Fact or Fiction: Do Lions Have Tougher Schedule in 2024?

A return trip to San Francisco headlines Lions' 2024 schedule.

Lions running back David Montgomery gets wrapped up by the defense during the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game. / Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Detroit Lions will no longer be viewed as underdogs.

They weren't for the majority of last season, either. After a strong finish to the 2022 campaign, Dan Campbell's team entered the 2023 season with the best odds to win the NFC North. There were some doubters, as that was a feat the organization hadn't achieved in 30 years.

Campbell's group delivered, though, and the Lions will now begin 2024 as the team to beat. It's new territory for the organization, and they will have many challenges as a result. Biggest among them is the fact that they will play a first place schedule as a result of winning the division.

In addition to playing each divisional opponent twice, the Lions will have to take on each team in the AFC South and the NFC West divisions. Rounding out their opponents for the 2024 season will be the division winners from the NFC South and both AFC and NFC East divisions.

The official schedule has not been released yet, but it promises to have some formidable tests for the Lions.

Based on winning percentage, the Lions will face the league's 11th-toughest schedule this upcoming season. Last year, their opposing winning percentage ranked 20th. As a result, this year will be a tougher slate for Campbell's crew.

The Lions wound up playing five teams that made the postseason in 2023 -- Green Bay, Kansas City, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Baltimore. They went 3-2 in those games, including a season-opening win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

This year, the Lions will play eight games against playoff opponents. They will play against all three of their postseason matchups last year, as they host Tampa Bay and Los Angeles along with making a return trip to San Francisco, the site of their loss in last year's NFC Championship game.

In addition to their two games against Green Bay, other playoff opponents on the Lions' upcoming schedule include Houston, Dallas and Buffalo. Detroit will host Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Buffalo and travel to San Francisco, Dallas and Houston.

While the Lions will certainly be in a position to contend once again in 2024, they will have a very tough road in doing so. Last season, their crossover divisions were the NFC South and the AFC West. Both of those divisions produced just one playoff team and just three of the eight total teams finished above .500.

This year, their crossovers are the AFC South and NFC West. The 49ers headline the NFC West, but the Rams were a playoff team a year ago and Seattle also finished above .500. The Seahawks have beaten the Lions each of the last three years, including twice in a row at Ford Field.

The AFC South, meanwhile, is full of young talent. Houston surprised many by winning the division and appears to have gone all-in to maximize their window by trading for Stefon Diggs. C.J. Stroud is one of the league's best passers.

Indianapolis was another impressive story, as they managed to nearly win the division despite rookie starting quarterback Anthony Richardson missing most of the season. Jacksonville is looking to rebound after squandering a late lead in the division, but it boasts Trevor Lawrence behind center and appears to be in a good position to bounce back.

Lastly, the division could be much improved. Green Bay proved it wasn't going to skip a beat despite early season struggles, storming back late in the year to reach the playoffs and taking the 49ers to the brink of defeat in the divisional round.

Chicago, meanwhile, has stocked up weapons ahead of holding two top-10 picks in this year's Draft. The likely top pick is USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who would enter a solid situation. Minnesota is re-stocking talent and lost Kirk Cousins this offseason, but will also likely add a young quarterback.

In short, the schedule this season for the Lions is indeed tougher than last year's. If they want to get back to the top of the mountain in the NFC North and try to avenge the end of last season, they will have to fight to do so.