The Lions hope some of Bill Belichick rubbed off on Matt Patricia, even if gambling sites for NFL think otherwise. Patricia plied several trades in 13 seasons with the Patriots. First, as offensive assistant. Second, as assistant offensive line coach. Third, as linebackers coach. Fourth, safeties coach. And finally, as defensive coordinator. But on 5 February, the Detroit Lions hired Patricia as their new head coach. If general manager Bob Quinn had had his druthers, that day would have come two years sooner. Because that’s the time he allegedly spent pitching Patricia to president Rod Wood.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as they say in the parlance of our time. However, in the case of Belichick’s coaching tree, the apple wants to fall as far as possible. Romeo Crennel. Josh McDaniels. Eric Mangini. Charlie Weis. If none of these names ring a bell, there’s a reason. They all faded into obscurity after leaving the shade of the Belichick tree. Will Patricia join them in oblivion? Or will he buck the trend?
2018 Detroit Lions best online sportsbooks odds
- Super Bowl LIII Odds to Win: +3300
- To win the NFC Championship: +1600
- To win the NFC North Division: +500
- Win totals: 7
Odds taken from MyBookie.ag, the crown jewel of gambling sites for NFL.
Former Detroit Lions defensive end Robert Porcher believes it will be the latter. “This is our year,” he said. “We will turn the corner this year.” And pray tell, why is that? “Well, first and foremost, we’ve got a good veteran team. I mean, that nucleus, we have enough, I think. A nucleus there — guys that have been in the trenches — that understand how tough it is to win. And you have a head coach, you have a general manager that has experience, that [sic] has won. And I think that will help in the end.” Maybe you should out yer money where yer mouth is, at one of the many gambling sites for NFL.
2018 Detroit Lions regular season schedule
- September 10 7:10 p.m. New York Jets Ford Field
- September 16 4:05 p.m. at San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium
- September 23 8:20 p.m. New England Patriots Ford Field
- September 30 1:00 p.m. at Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium
- October 7 1:00 p.m. Green Bay Packers Ford Field
- Bye
- October 21 1:00 p.m. at Miami Dolphins Hard Rock Stadium
- October 28 1:00 p.m. Seattle Seahawks Ford Field
- November 4 1:00 p.m. at Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium
- November 11 1:00 p.m. at Chicago Bears Soldier Field Fox
- November 18 1:00 p.m. Carolina Panthers Ford Field Fox
- November 22 12:30 p.m. Chicago Bears Ford Field
- December 2 1:00 p.m. Los Angeles Rams Ford Field
- December 9 4:25 p.m. Arizona Cardinals University of Phoenix Stadium
- December 16 1:00 p.m. Buffalo Bills New Era Field
- December 23 1:00 p.m. Minnesota Vikings Ford Field
- December 30 1:00 p.m. at Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field
And their road schedule
At San Francisco 49ers. The Lions have not won in San Fran since 1975. They have gone 0-12 on the road against the Niners in the intervening years.
At Dallas Cowboys. Detroit has lost their last two straight in Dallas, in 2015 and 2016.
At Miami Dolphins. The Lions will return to Miami for the first time since 2010. On that occasion, they beat the Fins for the first time ever, 34-17.
At Minnesota Vikings. Detroit split their 2017 series with the Vikes, including a 14-7 win in Minnesota.
At Chicago Bears. The Lions swept the Bears last season, including a 27-24 loss in Chicago.
At Arizona Cardinals. The last time Detroit defeated the Cards on the road, in 1993, they were still the Phoenix Cardinals.
At Buffalo Bills. The Lions have lost their last three straight in Buffalo, in 1997, 2002, and 2010.
At Green Bay Packers. The Lions swept the Packers in 2017, including a 30-17 win at Lambeau Field.
