The Detroit Lions (8-6) have their backs against the wall following their Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and now likely will have to win their final three games in order to have a chance at the NFL playoffs. The Lions had a chance to pull off the win over the top-ranked Rams, but a few mistakes at the wrong times cost them in the end.
Will the Lions be punished for their errors in LA? Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings.
The Ringer: 7 (Previous rank: 5)
Detroit is running out of time to salvage this season.
Detroit’s fallen far short of its recent standard of regular-season domination, and there’s a decent shot that the Lions won’t make the playoffs. Yet it’s clear that they are still one of the league’s best teams. They built a two-score lead over the Rams on Sunday and bounced back after a rough third quarter to make the end of the game compelling, even if they ultimately came up short. If Detroit were to sneak into the postseason field, I think that it could pull off an upset over any team in the NFC.
Had the Lions handled their business against the Vikings six weeks ago, they’d probably be cruising into the playoffs as a wild card. That kind of loss betrayed the expectations we had for this team, and it likely cost the Lions a chance to make a run.
ESPN: 12 (Previous rank: 11)
From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard:
Extension candidate: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs is off to a record-breaking start to his young career with 47 total touchdowns, which is tied with Barry Sanders for the most touchdowns by a player in his first three seasons. Detroit has a track record of rewarding its top players, with nearly $1 billion worth of contracts signed to nine players since spring 2024. Gibbs is still on his rookie deal and has a fifth-year option in 2027, but he is eligible for an extension this offseason.
Sports Illustrated: 13 (Previous rank: 8)
While the Lions aren’t capable of scoring with the Rams sans an elite run game, I thought this was one of Jared Goff’s better games in a situation where he was clearly playing with a hand tied behind his back. If Campbell’s ethos is toughness, let’s see what the Lions have left over the next few weeks.
The Athletic: 13 (Previous rank: 8)
MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs
Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is having a great year (third in splash plays), but it’s hard to laud anybody on this defense. Offensively, there are plenty of candidates, but Gibbs edges out Amon-Ra St. Brown because Gibbs is second in the league in touchdowns with 16 and fifth in scrimmage yards with 1,594. It’s going to be a shame if he’s not in the playoffs, and the Lions only have a 25 percent chance of making it after this loss.
USA Today: 13 (Previous rank: 8)
A team this good and fun to watch? Notre Dame is definitely going to cry foul if the committee leaves the Lions out of the playoff field.
Yahoo Sports: 13 (Previous rank: 11)
For 3 1/2 months, the Lions have alternated wins and losses. They haven’t had a two-game winning streak or two-game losing streak since the start of October. This is just what Detroit is. It’s an inconsistent team. The defense is not good enough after taking on key injuries. The Lions have a 96% chance to make the playoffs if they win out, according to The Athletic’s playoff simulations, but can a team that can’t win two straight games be trusted to do that?
Sporting News: 13 (Previous rank: 12)
The Lions were game with Jared Goff dueling Stafford well in the classic double-revenge game, but their beat-up defense had to submit and go into the tank in the second half. Dan Campbell’s team is headed to have a year off to set up a strong comeback.
NFL.com: 14 (Previous rank: 10)
Another loss has put Detroit in a deeper hole, with the playoff hopes sliding even farther away. The Lions can get in, and winning the final three would give them a great chance of doing so. That would miraculously give Detroit 11 victories against a very tough schedule. But even as explosive as the Lions were at times against the Rams, Jahmyr Gibbs was bottled up, the pass protection became leaky and the defense allowed a season-worst 41 points. I’m not going to throw dirt on Detroit’s grave because I haven’t even dug the hole yet, although I admit I have the shovels oiled up and ready to go. Losing Brian Branch this late in the season was a hearty blow to the defense, and I don’t know if the unit can make it through these final three games unscathed without him.
CBS Sports: 18 (Previous rank: 17)
At 8-6, they can’t afford more than one more loss. The defense is really an issue right now, which might be their undoing.
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