The Detroit Lions have won the NFC North in back-to-back seasons, and they enter 2025 as the odds-on favorites to win the North again, according to the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook. Can Detroit three-peat? Based on what we’ve learned in training camp and the preseason, it certainly seems like that’s where the smart money should be.
FanDuel Sportsbook is conducting FanDuel Futures Day on Tuesday, August 26, where you can get profit boost tokens around various futures markets throughout the day. The markets will be split up throughout the day, but they will include odds to win the Super Bowl and hypothetical Super Bowl matchups, odds to make or miss the playoffs, win totals, division winners, and player milestones. Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook on Tuesday to take advantage of FanDuel Futures Day.
NFC North winner odds:
- Detroit Lions: +155
- Green Bay Packers: +230
- Minnesota Vikings: +300
- Chicago Bears: +550
Thoughts on the NFC North’s preseason
The NFC North is arguably the toughest division in football right now, and every team believes they have a chance to win the title this season. The Lions reign supreme as defending back-to-back champions and boast the most complete roster in the division. The Packers are always a threat for the division crown, and have the second-best odds to win it this year. The Vikings were just a game away from the No. 1 seed in the NFC last year, but a quarterback change has some doubting their chances. Finally, the Bears are the caboose on this train, and despite adding offensive genius Ben Johnson to be their leader, most believe it’ll be hard for them to challenge this season.
The Lions entered the offseason needing to replace both coordinators, rebuild the interior of their offensive line, and return a battered roster to full health. In training camp, the coordinators have done a quality job stepping into big shoes, but they’ll be judged based on their performances during the season. The Lions can’t replace All-Pro Frank Ragnow (retirement) with a single person, but they’ve re-molded their offensive line by shifting veteran Graham Glasgow to center, promoting Christian Mahogany to left guard, and sliding in second-round pick Tate Ratledge in at right guard. With veterans at both tackle spots and center, bookending two mean and athletic guards, the Lions believe they have the right combination to maintain their dominance on the offensive line. Finally, the Lions are slowly bringing back injured players from last season. And while Aidan Hutchinson looks as sharp and dominant as ever, the return of Alim McNeill (expected in October) could be the missing piece to a complete defense.
The Packers bucked the trend of most NFC North teams and got lighter and more athletic on defense. They’re working toward being a more modern defense, but might end up crippling their chances at stopping the run—a critical trait in the North. Injuries and questions surrounding depth have been the story of their preseason. Quarterback Jordan Love is currently recovering from a surgically repaired non-throwing hand thumb and has been very limited in practices to end training camp. Four of his top six wide receivers are also injured, with the only healthy pass catchers being their rookie first-round pick, Matthew Golden, and veteran Romeo Doubs, who has been floated around as a trade candidate. But their biggest problem could be on the offensive line, where high-priced free agent left guard Aaron Banks has been dealing with an injury all training camp, and his depth replacements have not proven reliable. All-Pro Xavier McKinney just returned to practice after missing almost three weeks of camp, but he believes he’ll be able to reacclimate in time for Week 1 against the Lions.
The Vikings made the decision to move on from quarterback Sam Darnold and put all their eggs into the J.J. McCarthy basket (their backups have all struggled), hoping the 2024 first-round pick can lead them to the promised land. If I had to wager a guess as to why the Vikings’ projections have declined this season, it’s probably because they’re not sure if they can trust an unproven McCarthy. Unfortunately, the Vikings are also dealing with significant injury problems—and Jordan Addison’s suspension—at receiver and are reportedly shopping for a starter. On defense, defending the run will be tougher this season after trading away Harrison Phillips last week. In the secondary, the Vikings have turned to two free agents to start on the outside: career reserve Isaiah Rodgers and former Lions first-round pick Jeff Okudah.
The Bears have a lot of analysts believing that new coach Ben Johnson can turn their offense, loaded with talented skill players, into an immediate juggernaut—but they’ll likely have a few hurdles they’ll need to overcome before they’re ready to make that leap. First, Johnson’s offense is complex and takes time to properly install, as we saw early in training camp. But a recent preseason win, where the Bears’ starters looked strong against the Bills’ backups, has given Chicago a bunch of confidence. Chicago has also reportedly not been very happy with their offensive tackles, and have held an open competition all preseason. Entering cutdowns, they have yet to name either starter, leaving some lingering doubts about their ability to gel early in the season—they open the season by hosting the Vikings and then travel to Detroit in Week 2. The Bears are also dealing with an overload of injuries at a few key positions, including running back (where every back not named D’Andre Swift is dinged up), defensive back (Jaylon Johnson’s may start the season on the NFI), and on the defensive line. With a team still working towards building depth, staying healthy will likely directly correlate to success.
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