Lions Season Odds
If you’re the Detroit Lions, the only way to go from here is up.
After becoming the first team to go 0-16 last year, the Lions hope that a new coach and quarterback will help change their fortunes around.
When a team goes 0-16, heads roll. The Lions fired general manager Matt Millen and replaced him with Martin Mayhew, who hired former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to replace Rod Marinelli.
You can’t win in the NFL without having a good quarterback and Mayhew knows that. He and the Lions hope they found that quarterback in rookie Matthew Stafford, whom the team took with the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft last April. The team was also able to nab the best tight end prospect in the draft in Brandon Pettigrew (20th overall pick) and the top safety prospect in Louis Delmas (33rd overall pick).
Detroit also made some quality signings in free agency. They were able to re-sign long-time kicker Jason Hanson, then added free agents Larry Foote, Phillip Buchanon, Grady Jackson and Bryant Johnson.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made the Lions 100/1 long shots to win Super Bowl XLIV. They also gave Detroit 100/1 odds to win the NFC and 40/1 odds to win the NFC North Division.
If you like long shots, you’ll love the Lions. It’s hard to spin what happened last year into anything positive. This is the worst team in the NFL, but if Stafford starts right away, maybe he’ll do his best Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco impersonations and lead Detroit to the playoffs. He’ll need help though – a lot of it. The defense is completely devoid of talent and while they did add some nice pieces in the draft and free agency, the Lions are probably a couple of years away from competing. Still, quick turnarounds happen all the time in the NFL and Detroit could very well be the next team to turn things around coming off a disastrous season. And what a turnaround it would be.
Odds to win Super Bowl XLIV
Detroit Lions 100/1
Odds to win the NFC 2009-2010
Detroit Lions 100/1
Odds to win the NFC North
Detroit Lions 40/1
Posted: 6/14/09 8:17PM ET