Lions Favored to Roar Again in NFC North Division Race
Defending Champion Detroit Being Pushed by Green Bay & Chicago in 2024 NFC North Division Odds
Can Rookie QB Lead the Bears to their first NFC North Title Since 2018?
The Detroit Lions didn’t disappoint after being picked as a team ready to break through during the 2023 NFL season. The 2024 NFC North Division odds have the Lions as the team to beat once again although the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears aren’t far behind.
More than a few eyes will be on Chicago’s rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the front-runner in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds.
The NFL Vegas odds have the Lions second at +550 behind the San Francisco 49ers in the odds to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Green Bay (+850) is fifth in the NFC championship odds.
Expert Pick: Subscribe below to get our Premium Insights!
Expert Pick: Subscribe below to get our Premium Insights!- Chicago is eighth at +1600 to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since the legendary 1985 team had one of the best seasons in NFL history.
Here’s a look at the NFC North teams that could post a memorable season. The NFC North is a conference that hasn’t had a team reach the Super Bowl since the Chicago Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Packers will be the first of the NFC North Division teams to play during the 2024 regular season with an NFL matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Packers are currently listed as the 1.5-point underdog. The Bears and Lions are both favored in Week 1 with the Lions getting a Sunday night time slot in the first week of the season.
Detroit Lions
- 12-5 in 2023
- Reach NFC championship game
Detroit has been building something special through recent NFL Drafts. Is this the year when the Detroit Lions make it to the Super Bowl for the first time?
Jared Goff is headed into his fourth season as the Lions starting quarterback. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams around to catch passes – with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs forming a 1-2 punch at running back, scoring points is not going to be a problem.
The title hopes could come down to the defense where four of the top five tacklers were 25 or younger. Detroit is coming off the season when they topped the NFL scores and odds by leading the NFL – while covering in 14 of 20 games during the 2023 season.
Detroit hasn’t won division titles in back-to-back seasons but the NFL odds have the Lions at +160 to win the NFC North after winning the division crown by three games in 2023.
When looking at the 2023 NFL playoff bracket, the Lions won their first postseason game since 1991 when they topped the Los Angeles Rams and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reach the NFC championship game.
Green Bay Packers
- 9-8 in 2023
- Lost to San Francisco in the divisional round
The questions that were focused around quarterback Jordan Love after Aaron Rodgers headed to the New York Jets are a thing of the past thanks to a brilliant finish of the 2023 NFL season.
Josh Jacobs arrives from the Raiders to replace Aaron Jones as the lead running back while Christian Watson leads a group of talented young receivers.
A young defense allowed the fewest points among the NFC North Division teams. If they take the next step, Green Bay could be a dark horse candidate in the NFC title race.
The Packers are priced at +200 in the 2024 NFC North Division odds as they look to win the NFC North for the first time since 2021.
Chicago Bears
- 7-10 in 2023
- Missed the playoffs
Although the Chicago Bears haven’t won a postseason game since 2010, Chicago is third at +275 in the 2024 NFC North Division odds.
The Bears selected former Heisman Trophy quarterback Caleb Williams with the top pick in April’s NFL Draft and receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick. Trades in the last two seasons brought in proven NFL pass catchers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. D’Andre Swift comes in after a 1000-yard season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Safety Kevin Byard also comes over from Philadelphia to bring some experience to a defense with plenty of young NFL players to keep an eye on.
Minnesota Vikings
- 7-10 in 2023
- Missed playoffs
After a 1-4 start, the Vikings won three games in a row as quarterback Kirk Cousins had five touchdown passes and just one interception before suffering a season-ending injury. The Vikings faded down the stretch without Cousins at quarterback.
Cousins is now with the Atlanta Falcons. That leads Sam Darnold and rookie J.J. McCarthy to fight it out for the starting job.
Running back Aaron Jones comes over from the rival Green Bay Packers while Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison team with tight end T.J. Hockenson to make life easier for whoever is the No. 1 quarterback.
The pass rush should receive a boost from Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and rookie Dallas Turner.
Minnesota hasn’t finished last in a division race since 2011 but are priced at +750 in the NFC North odds and that lags well behind the other three NFL teams in the division.
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