I remember the days when the NFL schedule makers would have pity on a team that had an awful season and give them a favorable slate for the upcoming season.

Those days are over, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Detroit Lions' 2010 schedule, released less than six hours ago.

The Lions in 2010 have eight match-ups with teams that made the 2009 postseason, one squad three seasons removed from winning a Super Bowl and another versus a team that has made the biggest off-season move so far.

I see improvement in the Lions, with the solid moves team officials have made and the development of the team's young players. They're still not a playoff team yet, though. But I think Detroit can triple its win total (two) from last season.

Lions 2010 Win Prediction

All times Eastern
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 12, at Chicago, 1:00 PM-Win: Matt Stafford has more weapons than Jay Cutler

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 19, Philadelphia, 1:00 PM-Win: The number of roster moves Philly has made so far this offseason will show in this early-season game.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 26, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM-Loss: The Lions have as much of a chance in winning this game as Ben Roethlisberger does of being a keynote speaker at one of those "Take Back the Night" vigils.

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM-Loss: Lions haven't won in Lambeau since the second season of "Fresh Prince of Bel Air."

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, St. Louis, 1:00 PM -Win: The Lions will get to do what teams did to them last season - tee off on a rookie quarterback.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM-Loss: Giants won't want to disappoint fans in first season in a new stadium.

Week 7: BYE

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Washington, 1:00 PM-Loss: New Redskin Donovan McNabb will carve up the Lions' D.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, NY Jets, 1:00 PM-Loss: Jets will be one of the top teams in the league. They're my pick to win the Super Bowl.

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM-Win: The only "gimme" on the schedule. Buffalo has a shot to go 0-16 this season.


Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Dallas, 1:00 PM-Loss: Cowboys will be playing for a division title.

Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 25, New England, 12:30 PM-Loss: Lions haven't won on Turkey Day since 2003.

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Chicago, 1:00 PM-Win: Bears will be the worst team in the NFC North this season.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Green Bay, 1:00 PM-Loss: Packers will need this game for playoff positioning.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM-Win: Unless Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and Mike Alstott suit up, Lions should take this one.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Miami, 1:00 PM-Loss: Weird scheduling here, giving a team from the north back-to-back trips to Florida.

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Minnesota, 1:00 PM-Loss: The Lions have as much of a shot of winning this game as "The Back-Up Plan" does of making more money than "Avatar."

Lions' 2010 Record: 6-10