A dominating 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys showed the Lions are ready to be among the contenders this season once again. But the win was extremely bittersweet as star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson was lost for the season with a broken tibia. Does that affect the Lions in the various media power rankings? Let’s see where they land compared to last week.
USA Today
Current rank: 3
Last week’s rank: 4
What Nate Davis had to say: “The very early leaders for home-field advantage in the NFC, they might actually be more dangerous on the road – where they’re undefeated with an average margin of victory of 15.7 points.”
Pro Football Talk
Current rank: 1
Last week’s rank: 1
What Mike Florio had to say: “If the road to New Orleans goes through Detroit, Detroit will be going to New Orleans.”
ESPN NFL Nation
Current rank: 2
Last week’s rank: 3
What Eric Woodyard had to say: “Branch was a proven playmaker as a rookie in 2023 with three interceptions as mainly a nickel cornerback. But in Year 2, Detroit’s coaching staff decided to switch the 23-year-old to safety to allow him more freedom to roam within their system. Branch is an early breakout star for the defense with four interceptions and 11 passes defended in five appearances this season. After the Lions’ victory Sunday, Branch said defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn was putting him in ‘positions to make plays.’”
NFL.com
Current rank: 3
Last week’s rank: 5
What Eric Edholm had to say: “After staking the Vikings to a 10-0 lead, committing five penalties in an ugly first quarter, the Lions ripped off 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. Things also got dicey late, as the 11-point lead evaporated and the Lions fumbled twice (with one run back for a touchdown) in the final six minutes of the game. But when Detroit absolutely had to have it, Jared Goff delivered some clutch throws on the game-winning field-goal drive, and the Lions got out of Minnesota with a gutsy two-point win. The stats say the Lions sacked Sam Darnold four times, and that’s true, but there were times when the Vikings’ offense was heating up where you looked around for Aidan Hutchinson, waiting for him to make a game-saving play. Those aren’t coming anytime soon. If Hutch returns this season, it’ll be for the Super Bowl, and even that’s no guarantee, so the Lions might want to consider adding more pass rushers. But they have the requisite fearlessness and explosiveness befitting a championship-level team, and that can’t at all be dismissed.”
Yahoo Sports
CBS Sports
Current rank: 2
Last week’s rank: 4
What Pete Prisco had to say: “They have a dynamic offense that will continue to roll up big numbers. They do need to find a replacement for the injured Aidan Hutchinson. Go get Maxx Crosby.”