Detroit Lions 2017 Schedule: Playoff Run Possible?

METRO DETROIT, MI — The 2017 schedule has been released by the NFL and it appears to favor a repeat playoff appearance by the Detroit Lions. Only four playoff teams from the 2016 season are on the new Lions schedule, including the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons in September.

The other two include division rival Green Bay Packers on the road on Nov. 6 and then at home in the final week of the season on Dec. 31. The Lions also host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 29 at 8:30 p.m.

Detroit finished the 2016 season with a 9-7 record, good enough for a wildcard berth. The Lions didn’t last long in the playoffs, however, as Seattle crushed the Detroiters 26-6.

It marked the end of a very up and down season. The Lions got out of the gate very slowly, losing to Tennessee, Green Bay in Chicago in consecutive weeks after beating Indianapolis in the season opener. Detroit followed it up by winning eight out of nine games.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford led the charge. He had one of his best seasons, throwing for more than 4,300 yards, completing 65.3 percent of his passes and tossing 24 touchdown passes against only 10 interceptions.

Receiver Golden Tate was his main target. He led the Lions with 91 receptions and 1,077 yards to go along with four touchdowns. Veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin chipped in with eight touchdowns, too.

After the Lions string of victories, the season started heading south on Dec. 18 with a 17-6 road loss to the Giants. The Lions then lost their final two regular season games to Dallas and Green Bay before being thumped by the Seahawks in the playoffs.

DETROIT LIONS 2017 SCHEDULE
Sun. Sept. 10, Arizona, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Mon. Sept. 18, at N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sun. Sept. 24, Atlanta, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Oct. 1, at Minnesota, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Oct. 8, Carolina, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Oct. 15, at New Orleans, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Oct. 29, Pittsburgh, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)
Mon. Nov. 6, at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sun. Nov. 12, Cleveland, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sun. Nov. 19, at Chicago, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Thur. Nov. 23, Minnesota, 12:30 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Dec. 3, at Baltimore, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Dec. 10, at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sat. Dec. 16, Chicago, 4:30 p.m. (NFL)
Sun. Dec. 24, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sun. Dec 31, Green Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Jonathan Ferrey / Stringer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images