The Detroit Lions might be a good football team.
Could the Detroit Lions still manage to be a playoff team in the 2022-23 NFL Season?
A 1-6 start has been followed up by five wins in their last six games. Now, Detroit is in the playoff mix with four games remaining.
With a roller coaster of a season, how are Michigan sportsbooks treating the Lions for the closing stretch?
Detroit Lions playoff odds
The Detroit Lions have seen a remarkable turnaround in odds to make the postseason just over the past two months.
After a 1-6 start, Detroit became one of the longest odds to make the playoffs and win the Super Bowl.
Now, heading into Week 15, the Lions have vaulted right back into the mix according to DraftKings Sportsbook MI.
“It’s been a remarkable run for the Hard Knocks Lions. We had them 2000-1 to win the Super Bowl just a few weeks back and now they’re 100-1,” said DraftKings Director of Sportsbook Operations, Johnny Avello. “At DraftKings, we currently have them priced at 3-1 to make the playoffs. That’s a far cry from the 75-1 to make the playoffs just three weeks ago.”
How Lions playoff odds have changed
When playoff odds first opened early in 2022, the Detroit Lions started at +500 at BetMGM Michigan.
After a positive offseason, and the hype from HBO’s Hard Knocks, the Lions entered the season at +350 odds. They also had 97% of the handle going on them to make the playoffs as opposed to missing (-450).
Here’s a look at how the Lions’ odds have shifted week-to-week when it comes to making the playoff. It also includes their Super Bowl odds, NFC Championship odds, NFC North Championship odds and Over/Under win total odds.
| NFL 2022-23 Season | Playoff Odds | Super Bowl Odds | NFC Odds | NFC North Odds | Win Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | +500 | +15000 | +6600 | +800 | Over 6.5 (+130) |
| (Entering) Week 1 | +350 | +12500 | +5000 | +850 | Over 6.5 (-145) |
| Week 2 (0-1) | +400 | +15000 | +6600 | +850 | Over 6.5 (-110) |
| Week 3 (1-1) | +290 | +10000 | +4000 | +650 | Over 6.5 (-140) |
| Week 4 (1-2) | +290 | +10000 | +4000 | +900 | Over 7.5 (+115) |
| Week 5 (1-3) | +450 | +15000 | +6600 | +1600 | Over 6.5 (-115) |
| Week 6 (1-4) | +1000 | +20000 | +10000 | +4000 | Over 6.5 (+110) |
| Week 7 (1-4) | +700 | +20000 | +8000 | +4000 | Over 6.5 (+115) |
| Week 8 (1-5) | +1000 | +30000 | +15000 | +5000 | Over 5.5 (-135) |
| Week 9 (1-6) | +1600 | +50000 | +20000 | +5000 | Over 5.5 (+105) |
| Week 10 (2-6) | +1800 | +50000 | +20000 | +5000 | Over 5.5 (-130) |
| Week 11 (3-6) | +1200 | +50000 | +20000 | +5000 | Over 6.5 (+115) |
| Week 12 (4-6) | +650 | +15000 | +6600 | +3500 | Over 6.5 (-145) |
| Week 13 (4-7) | +900 | +30000 | +12500 | +4000 | Over 6.5 (-140) |
| Week 14 (5-7) | +550 | +20000 | +8000 | +4000 | Over 7.5 (-115) |
| Week 15 (6-7) | +240 | +10000 | +4000 | +4000 | Over 8.5 (+150) |
NFC playoff picture
Currently, the Detroit Lions are ninth in the NFC playoff standings.
A total of seven teams make the NFC playoffs. That includes the four division winners and three wild card teams.
At 6-7, the Lions are 1.5 games behind the New York Giants and Washington Commanders for the final two spots in the playoffs. They are 1 game behind the Seattle Seahawks.
In reality, the Lions are 2 games behind all three teams. Due to a tie between the Giants and Commanders earlier in the season, the Lions need to finish one win ahead of both teams to pass them (unless they tie again).
The Week 4 loss at home to Seattle gives the Seahawks a tiebreaker with the Lions as well, so Detroit needs to finish a game ahead of them.
Detroit likely needs to win out to finish 10-7 to make the playoffs. Good news is the Lions have the fourth-easiest remaining schedule The win percentage of their four remaining opponents is just .385.
Also good news is the Giants (.654) have the second-toughest remaining schedule. Washington (.606) has the fifth-toughest and Seattle (.577) has the eighth.
For those that are familiar with NBC News political correspondent Steve Kornacki, he gives the Lions a 21% chance to make the playoffs. Kornacki had Detroit at just 7% entering last Sunday.
Here’s a look at what’s remaining for all four franchises.
| Team | Detroit Lions | Washington Commanders | New York Giants | Seattle Seahawks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 15 | at NY Jets | vs. NY Giants | at Washington | vs. San Francisco |
| Week 16 | at Carolina | at San Francisco | at Minnesota | at Kansas City |
| Week 17 | vs. Chicago | vs. Cleveland | vs. Indianapolis | vs. NY Jets |
| Week 18 | at Green Bay | vs. Dallas | at Philadelphia | vs. LA Rams |
Dan Campbell back to a Coach of the Year contender
Coming into the season, a lot of buzz was on Dan Campbell to be named Coach of the Year.
Originally opening at +1600 at BetMGM, Campbell started the season at +1000 to win the honor. He was the favorite at the time and was also getting the most bets (27.4%) in the market.
Entering Week 9, when the Lions were 1-6, Campbell’s odds had plummeted to +25000 to win. That was tied for the longest odds along with the likes of Houston’s Lovie Smith and Denver’s Nathaniel Hackett.
Now, Campbell finds himself with +900 odds to win COY. That’s second only to Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni is the runaway favorite right now at -400 as the Eagles are 12-1 and have clinched a playoff spot.
Should the Lions win out and make the playoffs, perhaps Campbell can complete a miraculous COY comeback.
