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The Detroit Lions haven’t even kicked off their Monday Night Football clash with the Baltimore Ravens yet, but oddsmakers are already peeking ahead to Week 4. And the early lines paint a pretty clear picture: Detroit is expected to roll.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lions have opened as 8.5-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns when the two teams meet next Sunday at Ford Field.
Why the Lions Are Favored
Detroit has lived up to its billing as one of the NFC’s top contenders. Jared Goff is orchestrating an offense that can light up the scoreboard, while Dan Campbell’s defense has shown improvement in key areas like red zone efficiency and takeaways. After throttling Chicago in Week 2, the Lions have shown the kind of balance that gives them staying power.
Meanwhile, Cleveland’s road has been far bumpier. The Browns stumbled out of the gate with back-to-back losses to the Bengals (17-16) and Ravens (41-17). Their offense sputtered in both games, and their defense couldn’t handle Baltimore’s physicality.
A Browns Turnaround in Week 3
But Cleveland showed some grit this past Sunday, pulling off a stunning 13-10 comeback win over the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers. The Browns scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, picked off Jordan Love late, blocked a field goal, and then capped it off with a walk-off 55-yard field goal to seal the win.
That victory likely saved their season from spiraling, but oddsmakers clearly aren’t convinced it means Cleveland can keep up with Detroit.
What’s Next
For now, all eyes are on Monday night when the Lions take on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in one of the biggest games of the early season. But if Detroit keeps rolling, don’t be surprised to see that -8.5 line grow even larger by the time Cleveland rolls into town.
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Don Drysdale
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