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2026 Detroit Lions Predictions with Best Bets and Odds to Win the Super Bowl

by Spencer Toth - 8/17/2026

Detroit Lions predictions Aidan Hutchinson

After decades of mediocrity, the Detroit Lions appeared to have found something special over the last few years. They won their first playoff game since 1991 in 2023 en route to the NFC Championship Game, then followed that up with a 15-2 record in 2024 before a disappointing early playoff exit. Last year, the Lions were bitten by the injury bug with several starters out for the year, and they missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Looking ahead to 2026, Detroit once again has a very dangerous team on both sides of the ball and are poised for another season near the top of the NFC. Can they regain their previous momentum and return to relevancy, or will it be another disappointing season in Detroit? Let’s hop in. 

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Detroit Lions Offseason Recap

On offense, the Lions will be hoping they have the right formula of strength and speed with a very unique roster. They were forced to alter their offensive line after Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow both departed after spending the last ten years in Detroit. Their two anchors will be tough to replace, but there is no shortage of depth in the trenches after Detroit drafted and signed several offensive linemen. Blake Miller was drafted 17th overall in 2026 and will be the Week 1 starter at right tackle for Detroit, while center Juice Scruggs will get the chance at center after spending the last three years in Carolina. 

The pass catchers remain the same for Detroit, but there is a big change in the backfield. David Montgomery was sent to the Houston Texans after being a part of a successful tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery and Gibbs gave the Lions a unique backfield, with Gibbs being the speed and Montgomery being the power, but now Gibbs will have a larger workload after inking a massive three-year, $67.5 million contract extension. While the loss of Montgomery will be a tough pill to swallow, the Lions did pick up Isiah Pacheco in free agency. The two-time Super Bowl champion had a successful run with Kansas City, but was seen as the RB2 after fading down the stretch last year. The Lions picked him up for cheap to fill in alongside Gibbs, and will hope to recreate what they had with Montgomery. Pacheco is a more dynamic runner than Montgomery, and it will be interesting to see how the pair is deployed in short-yardage situations. 

After drafting Miller at 17th overall, the Lions used their next three picks on the defensive side of the ball. Detroit has had a strong offense for the last several seasons, but haven’t always had the defensive support on the other side of the ball. Injuries certainly played a role last season, but the Lions still knew they needed to make some additions. Chuck Clark is a solid safety who spent seven years as part of a terrifying Ravens defense. He was brought in for backup support, but training camp injuries to Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph could see him get the start. 

Detroit Lions Season Expectations

A healthy Detroit Lions team is capable of making the Super Bowl, and that will be the expectation this year. Several other contenders are stalking the Lions in the NFC, but few have the offensive firepower that Detroit possesses. Jared Goff continues to operate as one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league. While Goff certainly has highlights and is capable of making the big plays, what sets him apart is how few mistakes he makes. Goff will trust his teammates with underneath throws and let them create after the catch, and he will always live to fight another down rather than getting in harm's way. He has thrown at least 30 touchdowns in three straight seasons with a combined 28 interceptions in that span, and has had back-to-back years with a 105+ quarterback rating. 

Gibbs in the backfield is an irreplaceable talent, but the depth of wide receivers in Detroit means that opponents can’t simply load up the tackle box to slow this team down. Amon-Ra St. Brown has emerged as one of the most reliable receivers in the NFL, as his combination of size and speed is rarely found in the same player. He’s posted 1,100+ yards in four straight seasons, hauling in 117 catches for 1,401 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. St. Brown isn’t the only difference-maker, as Jameson Williams could easily be a WR1 on several other teams. Williams also posted 1,000 or more yards in back-to-back seasons, with a career high of 1,117 yards on 65 catches last year. Once you add in the reliable Isaac TeSlaa and new arrival Greg Dortch for receiving depth, the Lions have no offensive weaknesses to exploit. 

