By Brian Chapman

DETROIT (97.1 THE TICKET) - The 2014 NFL season is well underway, but the Lions are still waiting to play their first game and the fans can't wait to see this team because so much is expected of them. The front office publicly announced that they were aiming to win the division title this year -- the first year of the Jim Caldwell era.

The plan to achieve this goal seemed to be to just add more offensive weapons and cross your fingers. In free agency their biggest haul was wide receiver Golden Tate. In the draft the Lions elected to take a third starting caliber tight end in the first round and a backup offensive lineman in the third round instead of addressing needs in the secondary.

They're also hoping that a brand new coaching staff will bring a new and clean attitude to the team. Gone is hot-headed Jim Schwartz and in is the calm, so-called disciplinarian Jim Caldwell. While Caldwell brings Super Bowl experience with him to Detroit he also brings his own set of major questions that cannot be answered until the regular season.

One of the most important is whether or not his 2011 Colts were 2-14 because quarterbacks like career backup by Dan Orlovsky are just that bad or because he needs a quarterback like Peyton Manning just to have a chance.

Caldwell's new coordinators come from top-notch programs, but have their own question marks. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens last year and has never been an NFL coordinator.

How will he fare as a rookie and can he make this defense elite without a Pro Bowler in his back seven? Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is the grandson of former Packers head coach Vince Lombardi and was the quarterbacks coach for Drew Brees and the Saints for the last few years. But he too is a rookie coordinator.

Will the Lions have to deal with his growing pains as well? Will his offense look pedestrian without a Hall of Famer like Brees running it?

What's their best case scenario? 11-5. I don't think this is enough to win a division championship, but it's enough to come very close and enter the playoffs with a lot of momentum.

What's the worst case scenario? 4-12. Before you say that could never happen, remember two things: Same Old Lions and they are only two years removed from going 4-12.

What do I think will actually happen?

Game 1 vs. New York Giants: 24-24 tie … A lot of people (especially Lions fans) are ripping the Giants and assuming they will roll into Detroit to start the season like a MAC school heading to the SEC for a paycheck and a beat down. But the last time I checked two games ago - the Giants actually beat the Lions - at Ford Field. In a game that meant nothing to the Giants, but meant the world to the Lions. Since then the Lions may or may not have improved their coaching staff, added a couple of weapons for Stafford, but did nothing else to undoubtedly improve. The Lions could win this game, but not without giving fans plenty to complain about when it comes to their pair of rookie coordinators and their problems with the yellow flag. They could also lose and send the fan base into panic mode over a loss against a perceived weak team that finished with the exact same 7-9 record as the Lions last year. I predict this year's rematch will go into overtime, just like last year's game, but this time no one leaves a winner… Move to 0-0-1.

Game 2 at Carolina Panthers: 24-21 loss … If Cam Newton doesn't play the Lions will have a chance. I think he will play and the Lions will keep it close, but too many turnovers forced by Ron Rivera's team and none forced by Caldwell's will be the difference. The Lions will outgain the Panthers by 150 yards, but Cam will march away with a win and toward another Pro Bowl and a playoff appearance. Plus, the Lions aren't going to win their first road game. They're just not… Fall to 0-1-1.

Game 3 vs. Green Bay Packers: 32-17 loss … Don't read too much into Green Bay's opening night loss to the Seahawks. Everyone gets humiliated in Seattle. Ford Field can be scary at times, but it's not CenturyLink Field and the Seahawks are not the Lions. Rodgers will pick apart the Lions defense and Haha Clinton-Dix will record his first interception as Lions fans wonder why he wasn't the pick in the first round instead of Eric Ebron … Fall to 0-2-1.

Game 4 at New York Jets: 19-17 loss … Whether it's Geno Smith or Mike Vick at quarterback is irrelevant. The Jets play good defense under Rex Ryan. This will be a low scoring black and blue game that will come down to who makes the biggest plays on defense. Suh and Ansah will probably get to the quarterback a few times, but after the game fans will be complaining about the slippery fingers of Reggie Bush as the reason for the loss as the winless stretch continues … Fall to 0-3-1.

Game 5 vs. Buffalo Bills: 23-10 win … The Lions will be extremely frustrated to return home without a win, but they will refocus when they see that Jim Schwartz is coming to town. I have a feeling that Schwartz's defense will commit three personal foul penalties on third downs to change the game and help the Lions muddle through this game with a tough win … Advance to 1-3-1.

