The Detroit Lions are the current betting favorite to win the NFC North division title
The winner between Minnesota and Detroit in week 18 also gets the first overall seed in the NFC
Detroit’s offense ranks top-10 in Off DVOA, EPA, Success Rate, and Adjusted Line Yards
With the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings heading into week 18 tied at 14-2, the stakes are high in the last regular season game of the season. Not only does the winner between the two win the NFC North division title, but they will also secure the top overall seed in the NFC Conference while the loser gets bumped down to fifth seed. Securing the top seed is vital as it gives you a bye and the ability to host your playoff games while the fifth seed hits the road to start their run to the Super Bowl.
Detroit is as vulnerable as ever as their long list of injuries have clearly hampered their on-field production. Especially on defense as Carlton Davis and DJ Reader both played pivotal roles at multiple areas of the field before going down with long-term injuries. With no true lockdown corner to shadow Justin Jefferson, Minnesota’s offense should have no issue with consistently moving the ball down the field. With the stakes as high as ever, Sunday night’s primetime matchup between the two divisional foes will be a must-see TV.
Important note: Odds for NFC North are no longer available. Check back with us soon as we will continue covering NFC North in the 2025/26 season.
Even as a +2.5 underdog, the Minnesota Vikings are in a great position to win the division title.
After entering the year with a projected win total of 7.5 and near the bottom of the oddsboard for the NFC North division title, the Minnesota Vikings have blown past expectations and are just one win away from securing the top overall seed in the playoffs. A remarkable turnaround for what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, especially after losing their projected starting quarterback JJ McCarthy to a season-ending injury in the preseason.
A major reason for the Vikings' success this season stems from their defense as that side of the ball heads into week 18 ranked top-5 in Def DVOA, EPA, Success Rate, and Pressure Rate. Their scheme puts opposing quarterbacks in pretzels as they rank first overall in Blitz Rate while also leading the league in quarters coverage. Should their defense slow down the Detroit Lions high-powered offense, then the Vikings will have a great opportunity to generate the upset and win the division title.
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Even though the Green Bay Packers have been eliminated from division title contention, their immediate future looks bright as they are one of the top contenders in the NFC who are capable of making a run to the Super Bowl. Their offense fields a deep group of pass catchers who can stretch out opposing coverage, giving their star running back Josh Jacobs higher quality rushing lanes for him to exploit.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers defense has quietly turned into one of the more formidable units in the league as they currently rank top-10 in Def DVOA, EPA, and Adjusted Sack Rate. Their secondary still struggles in coverage when in the middle of the field as their low mark in Def Pass Success Rate indicates, consistently conceding half the distance to gain through the air on early downs. If Green Bay can patch up that area of the defense, then expect the Packers to make a deep run in the playoffs.
After revamping their offense in free agency and selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears were expected to instantly contend for the NFC North division title and make the playoffs. That was not the case as the Bears have only mustered four wins as of writing while their offense currently ranks 20th or worse in Off DVOA, EPA, and Success Rate.
Their offensive line played a major role in their struggles as the Bears currently rank near dead last in both Adjusted Sack Rate and Adjusted Line Yards. Heading into the offseason, the Bears must bolster their offensive line should they want to play at a more competitive level. Not only does this give Williams the protection he needs to avoid turnover-worthy plays, but it also gives their playmakers more time in the open field to help break free from coverage and create higher-quality passing lanes.
The Detroit Lions are just one win away from winning their second straight NFC North division title. Not only would they win the division title, but the Lions would also secure the top overall seed in the playoffs. This would allow the Lions to host their playoff games leading up to the Super Bowl, avoiding having to play on the road and in the snow or rain in the process.
Should Detroit want to beat Minnesota for the second time this season, then their offense must continue to play at a very high level to help stretch out the Vikings elite coverage. Fortunately for Detroit, their offense has remained fairly intact and boast plenty of playmakers who are capable of generating explosive plays. Their offensive line is also capable of negating the Vikings heavy pressure as they enter the contest ranked top-10 in Adjusted Line Yards and Adjusted Sack Rate.
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Since its inception in 2002, the NFC North has been in large part dominated by the Green Bay Packers. From Brett Favre, to Aaron Rodgers, and now Jordan Love, the Packers have fielded elite teams that have been head and shoulders above the rest of the division.
Their early years of dominance may be behind them though as the rest of the NFC North has quickly improved with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions winning the past two division titles. The Lions are the favorite to win it again this year, potentially being the first to repeat since the Packers did it in 2020-2021. Should Caleb Williams live up to the hype right away, then the Bears can potentially contend to win the division for the first time since 2018.
Year | Team |
---|---|
2023 | Detroit Lions |
2022 | Minnesota Vikings |
2021 | Green Bay Packers |
2020 | Green Bay Packers |
2019 | Green Bay Packers |
Having access to multiple online NFL sportsbooks is more vital than ever for a multitude of reasons. Starting with their listed odds, they can wildly vary between each sportsbook as shown in the table below. The Detroit Lions for example can be found as high as -160 at BetMGM and as low as -155 at Caesars. That is a difference of $5 in a tied up wager for a $100 bettor while returning the same amount of profit.
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When making any type of wager, it’s vital to know how the listed odds work. Should you have wagered on the Detroit Lions in the preseason at -145, then you would have needed to wager $145 to win $100 should they win the NFC North. If you like the Minnesota Vikings at +135, then a $100 wager would profit you $135 if they win the division title.
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