By Mummy Grace 
The Detroit Lions have quickly become one of the NFL’s most exciting stories, but Week 3 brings them back into a role they haven’t worn in a long time—the heavy underdog. As they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens, sportsbooks have placed Detroit in its biggest underdog spot since 2022.
It’s a surprising twist for a team that has spent the past two seasons flipping its image from lovable underdog to legitimate contender. Dan Campbell’s squad has been earning respect across the league, but oddsmakers clearly see Baltimore’s combination of Lamar Jackson, a dangerous run game, and a stout defense as too much for Detroit to be favored against.
The last time the Lions entered a game with odds this steep, they were still in the middle of their rebuild. Now, they’re walking into this challenge with stars like Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, and Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the way. For Detroit, being overlooked could actually be fuel—they’ve built their rise on proving doubters wrong.
Week 3 at Baltimore will test whether the Lions are truly ready to hang with the AFC’s elite. And if history tells us anything, Detroit tends to play its best when people expect the least.