@ St. Louis. Look for a let down after the home game against the Cheesers and it's on the road. Probably lose.
Week 15.
@ New Orleans. Tough call, but the Lions have never fared well in the Big Easy. Probably lose.
Week 16.
San Fran. The 49ers lost Jim Harbaugh and are taking on water fast elsewhere. Lions win.
Week 17.
@ Chicago. Lions roll.

The Lions definitely have a tougher road this year than the patsy schedule they faced in 2014. Yet this is what happens when a team makes the playoffs, even if they got bounced -- again -- in the first round.

So add it all up, and it comes to 8-8.

Or maybe 9-7.
10-6 would be nice.
11-5 is theoretically possible, if they catch every break imaginable.

Then again, it could go the other way.
7-9 is entirely possible as well.
So is 6-10 if the breaks go against them.
5-11 would be considered disastrous, but it could happen.

The Honolulu blue and silver hype machine, along with their ever-faithful, if gullible media, will kick into warp drive again when the 2015 campaign finally kicks off -- almost five months from now. The die-hard fans will pay big bucks to flock to Ford Field to see their heroes. Likewise, taverns will be chock full of thousands of them eating wings, chugging beer, and rooting on their beloved puddy-tats while clad in their garb. It happens every year.

Bottom line?

It's all about getting to and winning the Super Bowl.

The Lions' chances of accomplishing that this year?

See Weeks 4 and 10 mentioned above.

Not a chance.