It was close to a dream season for the Detroit Lions in 2023, but despite coming up short in the NFC Championship, fans still have to be happy with where the Lions' are heading into the 2024 campaign. This team wasn't a one-season flash in the pan.
That's further endorsed by their betting odds. Now that we're a month into the official offseason, sportsbooks have begun to release odds for the upcoming campaign. Lions' fans, who are used to seeing their team near the bottom of most odds lists, have to be ecstatic when they see where they rank now.
Let's take a peak into the Lions' odds to make the playoffs in 2024 and then I'll dive into what that means for Detroit.
Lions odds to make the playoffs
Lions heavy favorites to make playoffs in back-to-back seasons
The Detroit Lions are listed at -225 to make the playoffs at DraftKings Sportsbook. If you translate those odds to implied probability, the Lions have a 69.23% chance of returning to the postseason in 2024.
Those odds put them in the elite echelon of NFC teams. They share the third-best odds to make the NFC Playoffs alongside the Cowboys at -225. Only the San Francisco 49ers (-475) and Atlanta Falcons (-300) have better odds to make the playoffs and a big reason the Falcons have odds that short is due to them playing in the weakest division in the conference.
The NFC North is one thing working against the Lions. The Green Bay Packers are a young team that's coming off a strong season that resulted in a playoff spot and an upset against the Cowboys. The Chicago Bears could also be competitive in the NFC North with Caleb Williams and a revamped offense.
With that being said, the Lions are still likely a step above the best. They already have one of the best offenses in the NFL and now need to just improve their defense to take the next step and reach a Super Bowl.
They've already taken steps in that direction by signing defensive lineman, D.J. Reader, and acquiring cornerback Carlton Davis in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also signed cornerback Amik Robertson to a two-year deal.
Have no fear, Lions' fans. This team is going to be back in the mix in 2024 and should be well-poised to go on another deep playoff run.
If you want to bet on the Lions to make the playoffs, win the division, or win the Super Bowl, then click the link below to sign up for an account at DraftKings Sportsbook. If you do, you'll receive $150 in bonus bets when you place your first $5 bet!
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.