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          Detroit Lions 2022 schedule: Early home stretch could help Lions get off to strong start

          In Year 2, Lions coach Dan Campbell needs quarterback Jared Goff to step up in Detroit. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire
          • Eric Woodyard, ESPNMay 13, 2022, 12:22 AM
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              Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: "Wasted, Ethan's Talent Search" and "All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story". He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan. You can follow him on Twitter: @E_Woodyard

          ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions' 2022 schedule was released along with the rest of the NFL slate Thursday.

          The season will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8 with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. ESPN opens its schedule with Monday Night Football on Sept. 12, featuring the Denver Broncos hosting the Seattle Seahawks.

          The NFL expanded to 17 regular-season games last season. The final regular-season games in 2022 will be played Jan. 8, 2023. The playoffs begin Jan. 14, and continue through Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, in Glendale, Arizona.

          Here's what in store for the Lions:

          Schedule

          Sept. 11: vs Philadelphia Eagles

          Sept. 18: vs. Washington Commanders

          Sept. 25: at Minnesota Vikings

          Oct. 2: vs. Seattle Seahawks

          Oct. 9: at New England Patriots

          Oct. 18: BYE

          Oct. 23: at Dallas Cowboys

          Oct. 30: vs. Miami Dolphins

          Nov. 6: vs. Green Bay Packers

          Nov. 13: at Chicago Bears

          Nov. 20: at New York Giants

          Nov. 24: vs. Buffalo Bills (Thanksgiving)

          Dec. 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

          Dec. 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings

          Dec. 18: at New York Jets

          Dec. 24: at Carolina Panthers (Saturday)

          Jan. 1: vs. Chicago Bears

          Jan. 7/8: at Green Bay (TBD)

          Strength of schedule: 28th, .467

          Biggest takeaway

          Let the kneecap biting begin. Year 2 of the Dan Campbell era is set to start. Coming off a season in which the Lions started 0-8, the beginning of this year’s schedule doesn’t appear so difficult. Three of the first four games will be played at home against Philadelphia, Washington and Seattle, and Detroit hits the road Week 3 at Minnesota, then again for Week 5 at New England before a bye week. That home stretch could help the Lions build some early momentum.

          Revenge game

          New receiver DJ Chark Jr. certainly has the Week 13 game against Jacksonville circled on his calendar. Casual fans might question why a matchup between the NFL’s worst two teams in 2021 would be of any interest, but for starters, Chark was a 2019 Pro Bowler in Jacksonville before signing a one-year deal in Detroit this offseason. So, that’s a game he wants to perform well in. Also, it’ll be an interesting matchup between the top two picks in this year's draft -- Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker and Lions D-lineman Aidan Hutchinson. Both teams are trying to build in the right direction.

          What Vegas thinks

          The oddsmakers have the Lions' win total at six. To hit the over, quarterback Jared Goff has to show that he can be productive with anyone other than Sean McVay as his head coach. Goff is 3-17-1 (.167) with a QBR of 33 in his career without McVay. All of that certainly isn’t his fault. Lions general manager Brad Holmes is putting offensive weapons around him in 2022, and Goff has a familiarity with receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, running back D'Andre Swift and tight end T.J. Hockenson. Plus, the Lions added receivers Chark and Jameson Williams via free agency and the draft, respectively. The rebuilt defense also has to step it up as well.

          Bold prediction

          Detroit will win at least seven games. Although the squad went 3-13-1 last season, anyone who watched the team closely knows how competitive it was in many of the games. Staying healthy will be a main concern, but if the Lions play as hard as they did for Campbell during his first season -- and can stay healthy -- they could get at least seven wins for the first time since 2017, when they went 9-7. For Detroit, that would be a victory as they continue to build a foundation for the future.