The Detroit Lions entered the season with low expectations, but not low enough to be considered the worst team in the NFL.
The Lions had the Houston Texans to thank for that. The Texans entered the season with a win total of just four and with Super Bowl odds of 250/1 after finishing last season 4-12 — and that was with former All-Pro quarterback Deshaun Watson at the helm.
But, without Watson, the Texans are already one-fourth of the way to their win total through five weeks, and they should've pulled off another victory against the Patriots last week if not for some special teams mistakes.
The Lions, on the other hand, came into the season with a win total of five across all major American sportsbooks and Super Bowl odds of around 180/1. They were firmly expected to be the second-worst team in the NFL, but a feisty start to the season helped to initially buoy their futures marks.
Their win total lingered around 4.5 across the first two weeks of the season after they almost came back to beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and led the Green Bay Packers at halftime in Week 2 before falling apart in the second half.
Then, came a series of heartbreaks.
In Week 3, the Lions went up 17-16 with seconds remaining against the Ravens. Lamar Jackson and Co. were in a 4th-and-19 situation pinned back at their own 16-yard line.
They converted.
Then Justin Tucker hit a 66-yard field goal to win the game.
Week 4 saw a relatively standard loss to the Bears.
In Week 5, the Lions again went up 17-16 with seconds remaining, this time against the Vikings.
Kirk Cousins, of all people, proceeded to drive down the field and set up a 54-yard field goal, which even the cursed Vikings knocked down.
Now, the Lions have the worst outlook of any team in the NFL.
At FanDuel, the Lions' win total sits at 3.5, with the over grabbing +120 odds and the under at -140.
Compare that to the next worst Texans and Jaguars, who each have win totals at 3.5, but with +105 and +100 odds, respectively.
The Lions have one of their most winnable games this weekend against the Bengals. Cincinnati opened as three-point favorites and that line has since moved to Bengals -3.5.
Joe Burrow and company are -188 at FanDuel to nab the road victory.
