The Detroit Lions have become a consistently good, sometimes dominant NFL team for the first time in decades. Before the last two years, the Lions had not won back-to-back division titles since the early 1950s, when they won three straight from 1952 to 1954 while picking up two of the franchise’s four NFL championships.
In 2025, the Green Bay Packers are determined to end the Lions streak and start one of their own, but they come into the season as underdogs in the division race. However, the Packers’
odds to win the NFC North are only a moderate amount behind those of the Lions, who are understandably the favorites to repeat.
As of this writing, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Lions with the best odds of winning the NFC North at +160, which equates to roughly a 38% chance. The Packers, on the other hand, sit at the second-best odds at +240, or an implied probability of 29%. Minnesota comes up next at +290, followed by the Chicago Bears at +550.
These odds generally agree and track closely with each team’s win totals as well. The Packers’ total, as discussed here yesterday, is 9.5, while the Lions are a game better at 10.5. Minnesota’s line looks even at 9, with the Bears another game back at 7.5.
Once again, the NFC North race should be a tight, tough battle in 2025. The Lions won the division last year by a game, thanks to a week 18 victory over the Vikings that sent them to 15-2 and into the playoffs as the NFC’s top seed. Minnesota’s 14-3 season will be tough to replicate, especially since they had an inferior point differential to the 11-6 Packers and went 8-1 in games decided by 7 points or fewer.
Detroit may also have a bigger challenge to repeat this season, due to significant losses on their coaching staff and offensive line. Center Frank Ragnow retired this offseason, leading to significant shuffling up front. Meanwhile, coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn both departed for head coaching jobs elsewhere — Glenn signed on with the New York Jets, while Johnson stayed within the division by taking the Bears’ job.
For the Packers, their division hopes will surely come down to the wire. Green Bay has just one divisional game before week 12, with that coming in the season opener against the Lions at Lambeau Field. They have all five of their remaining NFC North games in the final seven weeks of the season, a stretch that includes three straight against Minnesota, Detroit, and Chicago in order from weeks 12-14. The Packers’ week 18 game at the Vikings could well have a playoff spot or a division title on the line.
The preseason has been largely solid for Green Bay, however, helping keep their division odds in their current range. They have seen nothing but impressive things out of rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden, who brings a speed element not seen in Green Bay in years. Meanwhile, the defense has looked aggressive and solid in the preseason, with the team’s focus on forcing turnovers coming through in their three exhibition games. The team has largely avoided major injuries as well; Jordan Love’s left thumb should be all ready to go for week one, while All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney is expected to be full-go for the opener as well.
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.
