The Lions haven't won their division since 1993, when it was known as the NFC Central. They're favored to win it in 2023.
As expected on the heels of their strong finish to last season and aggressive moves in free agency, and ahead of a draft in which they have two first-round picks, the Lions are the early favorite in the NFC North, with 3/2 odds (+150) to take home the crown, per BetOnline.ag.
Detroit's 30-season division-title drought is the longest continuous one in the NFL (the Browns are dry since 1989, but dropped out of existence from 1996-98) and tied for the second longest in North American sports with the MLB's Rockies, Marlins and Pirates. Only the NHL's Oilers (1987) have gone longer. (They've also won two championships and 20 playoff series in that span, so we don't want to hear it, Edmonton.)
The defending champion Vikings, coming off a 13-win season, are second in the NFC North with 11/4 odds, followed by the Bears (7/2) and the soon-to-be-Aaron-Rodgers-less Packers (15/4).
The Lions are not shying away from these expectations. Dan Campbell and his players made it clear at the end of last season, when Detroit went 8-2 after a 1-6 start, that they intend to host a playoff game next season, which requires winning the division.
"We need to be competing for a division championship next year," Campbell said. "I mean, that’s the goal. That’s what Brad (Holmes) and I set out to do."
"We’re trying to have playoff games at Ford Field," said star right tackle Penei Sewell. "We got to. Especially after the season we just put together, I feel like that’s the next step."
Right on cue, Holmes attacked free agency like never before in his tenure as Lions GM, overhauling the secondary with veterans Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson for a combined $47 million, upgrading at running back with David Montgomery for $18 million and retaining defensive starters Alex Anzalone, Isaiah Buggs and John Cominsky for a combined $31.2 million.
"Coming into OTA’s," Jared Goff said at the end of last season, "we’re going to have a way about us that’s expecting to not only win the division but compete in the playoffs and make some real noise next year."
For the Lions, next year can't come soon enough.
Related
