Week 1 is in the books and the Lions didn’t exactly look like an NFC contender in their 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The good news is it’s only one game and the Lions will clean things up and be much better going forward.
But we know how power rankings work. It’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately deal. And with only one game to work with, the Lions took a bit of a hit across the interwebs. How much of a hit? Let’s take a look at the various power rankings heading into Week 2.
USA Today: No. 14 (Last Week: 9)
From Nate Davis:
After losing eight assistants in the offseason, the two-time-defending NFC North champs have now also already lost more divisional games than they dropped in all of 2024. Worse, the Ben Johnson-less offense reverted to pre-Johnson ineffectiveness.
ESPN: No. 8 (Last Week: 5)
From Eric Woodyard:
There wasn’t much to celebrate during Detroit’s loss, as the offense failed to score a touchdown through three quarters. However, on his first NFL reception, TeSlaa made a highlight-reel 13-yard touchdown catch in the final minute. The third-round rookie became the 10th player in franchise history to record a touchdown catch in his debut. The Hudsonville, Michigan, native has continued to improve as a playmaker since the start of training camp.
The Athletic: No. 14 (Last Week: 6)
From Josh Kendall:
Dan Campbell’s first game since losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs did not go well. The offense was a mess. They couldn’t run it (2.1 yards per carry) or throw it (5.7 yards per attempt). And the defense didn’t notch a sack or a turnover. It’s not a good sign for the 2024 NFC North champs.
NFL.com: No. 8 (Last Week: 5)
From Eric Edholm:
Even with a shockingly tame offensive day, the Lions still had three chances to score in the red zone before the game was out of reach, and they totaled six points. I’m sure there will be panic in Detroit (great song), especially now that the Lions are in Ben Johnson Week, but I think we had best exercise a little patience with John Morton, the play-calling, the execution and all of it. Defensively, there has to be some worry after CB Terrion Arnold’s injury, which was a haunting reminder of last year’s roster carnage. If Chicago beats Detroit at Ford Field this Sunday and the offense looks lifeless again, I suspect my tune on the Lions will change a bit.
FOX Sports: No. 11 (Last Week: 9)
From Ralph Vacchiano:
They looked very much like a team that lost both its coordinators in the offseason. The defense couldn’t figure out Jordan Love, and the offense was a mess — particularly on the ground. The Lions are loaded with talent, but have a lot of work to do.
NBC Sports: No. 11 (Last Week: 5)
From Mike Florio:
In only one week, they’ve got half the losses that they had in 2024.
CBS Sports: No. 7
From Pete Prisco:
They looked out of sync on offense against Green Bay. The change in coordinators seemed to show up in the loss to the Packers.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions power ranking roundup: Where Detroit ranks heading into Week 2
Reporting by Billy Riccette, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
