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It is possible that the Detroit Lions are a strong football team.
Is it possible for the Detroit Lions to make it to the playoffs in the 2022-23 NFL Season?
After a disappointing 1-6 start, Detroit has turned things around with five victories in their last six games. As a result, they are now in the playoff mix with only four games left to play.
How are Michigan sportsbooks handling the Lions during the final stretch, considering their roller coaster season?
Detroit Lions playoff odds
In just a span of two months, the Detroit Lions have experienced an incredible transformation in their chances of making it to the postseason.
Following a disappointing 1-6 start, Detroit emerged as one of the least likely teams to secure a playoff spot and emerge victorious in the Super Bowl.
As Week 15 approaches, the Lions have made a strong comeback and are now firmly in the mix, as per DraftKings Sportsbook MI.
Johnny Avello, DraftKings Director of Sportsbook Operations, expressed astonishment at the impressive journey of the Hard Knocks Lions. “Only a few weeks ago, their odds to win the Super Bowl were an improbable 2000-1, but now they’ve improved to 100-1,” Avello mentioned. “Currently, we have set their odds at 3-1 to secure a spot in the playoffs. This is a significant shift from their previous odds of 75-1 just three weeks ago.”
How Lions playoff odds have changed
BetMGM Michigan initially set the Detroit Lions’ playoff odds at +500 when they were first introduced in early 2022.
Following a successful offseason and the buzz generated by HBO’s Hard Knocks, the Lions commenced the season with a favorable +350 odds. Additionally, a staggering 97% of the bets placed were in favor of the Lions making it to the playoffs, rather than missing out with odds of (-450).
Let’s examine the Lions’ changing probabilities throughout the weeks for making the playoffs, along with their odds for the Super Bowl, NFC Championship, NFC North Championship, and Over/Under win totals.
| 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
As of now, the Detroit Lions hold the ninth position in the NFC playoff standings.
In the NFC playoffs, a grand total of seven teams secure their spots. This comprises the four division winners along with three wild card teams.
The Lions currently hold a record of 6-7, which places them 1.5 games behind the New York Giants and Washington Commanders in the playoff race. Additionally, they trail the Seattle Seahawks by a single game.
The Lions currently trail all three teams by 2 games in actuality. However, because the Giants and Commanders had a tie earlier in the season, the Lions must secure one more victory than both teams in order to surpass them (unless another tie occurs).
In order to surpass the Seahawks, the Lions must secure a one-game advantage due to the Week 4 defeat suffered at home against Seattle, which granted the Seahawks a tiebreaker.
In order for Detroit to secure a playoff spot, it is highly probable that they must win all their remaining games, finishing with a 10-7 record. Encouragingly, the Lions have the advantage of facing the fourth-easiest schedule amongst remaining teams. Their four opponents hold a combined win percentage of only .385.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that the Giants have the second-toughest remaining schedule with a winning percentage of .654. Washington, on the other hand, ranks fifth with a .606 winning percentage, while Seattle holds the eighth position with a .577 winning percentage.
Steve Kornacki, a political correspondent for NBC News, has updated his prediction for the Lions’ chances of making the playoffs. Initially, he had them at a mere 7% likelihood, but now he gives them a more favorable 21% chance.
Let’s take a glimpse into what’s left for each of the 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
Dan Campbell entered the season with high expectations, as there was much anticipation surrounding his potential selection as Coach of the Year.
Campbell began the season as the favorite to win the honor, with odds of +1000 at BetMGM. Initially, his odds were set at +1600 but were later adjusted. Additionally, Campbell attracted the highest percentage of bets (27.4%) among all the contenders in the market.
By Week 9, the Lions had a discouraging record of 1-6, causing Campbell’s chances of winning to drastically drop to +25000. This put him in the same boat as other underdogs like Lovie Smith of Houston and Nathaniel Hackett of Denver, who also had the longest odds.
Currently, Campbell holds the second-highest odds to win COY at +900, trailing only Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni.
As of now, Sirianni is the clear frontrunner with odds of -400, given that the Eagles boast an impressive 12-1 record and have secured a spot in the playoffs.
If the Lions manage to win all their remaining games and secure a spot in the playoffs, it’s possible that Campbell could achieve a remarkable comeback and be named Coach of the Year.
