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Breaking Down Detroit Lions’ Opponents For 2015 NFL Season

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Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Breaking Down Detroit Lions' Opponents For 2015 NFL Season

Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions 2015 NFL Season — The Detroit Lions look to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, but then again, if you’re a realistic Lions fan, it’s also pretty easy to see happening. Here is a breakdown of the teams that stand in Detroit’s way to an NFL postseason repeat.

The Detroit Lions look to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1995. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, but then again, if you’re a realistic Lions fan, it’s also pretty easy to see happening. Here is a breakdown of the teams that stand in Detroit’s way to an NFL postseason repeat.

13. San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers 2015 NFL Season

13. San Diego Chargers

This could be the toughest team to gauge in 2015. The San Diego Chargers have a solid yet aging quarterback in Philip Rivers, yet San Diego always finds themselves floating around the mediocrity line. With the Oakland Raiders improving, and the Denver Broncos continuing their solid efforts the Chargers could add another 9-7 season to their already massive collection.

12. Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning Denver Broncos 2015 NFL Season

12. Denver Broncos

Speaking of aging quarterbacks, the Denver Broncos go into another season with Peyton Manning under center. At least in the Broncos' case, Manning has a display waiting for him in the Hall of Fame. The Broncos should be a solid 10-12 win team, and Detroit should feel fortunate for getting Denver at Ford Field.

11. Chicago Bears

11. Chicago Bears

The “Monsters of the Midway” have been inert for the last couple seasons, but the Chicago Bears won’t tolerate poor efforts for long. Expect Chicago to be less of a lie-down in 2015 and to keep Detroit honest in the Lions’ pursuit of the playoffs.

10. Oakland Raiders

Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr 2015 NFL Season

10. Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders could have a promising campaign in 2015. Derek Carr is a year wiser, Jack Del Rio is the coach and Oakland could have some exciting news concerning a new stadium. The Lions should be wary of this road contest in the Bay Area.

9. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 2015 NFL Season

9. New Orleans Saints

Punished by the salary cap and possibly bereft of transcendent TE production, the New Orleans Saints are definitely a wild card. Yet, in 2014 the Lions gave the Saints a memorably painful defeat, and this should be plenty of motivation for Drew Brees and company to bring their best.

8. San Francisco 49ers

8. San Francisco 49ers

Few teams have imploded in the offseason quite like the San Francisco 49ers. Who knows if they’ll be competitive without Jim Harbaugh, and who knows if they’ll put up a fight in their 2015 game against the Lions held in Detroit.

7. Arizona Cardinals

Bruce Arians Arizona Cardinals 2015 NFL Season

7. Arizona Cardinals

Bruce Arians may be one of the best NFL coaching hires in the last decade. Behind inadequate quarterbacking at best, the Arizona Cardinals posted a 11-5 record in 2014. Once Arizona figures out their conundrum under center, the Cardinals will be one of the NFC’s teams to beat for 2015 playoff positioning.

6. Kansas City Chiefs

Andy Reid Kansas City Chiefs 2015 NFL Season

6. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs are another team with a great coach in Andy Reid. Regardless of the visceral reactions Reid may provoke, he has Kansas City heading in the right direction. With this London game being played seven time zones away from Detroit, it won't be a gimme for the Lions.

5. St. Louis Rams

Tavon Austin St. Louis Rams 2015 NFL Season

5. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams have a decent quarterback in Nick Foles, but their running attack and passing defense remain suspect. The Lions travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams, and it’ll be imperative to take this game regardless of the road disadvantage.

4. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Teddy Bridgewater 2015 NFL Season

4. Minnesota Vikings

Divisional games are rarely easy, and with the Minnesota Vikings striding forward through the progress of Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings will not yield as easily as they did in 2014. The Lions absolutely have to win their home game against the Vikings and will need to fight a little harder to take the road game too.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly Philadelphia Eagles 2015 NFL Season

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are the most amorphous team in the NFL. Chip Kelly has been orchestrating moves that would make Walter White turn himself in to the DEA. The Eagles could be anything from Super Bowl contenders to the Washington Redskins’ closest contemporaries.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks 2015 NFL Season

2. Seattle Seahawks

There is no reason the defending NFC champs couldn't be the best team in the conference in 2015. The Seattle Seahawks have added tight end Jimmy Graham to their offense, and Russell Wilson only gets stronger as he heads into his fourth year.

1. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Season

1. Green Bay Packers

The Lions' most heated division rival could also make a repeat run to the NFC championship. The Green Bay Packers have a top-three quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a plethora of receiving threats combined with the downhill-running Eddie Lacy who could see if the Lions' No. 1 rushing defense will be up to task once again.

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Detroit Lions

Jerry Landry is a writer for RantSports. Like him on Facebook.

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