For many moons, the Detroit Lions have been the laughingstock of the NFL. They’ve been the Cleveland Browns of the NFC, the clowns on the circus, the Packers’ little brothers who simply need to get a seat on the grownup desk on Thanksgiving — however not anymore. Through two weeks, the Detroit Lions have proven life. They’ve proven grit. They’ve been fulfilling, and so they’ve impressed quite a few folks throughout America. After Week 1 noticed the Lions battle robust in opposition to top-of-the-line groups within the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles, Week 2 noticed the Lions leap out to a giant lead early on the Washington Commanders. While the Commanders did claw their manner again to deliver the rating inside single digits, most onlookers agreed that the Lions by no means actually misplaced management. They appeared stable.
Now, anybody who’s been watching the Lions in recent times might’ve advised you that their file wasn’t indicative of how good the workforce truly was. In 2021, the Lions had the second-worst file within the league. However, they had been additionally 1-6-1 in one-possession video games final yr. That’s not regular. You’d count on a workforce to be about .500 in these conditions. Detroit wasn’t anyplace shut. Couple that with a extra wholesome offensive line, improved passing recreation weapons, and an improved go rush, and it’s no marvel that the Lions are all of a sudden wanting like kings of their jungle. They’ve additionally obtained one of many best schedules within the NFL, with 10 video games in opposition to groups that had been beneath .500 final season. Yeah, they’ll in all probability get smoked on nationwide TV on Thanksgiving Day in opposition to the Buffalo Bills. That will in all probability flip lots of people away from the Lions, however hey, the Rams additionally obtained smoked by the Bills on nationwide TV and I don’t see anyone fading the Rams proper now.
Sports bettors are probably the most intrigued by the Lions up to now. This complete week, the Lions have been a favourite at sportsbooks. On Tuesday, the Lions acquired 16.7 % of bets to win the Super Bowl. That tied them with the Bills for the second-most, behind solely the Kansas City Chiefs, who acquired 25 % of all Super Bowl bets. This is surprising. When it involves particular person video games, it’s regular to see bettors again the underdogs in hopes of massive payouts. However, that nearly by no means occurs with regards to championship bets. The phrase is “any given Sunday,” not “any given season.”
Hell, the Lions nonetheless aren’t anticipated to even attain the playoffs. According to OddsChecker US, the Lions are listed at -350 to overlook the playoffs, which means they’re being given a 77.8 % likelihood to overlook the playoffs altogether. Despite their scorching begin, they nonetheless have +10000 odds to win the Super Bowl, placing them tied for twenty third within the NFL with the likes of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington Commanders. Should these odds be greater? Absolutely, particularly given the truth that the Lions beat the Commanders convincingly of their residence opener final weekend.
That’s in all probability why so many individuals are inclined to guess on the Lions this week. They observed how arduous the Lions laid the smack down on Washington, and the truth that they’re nonetheless tied with the Commanders by way of Super Bowl odds is a slap within the face to Detroit’s early-season accomplishments.
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It’s not just the Super Bowl odds that bettors love though. The Lions are the most backed underdog to win this Sunday, receiving 66.7 percent of moneyline bets as six-point underdogs to their division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. Now, the Lions haven’t won in Minnesota since 2017, but I understand why so many people could see Detroit walking away with a victory this Sunday. The most obvious reason is how each team fared in their games against the Philadelphia Eagles. While neither team got out to a hot start, the Lions showed fight, clawing back to make it a close game by the final whistle. Meanwhile, the Vikings couldn’t get anything going. They looked outclassed against Philadelphia, like a deer in headlights — or Sam Darnold against the Patriots. Based on the transitive property, it’d be a slam dunk home run bet, right? Math has never failed us before, but we know better. We know that isn’t how football works.
The Vikings ought to be a favourite, however I’m additionally glad to see everybody giving Detroit the credit score they deserve. Detroit doesn’t have the identical protection that Philadelphia does, and everyone knows that Kirk Cousins struggles mightily in primetime video games. Thus we shouldn’t count on a repeat efficiency of final week. This recreation ought to be a shootout, and so long as Irv Smith Jr. continues dropping positive landing passes, the Lions could have a reasonably good shot at shifting above .500.
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