NFL Week 18 opening odds: Lions underdogs to Bears in season finale

The Detroit Lions (8-8) and Chicago Bears (11-5) will square off in a Week 18 divisional rivalry game. Unfortunately, this game has lost a bit of its luster, as the Lions are limping toward the end of the season, and the Bears have already clinched the NFC North title, their first since 2018.

The folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook have set theinitial betting line at Lions +2.5 points.

While the Lions have been eliminated from the playoff race, the Bears are still fighting for seeding in the NFC. Heading into Week 18, the Bears are tied with the Eagles, but Chicago is currently in the No. 2 seed due to tiebreakers (they beat the Eagles head-to-head in Week 13). If the Bears can beat the Lions, they’ll hold their current position, but if they lose to the Lions and the Eagles beat the Commanders, Chicago will drop to the No. 3 seed.

While the difference between the No. 2 and No. 3 seed may seem negligible, there are considerable benefits for the Bears if they can lock down the No. 2 seed. Landing the No. 2 seed would mean the Bears face off against the Packers in Chicago in the first round. While the teams split their series this season, the Bears won at home and lost on the road. If they are able to beat the Packers, the No. 2 seed would award them the opportunity to host their next game in the NFC Divisional round.

If the Lions beat the Bears, Chicago will drop to the No. 3 seed and will host the third-place team in the NFC West: either the Rams (the current No. 6 seed), Seahawks, or 49ers—who just beat the Bears in Week 17. If the Bears manage to pull off a win against their NFC West opponent, they may have to go on the road to Philadelphia in the Divisional round if the Eagles (No. 2) beat the Packers (No. 7), as they did in Week 10.

Playoff picture aside, there is undoubtedly even more on the table for the Bears, as they’ll be looking for revenge against the Lions after taking a 52-21 beating in Detroit back in Week 2. Additionally, Chicago hasn’t beaten Detroit since 2023, and that was their only win over the Lions in their last seven attempts. The Lions sent a clear message to Bears’ coach Ben Johnson in Week 2, and now he’ll have an opportunity to deliver a message of his own in the season finale.

Will the Bears use Week 18 to recapture their momentum, secure a better seed in the playoffs, and set up Johnson to get his revenge? Or will the Lions dig deep and play spoiler to another division rival? We’ll see in Week 18.