Where the Lions sit in NFL power rankings entering Week 12

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Nate Davis had to say: “With K.C. finally falling from the ranks of the unbeaten – flimsy as the champs’ “perfection” was – there’s no more denying Motown is currently the epicenter of the NFL universe. The Lions’ +159 point differential is more than 50 clear of anyone else. Their 46-point win over Jacksonville on Sunday was the largest in the franchise’s 95-season history, and the 645 yards gained were also Detroit’s most ever. They’re only the third team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win three of their first 10 games by at least 35 points and the second since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score at least 50 points in back-to-back home games. Good luck, Indy.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Mike Florio had to say: “Dan Campbell says getting questions about whether to remove starters during garbage time of a blowout is a good problem to have. Here’s a not-good problem — getting a starter seriously injured during garbage time of a blowout.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Eric Woodyard had to say: “(Wide receiver Jameson) Williams has been a huge part of the Lions’ high-powered offense and might even have exceeded most on-field expectations with his stellar play as a deep threat. After a slow start to his NFL career, the No. 12 pick of the 2022 draft is the team’s second-leading receiver through Week 11 (behind All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) despite being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Williams exploded for a career-best 124 receiving yards and a 64-yard touchdown against Jacksonville.”

ESPN’s writers were asked to evaluate the player they picked to be on the host seat entering the season and how hot that seat is at this point of the season.

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 1

Beating the Jaguars by 46 at home boosted the Lions’ point differential through 10 games this season to plus-159, which is currently their best mark as a franchise since 1934, the team’s first year in Detroit. They’re also plus-99 in five home games, one of which was a loss. That’s decent. There’s not a whole lot to dissect from this game in particular — outside of the broken forearm that sent linebacker Alex Anzalone to injured reserve. I will not entertain any rabble-rousers complaining that the team should have rested its starters, because the Lions don’t operate that way — they don’t play to not get hurt. Also, Anzalone’s injury came in the second quarter, which began with Detroit holding a 7-3 advantage. The Lions remain the leaders for the NFC’s No. 1 seed (although the Eagles are within striking distance), and Anzalone could be back for the playoffs. Look at how they’ve responded to the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, holding opponents to 17.2 points per game (fourth-least in the NFL) in five games played without Hutchinson. Four of Detroit’s final seven games are at home, and there is exactly one more trip outside of the Midwest remaining: for a Week 17 contest in San Francisco. The Lions are on a quest, and I tend to doubt they’ll be denied.”

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Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 1

What Frank Schwab had to say: “There is a big gap between No. 1 and No. 2. In Jared Goff’s past seven games, he has thrown no interceptions in six of them, and five interceptions in the other one. That was a weird one-off in a torrid stretch that includes Sunday’s perfect 158.3 passer rating.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Pete Prisco had to say: “They abused the Jaguars on Sunday to get the offense back on track. They are rolling as the top seed in the NFC.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Nate Davis had to say: “With K.C. finally falling from the ranks of the unbeaten – flimsy as the champs’ “perfection” was – there’s no more denying Motown is currently the epicenter of the NFL universe. The Lions’ +159 point differential is more than 50 clear of anyone else. Their 46-point win over Jacksonville on Sunday was the largest in the franchise’s 95-season history, and the 645 yards gained were also Detroit’s most ever. They’re only the third team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to win three of their first 10 games by at least 35 points and the second since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to score at least 50 points in back-to-back home games. Good luck, Indy.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Mike Florio had to say: “Dan Campbell says getting questions about whether to remove starters during garbage time of a blowout is a good problem to have. Here’s a not-good problem — getting a starter seriously injured during garbage time of a blowout.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Eric Woodyard had to say: “(Wide receiver Jameson) Williams has been a huge part of the Lions’ high-powered offense and might even have exceeded most on-field expectations with his stellar play as a deep threat. After a slow start to his NFL career, the No. 12 pick of the 2022 draft is the team’s second-leading receiver through Week 11 (behind All-Pro WR Amon-Ra St. Brown) despite being suspended two games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Williams exploded for a career-best 124 receiving yards and a 64-yard touchdown against Jacksonville.”

ESPN’s writers were asked to evaluate the player they picked to be on the host seat entering the season and how hot that seat is at this point of the season.

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 1

Beating the Jaguars by 46 at home boosted the Lions’ point differential through 10 games this season to plus-159, which is currently their best mark as a franchise since 1934, the team’s first year in Detroit. They’re also plus-99 in five home games, one of which was a loss. That’s decent. There’s not a whole lot to dissect from this game in particular — outside of the broken forearm that sent linebacker Alex Anzalone to injured reserve. I will not entertain any rabble-rousers complaining that the team should have rested its starters, because the Lions don’t operate that way — they don’t play to not get hurt. Also, Anzalone’s injury came in the second quarter, which began with Detroit holding a 7-3 advantage. The Lions remain the leaders for the NFC’s No. 1 seed (although the Eagles are within striking distance), and Anzalone could be back for the playoffs. Look at how they’ve responded to the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, holding opponents to 17.2 points per game (fourth-least in the NFL) in five games played without Hutchinson. Four of Detroit’s final seven games are at home, and there is exactly one more trip outside of the Midwest remaining: for a Week 17 contest in San Francisco. The Lions are on a quest, and I tend to doubt they’ll be denied.”

”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 1

What Frank Schwab had to say: “There is a big gap between No. 1 and No. 2. In Jared Goff’s past seven games, he has thrown no interceptions in six of them, and five interceptions in the other one. That was a weird one-off in a torrid stretch that includes Sunday’s perfect 158.3 passer rating.”

Current rank: 1

Last week’s rank: 2

What Pete Prisco had to say: “They abused the Jaguars on Sunday to get the offense back on track. They are rolling as the top seed in the NFC.”