On defense, this team was battered with injuries last year, so it is hard to say where they stand. Aidan Hutchinson is a truly terrifying pass rusher anchoring the front end of this defense, but there are still real concerns in the secondary. Early injuries at safety have the Lions shorthanded before the season has even begun, and there are still a few question marks at linebacker. However, a strong pass rush can mitigate other defensive weaknesses, and there is no question the Lions have that aspect under control.

Detroit Lions Schedule Breakdown

There is a lot to get excited about with the Lions schedule. While their 9-8 finish is not what the Lions wanted, that allowed them to secure fourth in a competitive NFC North and the easy schedule that goes with it. The Lions have the sixth-easiest schedule based on last year’s standings, but have the easiest schedule league-wide based on the 2026 projected win totals. The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are always tough divisional matchups, but the Lions have a cakewalk otherwise. They face off against the Saints, Jets, Panthers, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Falcons, Titans, and Giants this year, all of which are expected to miss the playoffs by a considerable margin. That represents more than half their games already, and once you add in a couple against the Vikings, there are easily 10+ wins available to be taken. A Week 2 matchup against the Bills is their only tough game before their Week 6 bye, which means that anything short of a 4-1 record to kick things off would be a major disappointment. 

2026 Detroit Lions Odds

The Detroit Lions have a win total sitting at 10.5, a mark they failed to reach last year after surpassing it in the two seasons before that. There are eight other teams with double-digit win totals, putting the Lions among the contenders heading into this season with +1200 odds to have the best record and +700 odds to be the No.1 seed in the NFC. 

Looking at the postseason, they have -210 odds to qualify with +160 odds to win the NFC North. Their division has two other legitimate Super Bowl contenders in the Bears and Packers, meaning a 10- or 11-win season may easily be enough to make the playoffs but not enough to win the division crown. In terms of a deep playoff run, the Lions have the fourth-lowest odds to win the NFC at +900, and +1800 Super Bowl odds. 

In the awards category, the Lions have Gibbs as the Offensive Player of the Year favorite at +600, and Penei Sewell as the +475 favorite to win the Protector of the Year. On defense, Hutchinson has the third-shortest odds to win Defensive Player of the Year at +900, rounding out the trio of superstars in a Lions uniform. 

2026 Detroit Lions Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Lions are one of the most undervalued teams in the NFL this season. They have a balanced roster on both sides of the ball where one injury will not make or break their season. They are coming off an incredibly injury-plagued campaign, where they still went 9-8, and the league seems to have forgotten this core went 15-2 the year before. They have the easiest schedule in the league by a significant margin, which should see them as double-digit favorites in several games this year. These are all the ingredients I look for when taking a team in the regular season, and the Lions check literally every box. Detroit’s offense will be explosive under Dan Campbell; they will have the privilege of facing weak opposition week in and week out, and as long as their defense is an average unit, Detroit could be the number one seed at the end of the season.

In terms of how to attack these odds, the first pick to make is in the Lions division at +160. This could be my favorite division prop available this year, as I can’t figure out how we are getting plus money. Chicago won the division last year, but they will not replicate their seven fourth-quarter comebacks again this season. Green Bay still lacks answers on offense, and the Vikings are in the middle of a rebuild. Detroit is not only the best team, but they are the only NFC North member with a bottom-half schedule in terms of difficulty this season. At +160, this is the top pick to make.

Sticking in the regular season, we will also take the Lions to finish as the No. 1 seed in the NFC at +700. I don’t think the Lions are the best team in the conference. However, when the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers are beating up on each other in the NFC West, Detroit will be picking up easy wins against bottom-feeders. The upside is undeniable. We won’t be touching the Super Bowl or playoff odds on Detroit, as I don’t think they have quite enough defensive depth to shut down the other top offenses. This will be a fun team to watch however deep they go in the playoffs, but it won’t end with a Super Bowl in Detroit. 

Top Pick: Detroit Lions to win the NFC North +160

Pick: Detroit Lions to be the No. 1 Seed in the NFC +700

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