Bye weeks present several key opportunities for NFL teams. For the Detroit Lions (5-2), their Week 8 bye afforded them the chance to get multiple players back from injury, do some self-reflection on where they need to improve, and take extra time to prepare for another division rival, the Minnesota Vikings, in Week 9.
If there is a downside to a bye week, it’s that it’s easy for people to forget about teams, regardless of how strong their last performance was—even if it was against a great team on the national stage of “Monday Night Football.” This is the case for some of the national analysts in this week’s power rankings. While some rankers kept the Lions in the same spot they were last week, just under half moved the Lions off their previous spot.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings.
NFL.com: 1 (Previous rank: 1)
It will be interesting to see how active, if at all, the Lions will be before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. They have a 5-2 mark with losses against two very good teams (Green Bay and Kansas City) and the fourth-best point differential in the league at +64. There are probably more needs on defense, but they’ve played more well than not on that side of the ball, and the reserve DBs stood quite tall in the Week 7 win over the Buccaneers, which makes GM Brad Holmes’ approach to this next week so fascinating. Does he trust what’s in house? Is there enough depth? The NFC North hasn’t entirely boiled down to a two-horse race, but it’s shaping up that way at the moment between Detroit and Green Bay. It won’t be shocking to see the Lions try to make a move, but even without one, they’re in very good shape heading into the back half of the season.
ESPN: 2 (Previous rank: 1)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Best offseason addition: RG Tate Ratledge
After losing Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow (retirement) and veteran guard Kevin Zeitler (signed with the Titans), the Lions drafted Ratledge in the second round to help navigate those offseason departures. He has started in all seven games at right guard next to All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell, and Detroit hasn’t missed a beat with the third-most points per game in the NFL (30.7). Detroit was forced to replace 40% of an offensive line that was on the field for the second-most points and touchdowns of any five-man unit in the NFL last season, per ESPN Research.
The Athletic: 2 (Previous rank: 1)
Something scary: Aidan Hutchinson
The Lions’ fourth-year pass rusher leads the NFL in pressures (48) even after his bye week, according to TruMedia. He’s on pace for 116 pressures (which would be more than any player since at least the 1999 season) and 14.5 sacks in his first season back from a season-ending knee injury. Hutchinson already has three strip-sacks and four forced fumbles.
The Ringer: 2 (Previous rank: 2)
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is Detroit’s key to contending.
After former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn did so much heavy lifting to build up the Lions’ identity, it’s almost unfair to credit first-year play caller Kelvin Sheppard for how well Detroit’s been playing. Sheppard has stepped into this infrastructure and maximized it—and he’s added a few wrinkles of his own. The Lions are turning more pressures into sacks, and they’re getting stops without needing to blitz as often or as recklessly. If this unit keeps it up, Detroit should be the NFC’s best team.
Yahoo Sports: 2 (Previous rank: 2)
The Lions’ bye came at a good time. The defense can get healthier. We know the offense is still explosive and can outscore just about anyone if it’s on. The key to a championship season would be getting some better injury luck on the defensive side.
CBS Sports: 4 (Previous rank: 4)
As they come off their bye, health in the secondary is the biggest issue. When they get players back, that defense will be much improved.
USA Today: 5 (Previous rank: 5)
They haven’t lost at home this season. They haven’t lost at home to the Vikings since the 2020 season.
Sports Illustrated: 6 (Previous rank: 4)
It seems more and more likely that Dan Campbell will lose his second defensive coordinator to a head coaching job since 2024. Watch Kelvin Sheppard give the game ball back after one of his players tries to hand it to him.
Sporting News: 6 (Previous rank: 7)
The Lions got a needed bye week as they attempt to make a second-half surge to repeat in the tough NFC North over the Packers and Bears. Jared Goff can have a big second half with a more favorable schedule with much of the toughness behind Dan Campbell’s team.
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