Championship Bound? Lions No. 1 in NFC Super Bowl 59 Power Rankings

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the final NFC team to qualify for the playoffs. A Week 18 win over the New Orleans Saints gave Tampa Bay its fourth consecutive NFC South Division title.

The Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings made NFL news by being the only NFC teams who missed the postseason last season to qualify for the playoffs.

The Lions remain atop the NFC power rankings followed by the Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles..

Let’s take a look at the top contenders in the NFC as the Detroit Lions (+320) and Philadelphia Eagles (+650) have the shortest odds to win Super Bowl 59 among NFC teams.

Super Bowl LIX Rankings: Top Contenders in the NFC

1. Detroit Lions (+125 to Win the NFC)

Last Week Ranking: 1

The Detroit Lions are having a season for the ages but a loss in Week 18 would have sent them on the road for the Wild Card round. Instead, Detroit’s dominating effort against Minnesota allowed the Lions to win division titles in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1953 and 1954 seasons. Is there any question about who should be sitting atop the NFC power rankings?

With a bye week, it is looking good for the Lions to get running back David Montgomery back as the Lions look to play their way into the Super Bowl for the first time.

Per NFL betting trends, Detroit led the league with 564 points and a +222 scoring margin during the regular season. Detroit won’t get to add to its gaudy 8-0 road record as the Lions will play at home as long as they are alive in the NFC playoffs.

Black & Blue Division champs pic.twitter.com/6RQpKsMS5D

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 8, 2025

With Montgomery joining quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, there is an embarrassment of riches on offense. They are some of the reasons why the Lions went 6-2 against playoff teams in the regular season.

The Lions are 11-5 against the NFL spread as a favorite this season.

Bet the Detroit Lions to Win Super Bowl 59 (+320)

2. Minnesota Vikings (+700)

Last Week Ranking: 2

One forgettable performance can’t erase the body of work for the Vikings during the regular season.

The Vikings were projected to finish last in the NFC North Division, only to post the second-best record in the NFC. Because of the playoff format rewarding division winners, Minnesota has to play on the road against the Los Angeles Rams despite winning three more games than the Rams.

One of the losses for Minnesota came to the Rams, as Minnesota was limited to 286 yards in a 10-point loss, so this is not the easiest of assignments for the Vikings. The game is currently listed as a Pick’em. Minnesota is 8-1 in one-score games and is 5-1 as a road favorite.

For those who bet online, the Vikings have won their last six games decided by eight points or less.

Bet the Minnesota Vikings to Win Super Bowl 59 (+1600)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (+300)

Last Week Ranking: 3

The Eagles might have moved up to the No. 2 spot if not for questions about the availability of starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts continues to be in the concussion protocol and it is uncertain if he will be cleared in time for Sunday’s home game with the Green Bay Packers. Monitor NFL news for updates on his status.

Playoffs start NOW 😤
See you on Sunday, 1/12 at 4:30pm on FOX.@acmemarkets | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/7RnPJR4stD

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 6, 2025

Per Packers vs Eagles betting tips, Philadelphia is 5-3 outright and 4-4 against the spread as a home favorite in the playoffs so it could be buyer beware for those rolling with the Eagles to make a run to the Super Bowl.

Running back Saquon Barkley should have fresh legs after being held out of the Week 18 win over the New York Giants while the defense is loaded with productive first- and second-year players.

Bet the Philadelphia Eagles to Win Super Bowl 59 (+650)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1100)

If rookie receiver Jalen McMillan had come down with a pass in the end zone that was wrestled away for an interception in Week 16, the Buccaneers might be heading into the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak. A 6-1 record over the last seven games is another for the Buccaneers to make the biggest move in the NFC Power Rankings.

The defense has its issues at times but the offense is rolling right along. Quarterback Baker Mayfield continued to put up impressive numbers even after the season-ending injury to sure-handed receiver Chris Godwin. Rookie running back Bucky Irving went over 1,000 rushing yards.

It was a strange season for the Buccaneers, who lost twice to Atlanta and also fell to Jacksonville but defeated the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles.

Bet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Win Super Bowl 59 (+3000)

5. Washington Commanders (+1600)

Last Week Ranking: 6

The win over the Dallas Cowboys in the regular-season finale wasn’t pretty but it was enough to give the Commanders their first winning season since 2016 and first 12-win season since 1991.

Seeing NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner Jayden Daniels leave the game due to leg soreness was not ideal, but reserve quarterback Marcus Mariota’s touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin in the final seconds was enough for the Commanders to jump into the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.

The Commanders will be the underdog according to the BetUS sportsbook against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night. The good news is that Washington’s last playoff win came at the expense of the Buccaneers. The bad news is that the game took place in 2005.

Bet the Washington Commanders to Win Super Bowl 59 (+4500)

6. Green Bay Packers (+900)

Last Week Ranking: 5

It was a costly Week 18 for the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay not only saw its 11-game winning streak against the Chicago Bears come to an end but receiver Christian Watson suffered a season-ending knee injury.

It wasn’t too long ago that the Packers were being talked about as a dangerous team in the NFC. However, some of the shine is off the Packers after dropping three of its last five games.

Green Bay is 6-6 against NFC teams this season. Will that be a number that gets repeated when the Packers begin the playoffs listed by the NFL betting line as a 4.5-point underdog against the Philadelphia Eagles.

When making NFL picks, keep in mind that five of the six losses for the Packers this season came against NFC North Division teams.

Bet the Green Bay Packers to Win Super Bowl 59 (+2200)

7. Los Angeles Rams (+1400)

Last Week Ranking: 6

The Rams didn’t need to win to secure a spot in the playoffs. However, the 30-25 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18 resulted in the Rams slipping from the No. 3 to the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs and taking a bigger plunge in the NFC Super Bowl rankings.

The Rams saw rookie running back Blake Corum’s season end with a broken forearm so it will continue to be the Kyren Williams show. When the Rams won the Super Bowl following the 2021 season, receiver Cooper Kupp was unstoppable with 33 catches and six touchdown receptions. With four catches for 53 yards in his last three games, can he find his mojo in the playoffs and be a viable option in NFL player prop picks?

The Rams will face a 14-win Minnesota Vikings team in its playoff opener as ahome underdog.

Bet the Los Angeles Rams to Win Super Bowl 59 (+3500)

Questions of the Day

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.