Game 6 at Minnesota Vikings: 27-20 win … If everything goes as I expect to this point, the Vikings will be favored at home in this game. Because I have the Lions winning, this means they will pull off an upset. In a battle of teams with new head coaches, I'll take the one in his second rodeo to eke away with a one possession victory and some momentum for the first time this season … Advance to 2-3-1.

Game 7 vs. New Orleans Saints: 41-35 loss … If the Lions are going to stay in the playoff hunt, they have to get back to .500 in this game. The problem is that these are the Saints not the Browns. This will be a shootout, the Lions will have a chance and they will get their first 100 yard receiving game out of Eric Ebron, but when in a shootout I'm always taking Drew Brees over Stafford. Brees and the Saints will score last. The calls to blow up the Lions get louder … Fall to 2-4-1.

Game 8 at Atlanta Falcons: 34-30 loss … Tony Gonzales may not still be in Atlanta, but that doesn't mean Matt Ryan forgot how to score in a dome. His own home dome. And let us also not forget that this is not a playoff game where he and the Falcons have struggled in recent years. This is just a regular season game. Lions keep it close. Falcons don't cover a 6pt spread, but they get the win … Fall to 2-5-1.

Game 9 vs. Miami Dolphins: 42-20 win … If Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller can set the tone early on the ground, the Dolphins won't have to worry about needing Ryan Tannehill to engineer a massive comeback. I think Suh, Nick Fairley and the rest of the defensive line will stuff Moreno and Miller early to force punts and Megatron tops 100 yards receiving in the first half to put the Lions in cruise control. In the second half, the Lions will quickly turn this one into a much-needed laugh-er as Nevin Lawson and Glover Quin pick off a wild and desperate Tannehill … Advance to 3-5-1.

Game 10 at Arizona Cardinals: 23-13 win … The Lions just can't win in Arizona, but they are due for an upset win and a win in the desert and they get it this time. Darius Slay will show of flash of former SEC brilliance and Joique Bell will milk the clock against the Cardinals after Stafford burns the secondary for two touchdowns in the first quarter. Plus, this might be the year when Carson Palmer starts to really look old … Advance to 4-5-1.

Game 11 at New England Patriots: 27-21 loss … It would be nice to get back on the map and turn some heads with a win over the hoodie and Tom Brady, but when you mix a Patriots team that is rounding into Super Bowl form with a Lions team that is playing like a Lions team does in the second half, it's hard to see them winning this game. After getting shutout in the first half, a furious fourth quarter comeback will end on interception with three minutes to go and the Lions will not get the ball back … Fall to 4-6-1.

Game 12 vs. Chicago Bears: 31-28 loss … As usual Bears fans will cram into Ford Field. As usual the Lions secondary will look like Swiss cheese. As usual Jeffrey and Marshall will do work for Chicago. I think the Lions keep it close knowing that at this point they basically have to win out to have a shot at the playoffs, but that Chi Town offense is too potent for the Lions … Fall to 4-7-1.

Game 13 vs. Tampa Bay Bucs: 21-19 win … At this point in the season the Lions will know they have to win out and get a lot of help to get into the playoffs and it won't help their cause when they see an old divisional foe in Lovie Smith coaching the opposition. When it's all said and done - I think Smith will realize he should not have trusted Josh McCown to stay hot for two straight years. Especially after Kyle Van Noy records his first two career sacks in his second game back from injury … Advance to 5-7-1.

Game 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings: 37-6 win … A win is a win. Lions offense comes together with the defense for a complete game blowout. Bridgewater looks like a rookie with a couple of early interceptions. The Lions capitalize to put Minnesota in an early hole and take Adrian Peterson out of the game all together. After the game the fan base collectively wonders why they could not have looked like that more often… Advance to 6-7-1.

Game 15 at Chicago Bears: 37-21 loss … The Lions may be mathematically in the playoff race to start the day, but there will be blood on turf at Soldier Field by the end of the game. The Bears will be fighting hard to keep their division championship hopes alive against the Packers and they will not let the Linos be the reason they don't win it. Plus, how hard will the players play after Adam Schefter reports during the week that Martin Mayhew's seat is scalding hot and Suh has told people close to him that he is going to hit free agency no matter what?… Fall to 6-8-1.

Game 16 at Green Bay Packers: 30-13 loss … The Lions have not won at Lambeau Field since before the Brett Favre era and that will not change this year … Fall to 6-9-1.

A 6-9-1 regular season record should disappoint most fans considering the front office and coaching staff have spoken so much about how important it is to win the division and go deep into the playoffs this season. Their team discipline may improve, but until the rookie coordinators improve and the team gets an above .500 quarterback, it's hard to see them as a team that will win double-digit games every year. And that includes this year.