Lions vs. Packers Point Spread: NFL Week 1 Odds, Prediction
Two of the best in the NFC open their 2025 seasons against one another when the Detroit Lions visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon. This NFC North divisional matchup is a huge opportunity for either team to jumpstart themselves in what should be as competitive of a division as they come. Super Bowl aspirations remain well and alive for each club, despite discouraging post-season exits a season ago.
Last year’s playoff defeat was especially a big blow for the Lions after they finished first in the NFC with a 15-2 record. This predictably made Detroit a top candidate for other NFL teams to poach from, which is exactly what happened when both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn found head coaching jobs in Chicago and New York.
Green Bay trended in the opposite direction this summer, making their major off-season acquisition just last week when they traded for edge rusher Micah Parsons from Dallas. As quarterback Jordan Love enters his age-27 season, all the pieces are in place for the Packers to take the next step toward a championship.
Kickoff at Lambeau Field on Sunday goes at 4:25 p.m. EDT, with Green Bay a 2.5-point home favourite and -140 on the moneyline. The over-under is set at 47.5 on the NFL odds.
Check out our 2025 NFL futures odds.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Detroit absolutely owns the Packers, winning six of their last seven matchups and going 12-4 against the spread in their last 16 meetings. The Lions swept the season series last year, winning 24-14 in Green Bay on November 3 and then 34-31 in Detroit on December 5.
Detroit was a perfect 8-0 on the road last season, becoming the 11th team in NFL history to do so. They’ve also beaten the Packers in Green Bay three consecutive times, dating back to Aaron Rodgers’ infamous last game with the team back on January 8, 2023.
Both offences finished in the top eight in scoring a season ago with the Lions atop the NFL at 33.1 points per game. Five of Detroit’s last six contests went over the total, and Green Bay has trended toward the over in their recent early-season outings — the over is 4-1 in the Packers last five September showings and has hit in 10 of their last 14 Week 1 games.
Detroit Lions
The never-ending debate of whether the Lions will remain a top offence despite the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is about to get answered. And that pressure lies on new OC John Morton. The retirement of Frank Ragnow, and Kevin Zeitler leaving in free agency has also forced some change on the offensive line. But bottom line is this offence is still intact and under the command of quarterback Jared Goff, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams returning as top receivers. Jahmyr Gibbs had 20 touchdowns and 1,929 total yards in his sophomore season a year ago and those numbers could even grow higher for the 23-year-old running back. And 2025 third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa is a sleeper to keep an eye on as a key weapon in the receiving corps.
On defence, it all starts with a healthy Aidan Hutchinson. The 2022 second-overall pick was looking like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate before a season-ending leg injury last season and now headlines a defence that’s expected to take more strides in 2025. Safety Brian Branch returns as another key piece on D. Detroit added cornerback D.J. Reed, linebacker Derrick Barnes, and veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport in free agency too.
On the injury front, Hutchinson is poised to return in Week 1 but the same can’t be said for star defensive tackle Alim McNeil (torn ACL last December) who was placed on the reserve/PUP list.
Green Bay Packers
Off-season discussion points around the Green Bay Packers was that they lacked superstar talent, and didn’t have the personnel to take them from a good team to a great team. Well boy did a Micah Parsons trade every change that. Parsons is now the cornerstone piece on this Packers defence, a unit that allowed the fourth-fewest yards per game last season. It’s an acquisition that rings similar to Green Bay getting Hall of Famer Reggie White, a move that directly impacted a Packers Super Bowl win in 1997.
Green Bay added cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency too, and he joins the likes of safety Xavier McKinney and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper as key players on defence. Cooper in particular could be a superstar in the making after a fabulous rookie season.
On offence, the rich get richer it appears. Green Bay used the 23rd pick in the draft to select receiver Matthew Golden and he projects as a day-one starter alongside Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs. Josh Jacobs is back at running back after setting a career high in touchdowns (16) in his inaugural season with Green Bay. The pieces are in place for quarterback Jordan Love to take this team to the next level, and that journey gets going on Sunday.
DET
GB