The Detroit Lions (5-3) came out of their bye week flat and suffered their third loss of the season, this time to their division rival Minnesota Vikings. As expected, the Lions fell in almost every power ranking this week, but how much they fell varied on publication: most dropped the Lions about four spots, others went as far as seven, while one publication didn’t move them at all.
Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings.
The Ringer: 6 (Previous rank: 2)
It’s worth remembering that that version of Jared Goff still exists.
If you’re a Jared Goff skeptic, Detroit’s loss on Sunday had to feel like a gift. He was rattled by pressure from the Vikings defense, and his lack of athleticism kept him from escaping the pocket. The result was that this Detroit offense couldn’t access the explosive passes that typically make it unstoppable.
Detroit’s interior offensive line had a worse performance than its quarterback, but if the Lions are supposed to be real contenders, you have to ask Goff to rise above those circumstances and play winning football. If this Vikings defense can do this to Detroit, what’s stopping the rest of the NFC’s contenders from disrupting Goff’s rhythm?
ESPN: 6 (Previous rank: 2)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Most important game remaining: Week 11 at the Eagles
The Lions will get tested by an elite squad in a showdown with the reigning Super Bowl champions on “Sunday Night Football.” They will need to bring their A-game to win in Philadelphia, and it’ll serve as a good barometer for where the Lions stand among the league’s elite teams after already losing to Green Bay and Kansas City on the road. Detroit is looking to secure its third straight NFC North crown.
Sports Illustrated: 6 (Previous rank: 6)
In our trade deadline primer, we had the Lions calling New Orleans for offensive line help. After watching the left side of that unit get caved in against Minnesota on Sunday, eventually forcing the Lions to alter their game plan because of the ineffectiveness of their RB pass protections, that seems like an inevitability.
NFL.com: 7 (Previous rank: 1)
In games where the Lions run for 100 yards this season, they’re 5-0. Less than 100, they’re 0-3. Teams have learned that if you corral Detroit’s ground game early, it makes the offense one-dimensional — and that especially hurts in a contest like Sunday’s, when the Lions had multiple injuries along the O-line. They also were without Kerby Joseph on defense and couldn’t get enough stops against J.J. McCarthy. They held the Vikings to 13 points over the final 49 game minutes, but it wasn’t enough after allowing TDs the first two drives. Detroit’s special teams are also partially to blame, giving up long returns and allowing a blocked field goal in the fourth quarter. A humbling home loss for our former top dogs.
The Athletic: 7 (Previous rank: 2)
Midseason grade: B
Their running game was stuck in the mud Sunday against Brian Flores’ Vikings defense, but this is still a really good football team. There won’t be many more opponents who can bottle up Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery the way Minnesota did.
Yahoo Sports: 7 (Previous rank: 2)
It’s easier said than done, but if you can take out the Lions’ running game, they’re a different team. The Packers shut down Detroit’s run game in Week 1 and Minnesota did it Sunday. Those are the two worst games the Lions have played this season. It won’t happen often, though.
USA Today: 9 (Previous rank: 5)
After stumbling out of their bye, maybe they’ll find a trip through the entire NFC East over the next five weeks will be a welcome respite from the unforgiving NFC North.
CBS Sports: 11 (Previous rank: 4)
Losing at home to the Vikings is not a good look for this team. The offense looked disjointed in that game, and now they have two on the road.
Sporting News: 13 (Previous rank: 6)
The Lions need to figure out what’s going on with their defensive issues against other dangerous offenses. Also, if teams have been able to shut down the Lions’ running game they can pretty much shut down anything else from them.
See More:
