The 2025 NFL preseason kicks off with a spotlight game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. While many starters won’t suit up, sharp bettors are already scanning the NFL odds boards for value.
From coaching changes to quarterback competitions, both teams enter the preseason with more questions than answers. Here’s what to know before placing your bets tonight.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Detroit Lions
Thursday, July 31, 2025 – 8:00 PM EDT at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium
Lions vs. Chargers Hall of Fame Game Breakdown
The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers will kick off preseason action at the 2025 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.Â
The Lions and Chargers have decided that most starters won’t play in this game. However, the Chargers have more competition at prominent positions that should allow for some better talent on the field tonight.
Ultimately, the Lions have an entirely new coaching staff. They’ll no longer have Ben Johnson at offensive coordinator and won’t have Aaron Glenn on the defensive side of the ball. Both went on to be head coaches in 2025, leaving the Lions in limbo.
There are still high expectations for Detroit this season. They haven’t lost a lot of talent. But the new coaching could change how the Lions play this year. They’ll probably still be aggressive on offense and play hard on defense. But there are some question marks with the new staff.
Chargers and Lions Both Sorting Out QB2 Roles
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Chargers also made the postseason last year. Like the Lions, they failed to win a postseason game last year. Under Justin Herbert, the Chargers are been unsuccessful at beating top teams in the league.
That said, neither Herbert nor Goff will play in this game. Both teams will look to figure out their No. 2 quarterbacks during the preseason.
The Chargers will start Trey Lance, as he’s competing with Taylor Heinicke for the backup spot. On the other hand, Hendon Hooker will compete against Kyle Allen for the No. 2 quarterback spot with the Lions.
Offensive Depth Is Key
Both teams have reliable quarterbacks who will enter the game tonight. That should help the Over, despite the Hall of Fame Game usually hitting the under. It’s also likely the Chargers play running back Omarion Hampton at running back. He’s fighting for the No. 1 running back spot with Najee Harris right now.
There will be a time when D.J. Uiagalelei plays quarterback for the Chargers. But by then, the damage will have already been done behind Trey Lance.
Take The Underdogs!
Over the last three Hall of Fame Games, the underdog has won in all of them. The Chargers have already committed to Trey Lance to start the game. In addition, we’ll likely see D.J. Uiagalelei.
Ultimately, the Chargers have been happy with what they’ve seen out of Lance and are now allowing him to shine in the first half of tonight’s game.
They really want to get Lance some game experience. The former No. 3 overall pick hasn’t been able to play in a real game for a while. Giving him that exposure should help his growth. He’s also a top talent who still has a chance to excel in this league.
Other veterans won’t play for the Chargers, but they’ll have just two quarterbacks who can settle in and now feel any sort of pressure.
If Lance gets to play with guys like Tre Harris and KeAndre Smith-Lambert, he’ll have some really good options to throw the football.
Chargers vs. Lions Total Odds
This Game Is Going Over
I’ve raved about Trey Lance and D.J. Uiagalelei. Both should have solid starts to their preseason against the Lions.
But what about the Lions’ offense? It sounds like Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen will both get reps as they’re competing for the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Jared Goff.
Hooker began his career injured. But now he’s feeling more comfortable than ever. He told the media he’s more confident and feels more in control of the huddle. He’ll get a chance to showcase that in tonight’s game.
He’s got to work on improving his accuracy. His timing hasn’t always been the best since joining the NFL. But if he truly worked on it all during the offseason, it should show tonight. Meanwhile, Allen is more of a veteran and has more NFL regular-season experience. It’ll be a tough battle, but a battle that should be fun to watch. Both can perform well on the field, which should set up for a good chunk of points from the Lions.
The Final Picks
Consider the Chargers at +1.5 (-110) and the Over 32.5 (-115) for this first preseason game of the year, and hurry up before the lines change!
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
