NFC Conference Winner Odds: Which Teams Can Bring Down the Lions

This weekend, we will see the start of the NFL playoffs, with the Wild Card games coming our way on Saturday and Sunday.

There are some fantastic matchups on tap, but we will have a couple of teams sitting things out.

NFC Conference Winner Odds Analysis

Of course, we are talking about the #1 seeds in each conference, both of whim will get a bye week as they wait to see who they will face in the Divisional Round.

For the purposes of this piece, we are going to focus on the NFC Bracket, which has the Detroit Lions +124 getting the bye as the #1 seed.

They certainly look like the team to beat in the NFC, but there are some very good teams laying in wait to take them down.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the other 6 teams in the bracket to see if they have a shot at taming the Lions.

#2 Philadelphia Eagles

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +330

The Eagles were in play for the #1 seed all the way down to the final week of the season, which they ended at 14-3. That left them a win back of the Lions and safely in the #2 seed. Despite putting together a great season, there were times when the Eagles fans were not happy with their offense, which has put up the 2nd lowest point total of the 7 teams heading into the NFC playoffs.

Still, you cannot argue with the end result, but will their struggles on the offensive side of the football carry over into the postseason? They need to get past the Packers in the Wild Card Round, which is by no means a sure thing. The Eagles did not face the Lions this season, but they did go 6-2 on the road, so they have to be considered a threat.

#3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +1125

Here is where things start to get a little more interesting. The Buccaneers needed a win in the final weekend of the season in order to clinch the NFC South, going 10-7 this season. There are going to be some fans and pundits that write this team off, stating that they came out of a weak division, but let’s not forget that the Bucs were one of only two teams to beat the Lions in the regular season.

Best of all, this team is coming into the playoffs on a high after winning 6 of their final 7 games of the season. We often see teams on a winning run have that carry over into the postseason, so this is definitely a team that could v=be viewed as a potential dark horse. They will open things up at home to the Washington Commanders.

#4 LA Rams

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +1400

This is another team that has to be seen as a little bit of a dark horse, even though they are in after winning the NFC West. Again, the perception is that they are coming out of a weak division and should be preparing for a short visit to the playoffs. While they lost in the final week of the regular season, the Rams already knew that the division was theirs after winning 5 in a row prior to the Week 18 loss.

The Rams were also on a run of 3 straight games where they surrendered less that 10 points, so the defense appears to be getting ready for the battles ahead. You also cannot count out QB Matthew Stafford, so there is a lot to like with this team. They lost to the Lions in Week 1, going down 26-20, so they may be able to keep things close if they meet again.

#5 Minnesota Vikings

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +710

There is simply no way to deny that the NFC North was the strongest division in football this season. 3 teams from the North are heading into the postseason, with the Vikings making it in after winning 14 games, which is usually more than enough to win the division. The Vikings played the Lions twice in the regular season, losing both games.

They kept it close at home with a 31-29 loss, but they were then blown out in primetime in the final week of the season, going down 31-9 on the road to the Lions. As good as the Vikings have been this season, those 2 losses to the Lions have to be viewed as a potential stumbling block, especially with the latest defeat to Detroit coming so close to the start of the postseason. That said, beating a team 3 times in the same season is never easy.

#6 Washington Commanders

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +1675

You don’t really expect a massive turnaround in fortunes when a team starts the season with a rookie QB under center. The Washington Commanders bucked that trend when they chose to start Jayden Daniels, as he came in and played, for the most part, like a seasoned pro, leading the Commanders to an impressive 12-5 record this season.

This is another team that is heading into the postseason looking great, winning each of their last 5 games, including a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, who are in as the #2 seed. They did not face the Lions this season, and while their 5-3 road record is decent, is it good enough to get them through a trip to Detroit?

#7 Green Bay Packers

NFC Conference Winner Odds: +910

Getting to the Super Bowl, or even the Championship Round for that matter, as the #7 seed is always a big ask, but the Green Bay Packers, who went 11-6 this season, are arguably better than several of the teams sitting ahead of them. They faced the Lions twice this season in the NFC North, losing 24-14 at home, before losing 34-31 in Detroit in what was an absolute thriller.

The fact that they were able to stay with the best team in the league is a sign that they cannot be ignored on this postseason. On the downside, the Packers are coming in on a 2-game losing skid, but of they can upset the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card, they might just start to get on a roll.

The #NFLPlayoffs are set! pic.twitter.com/M1ui4No2Qf

— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025

MyBookie NFL

---

NFL Top Betting Odds | Sportsbook Odds

mybookie App Download App

Download Remind me later