The Lions' 2017 schedule looks favorable on paper — no long road trips, no terrible cross-division matchups, and winnable road games.
This sounds familiar.
But Detroit had a similarly favorable schedule in 2016 and had to conjure up some fourth-quarter magic and late-season luck to squeak into the playoffs at 9-7. This season, they're down a couple of impact linebackers in Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy and are thin on the offensive line even with the addition Ricky Wagner, so no game on the schedule is an absolute guarantee (minus the Browns, because obviously). Add in three primetime games against playoff contenders (Giants, Steelers, Packers) and it's tougher than it looks.