The Lions' Final 2026 Record Prediction Is HERE

HOW TO ENTER: 1. Visit https://google.com/preferences/source?q=atozsports.com and make sure A to Z Sports is checked 2. Comment GO LIONS below! If selected, you must be able to verify that A to Z Sports was selected as a preferred source. A to Z Sports Giveaway Terms & Conditions: https://atozsports.com/jersey-giveaway-social-rules-2026/ ***** Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more LIONS coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LionsFans4Life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportslions/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsdetroitlions Week 1 is just days away, training camp is over, preseason is over, and Mike Payton is making his FINAL game-by-game prediction for the Lions' 2026 season. After everything Mike saw during training camp and the preseason, where will Detroit finish? Mike has the Lions going 12-5 and winning the NFC North. The season begins with a Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field. Mike expects Detroit to start the season 1-0 before traveling to Buffalo for what he believes will be the Lions' biggest early-season defensive test. From there, Mike has Detroit beating the Jets, Panthers and Cardinals before entering the bye week at 4-1. The Lions then return home to face Green Bay before taking on the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and AFC champion New England Patriots in Germany. Mike has Detroit winning all four games and entering the Tampa Bay matchup at 8-1. That's where Mike has the Lions taking their first loss since Buffalo. Detroit then beats Chicago on Thanksgiving, Atlanta and Tennessee before dropping a road game to Minnesota. The Lions bounce back against the Giants, but Mike has Detroit losing to the Bears in Chicago in Week 17. The final game of the regular season is against Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Mike expects Detroit to already have the NFC North secured by that point and believes the Lions could rest their starters, resulting in a Week 18 loss. That leaves Detroit at 12-5 and headed to the playoffs as NFC North champions. Mike also explains why he believes the Lions' schedule sets up well, why Detroit could potentially have a strong advantage heading into the second half of the season, and why he still believes this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl. Do you agree with Mike's 12-5 prediction? Drop your 2026 Lions record prediction in the comments. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Detroit for Detroit Lions news, analysis, game predictions, roster breakdowns, and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. 0:00 Mike's FINAL Lions prediction 1:03 Lions jersey giveaway 2:05 Week 1 vs. Saints 3:25 Week 2 at Bills 5:46 Week 3 vs. Jets 7:49 Week 4 at Panthers 8:26 Week 5 at Cardinals 9:50 Week 7 vs. Packers 10:51 Week 8 vs. Vikings 12:01 Week 9 at Dolphins 13:13 Week 10 at Patriots 14:47 Week 11 vs. Buccaneers 15:50 Week 12 vs. Bears 17:58 Week 13 at Falcons 19:29 Week 14 vs. Titans 20:27 Week 15 at Vikings 21:19 Week 16 vs. Giants 22:28 Week 17 at Bears 23:19 Week 18 vs. Packers 23:49 Final record: 12-5 #detroitlions #lionsnation #lionsfootball #detroitlionsnews